Waste Management Graduate

idibu; Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water management company in the UK seeks graduates for their Waste Management Graduate Programme. Over two years, participants will rotate through operational placements, gaining valuable experience in both leadership and technical roles within waste management. Key qualifications include a degree in relevant fields and a full driving license. This program offers competitive salaries, extensive training, and opportunities for personal growth, aiming to inspire future talent within the industry.

Benefits

26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30

Performance-related pay plan

Generous Pension Scheme

Access to health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Achieved or working towards a degree in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related field.
• A full driving licence is required.
• Confidence to step into new environments.

Responsibilities

• Support the Head of Region and senior leadership in driving key initiatives.
• Manage day-to-day operations within the Waste team.
• Lead a multi-skilled team and ensure compliance.

Skills

Self-motivated

Adaptability

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in relevant fields

Job description

Are you ready to play a key role in keeping communities thriving and protecting the environment? At Thames Water, our two-year Learning to Lead Waste Management Graduate Programme gives you the chance to rotate through two hands‑on operational placements, tackling the challenges of collecting and treating millions of litres of wastewater every day.

What you’ll be doing as a Waste Management Graduate

Year 1: South London Region

Support the Head of Region and senior leadership by driving key initiatives and strategic priorities. Gain frontline exposure, coordination experience, and insight into high‑impact decision‑making while working across functions, for a full view of waste operations.

Year 2: Hogsmill, Sewage Treatment Works/Thames Water site in the surrounding area

Learn to step into a leadership role within the Waste team; you will support managing day‑to‑day operations and driving improvements in wastewater treatment. Work with the site team to lead a multi‑skilled team, monitor performance, ensure compliance, and champion operational excellence.

Beyond the Programme

Progress into a frontline leadership role with ownership of operational teams and site performance, or specialise in a technical area depending on your skills and interests.

Across your two‑year journey, you’ll be empowered by dedicated mentors and managers, with opportunities to:

• Accelerate your business and personal growth through real‑world development experiences
• Build essential safety confidence with hands‑on health and safety training
• Make a difference by getting involved in meaningful charity projects and personalised coaching
• Expand your network through mentoring and collaboration with fellow graduates
• Inspire future talent by becoming a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ambassador

What you should bring to the role

To thrive in this role, the essential criteria you’ll need is:

• Achieved or working towards a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Management, Construction Management, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, Geology or Hydrogeology, Chemistry, STEM or management related degree
• A full driving licence is required due to travel across your assigned region
• A self‑motivated, adaptable mindset confident in stepping into new environments

What’s in it for you?

• Starting salary: Year 1 £32,000, Year 2 £34,000
• Location: Year 1 – Travel required across the South London region; Year 2 – Hogsmill, Sewage Treatment Works/Thames Water site in the surrounding area
• 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays)
• Performance‑related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your 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.

Find out more about our Graduate recruitment process here

Who are we?

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.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Learn more about our purpose and values.

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.