Sampling Field Operations Manager

Thames Water Utilities Limited; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water utility company in the UK is seeking a hands-on leader for waste field sampling operations. This role will involve overseeing a skilled team and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. Candidates should have relevant industry experience and strong leadership skills, with a focus on regulatory compliance and continuous improvement. Benefits include flexible working arrangements, salary around £46,565, and numerous well-being perks. Join us to make a difference in environmental protection.

Benefits

Generous Pension Scheme

Health MOTs

Physiotherapy and counselling access

Cycle-to-Work schemes

Shopping vouchers

Life assurance

Qualifications

• Experience leading or managing operational teams.
• Confidence working with SLAs, KPIs, and audits.
• Exposure to quality management systems.

Responsibilities

• Oversee waste field sampling operations.
• Lead a skilled team in statutory sampling.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations.
• Manage budgets and resources effectively.

Skills

Relevant industry experience within waste sampling

Leadership and management experience

Strong understanding of regulatory compliance

Organisational and communication skills

IT and data handling capability

Continuous improvement exposure

Job description

This is a hands‑on leadership role where you will oversee waste field sampling operations that play a vital part in environmental protection and regulatory compliance. You will lead a skilled team delivering statutory and operational sampling across waste services, with flexibility around where you are based in London, depending on where you live.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing a team responsible for waste field sampling activities.
• Promoting a strong health and safety culture and ensuring all work is carried out safely.
• Delivering high‑quality, compliant waste sampling services in line with SLAs, KPIs, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensuring compliance with ISO17025 and Environment Agency standards.
• Driving operational efficiency and continuous improvement across waste sampling operations.
• Managing budgets and resources to deliver an effective and efficient service.

Qualifications

• Relevant industry experience within waste sampling, wastewater, or a closely related environmental field.
• Experience leading, managing, or supporting operational teams, with a people‑focused approach.
• A strong understanding of regulatory compliance, including Environment Agency requirements and quality standards such as ISO17025.
• Confidence working with SLAs, KPIs, audits, and performance measures in a regulated environment.
• Strong organisational, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with good IT and data handling capability.
• Exposure to continuous improvement, change initiatives, or quality management systems, with leadership or management training being beneficial.

We’re the UK's largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Working at Thames Water Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Remuneration and Benefits

• Working hours: 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday to Friday (36 hours per week).
• Salary: £46,565 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
• Holiday: 26 days per year, increasing to 30 with length of service (plus bank holidays).
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Access to numerous benefits to help you take care of yourself and your family’s health and wellbeing, and finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle‑to‑Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Find out more about our benefits and perks.