Principal Process Specialist IED

Do you want to play a leading role in shaping Thames Water’s environmental compliance under the new Industrial Emissions Directive (IED)?

We’re looking for a Principal Process Specialist to lead the way in sludge treatment, anaerobic digestion, and odour management — supporting our Operations teams to meet evolving regulatory requirements and deliver real environmental improvements.

Working Hours: Hybrid – 36 Hours per week (Mon – Fri)

Locations (travel required as part of the role, Full UK driving licence essential):

• Beckton (STW) – IG11 0AD
• Beddington (STW) – CR0 4TH
• Crossness (STW) – SE2 9AQ
• Deephams (STW) – N9 0BA
• Mogden (STW) – TW7 7LW

Responsibilities

Technical Expertise

• Being a subject matter expert for IED permits and sludge treatment processes, fault finding and optimising processes.
• Utilise all tools and data available to investigate issues, recommend practical solutions and ensure permit compliance.
• Responding to technical design queries using expert site and regulatory knowledge.
• Liaise with regulators, stakeholders and customers.
• Organising and supervising third‑party contractors for servicing, surveying and remedial works related to IED requirements.

Communication & Leadership

• Lead regular business reporting and meetings, being highly confident, engaging and effective in presenting and communicating to all audiences.
• Build rapport with internal teams and external stakeholders, improving technical understanding through mentoring & coaching.
• Produce root cause analysis of any permit breaches, sharing lessons learned to prevent repeats.
• Be prepared to participate in an out‑of‑hours call‑out rota.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts, engaging with various teams to drive innovative, effective scopes forward.

Training

• Undertake technical training and hold key appointed process safety roles.
• Proactive in learning about new wastewater technologies and disseminating this knowledge to wider teams.
• Be a subject lead on IED requirements and sludge treatment processes, spearheading the development of learning materials, asset standards and project scopes.

Qualifications

Essential

• Proven track record in leading on fault finding, process improvements and delivering change.
• Comfortable holding in‑depth, technical conversations, being a great communicator who can relay complex information to non‑technical audiences.
• Strong with data handling, processing, and reporting, as well as adapting to IT systems.
• Experience working with contractors, including reviewing risk assessments, supervising work on site and organising service/surveying works.
• Demonstrable proof of coaching and mentoring others.
• Curious, self‑driven and motivated to find, communicate and solve technical problems.
• Superb time‑management skills, able to self‑organise many differing responsibilities and be a true self‑starter.
• Travel to multiple sites across the assigned region will be required; a full UK driving licence and business‑use insurance are essential (a car allowance is provided).

Desirable

• A minimum of a BSc in a science or engineering discipline is highly advantageous.
• Significant experience working with wastewater sludge processes, including anaerobic digestion, biogas management, odour management and relevant regulations.

Benefits

• Salary up to £52,100 per annum, depending on skills and experience, plus a car allowance on top.
• Annual Leave – 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with length of service (plus bank holidays).
• Benefits to support health and wellbeing, including annual health MOTs, physiotherapy and counselling, Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.
• Enhanced Maternity Leave – 26 weeks full pay and 13 weeks half pay.
• Generous Paternity Leave – 4 weeks paid and an optional 2 weeks unpaid.
• Ongoing performance development reviews to help you be your best and identify growth opportunities.

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