Trade Effluent Regulatory Officer

Southern Water; Ebbsfleet; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water services company is seeking a Trade Effluent Regulatory Officer responsible for regulating discharges across South Kent. The role requires a degree in science or engineering and involves assessing consent applications, monitoring compliance, and engaging with a variety of stakeholders. Excellent communication and analytical skills are essential to excel in this position. This opportunity offers a chance to contribute to a generational shift in water services. Apply today to make an impact!

Benefits

Business needs car

Significant investment in career development

Qualifications

• Knowledge of sampling and laboratory analytical techniques and their limitations.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Numeracy and IT skills with data processing ability.

Responsibilities

• Assess and process trade effluent consent applications.
• Monitor and maintain consents and discharges.
• Plan and carry out discharge monitoring including sampling.

Skills

Knowledge of sampling and laboratory analytical techniques

Excellent communication and negotiation skills

Numeracy and IT skills

Analytical background

Education

Degree in a relevant profession (science or engineering) or equivalent experience

Job description

Overview

Closing Date 09/02/2026

Job Title: Trade Effluent Regulatory Officer

Location: Canterbury, Kent - Hybrid (4 office/site days and remaining work from home). Driving licence essential due to site visit requirement

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: Up to £50,000 per annum plus business needs car

About the Role

We are currently recruiting for a Trade Effluent Regulatory Officer (internally known as Trade Effluent Inspector) to take the lead in regulating and monitoring trade effluent discharges across South Kent, protecting the environment, our assets, our people, and the communities we serve. As the dedicated point of contact for your area, you’ll build strong relationships with a wide range of traders from micro-breweries to manufacturing giants producing household names, ensuring they meet consent requirements and understand their responsibilities under the Water Industry Act 1991.

You’ll set up and maintain consent documentation, support accurate billing, provide exceptional service to internal and external stakeholders, and support the investigation of pollution incidents. This role is perfect for someone naturally curious, scientifically minded, confident in investigation, and comfortable balancing technical analysis with customer engagement representing Southern Water as the technical expert for your region.

What you will be responsible for:

• Assess and process trade effluent consent applications in line with the Water Industry Act 1991 and retail market codes.
• Monitor, review, and maintain consents and discharges, ensuring compliance through structured consent review programmes.
• Plan and carry out discharge monitoring, including sampling, results analysis, customer communication, while embodying Southern Water's 'Work with Care' health & safety value.
• Manage trade effluent billing by maintaining accurate mass balances, understanding industrial processes, handling account setups, and resolving customer enquiries.
• Identify risks, un-consented discharges, and growth impacts; and support continuous improvement of trade effluent processes and policies.

Additional Requirements specific to the role

This role supports the out of hours rota for Pollution Incidents.

What you’ll bring to the role:

Essential

• Knowledge of sampling and laboratory analytical techniques and the limitations of each technique.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills with proven organisational and self-management abilities.
• Ability to prioritise, be flexible and accomplish tasks in a challenging environment; think on their feet.
• Numeracy and IT skills, data processing ability, with an analytical background.
• Ability to assess short- and long-term risk to company performance, human health and SWS infrastructure.
• Ability to understand the best value in different scenarios (short and long term) with excellent decision-making abilities using limited information.
• Degree qualified in a relevant profession (science or engineering) or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of municipal and commercial wastewater processes and legislation relating to the waste and sewerage industry.
• Experience in constructing complex mass balance calculations relating to the production of industrial effluents from commercial facilities.

About Southern Water

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.

You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long-term value creation

“Your potential matters more than a perfect checklist. If this role excites you and you believe you can make an impact, we want to hear from you! Skills can be learned—passion, drive, and fresh perspectives are what truly set candidates apart. Don’t hesitate—take the leap and apply!”

If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here: Introduce Yourself (myworkdaysite.com- Introduce Yourself)

Our Commitment to Diversity

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.