Lead Water Process Operative in Redhill, Surrey

Are you an experienced water process professional looking to take the next step in your career? Do you thrive in a role where you can lead, collaborate, and make a real impact on water quality and operational efficiency? We are looking for a Lead Water Process Operative to join our Production team, reporting to the Production Manager, ensuring the smooth operation of our Water Treatment Works, pumping stations and associated service reservoirs. This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll not only operate and monitor water processes but also supervise and support a team to deliver excellent service.

SES Water is a local utility committed to delivering high-quality, sustainable water services across Southeast England. With a strong history of reliability, we invest in innovation and environmental responsibility to protect water resources and meet our customers' evolving needs.

As a Lead Water Process Operative, you'll be at the heart of our operations, ensuring our treatment works, pumping stations, and reservoirs run smoothly and efficiently. This is a hands-on role where you'll combine technical expertise with leadership responsibilities to keep everything flowing from Source to Tap.

What we offer:

• Generous salary; £48,000-£50,000 dependent upon experience
• 25 days of annual leave for work-life balance.
• Company van (for travel to, during and from work)
• Company benefits including up to 10% employer contribution pension scheme, life assurance and wellness support
• Career Development Training and ongoing development to help you succeed in your role
• A role where you can make a real impact on Sustainability and efficiency
• Perkbox
• Shares scheme
• Cycle to Work and Car Share Schemes for eco-conscious commuting.
• Simply Health healthcare cashback scheme and Surgical Choices.
• Service and MOT discounts at our on-site garage.
• One paid day per year for volunteering in the community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Acting as the go-to person in the Production Manager's absence, overseeing day-to-day operations, facilitating seamless handovers between shifts and Control room
• Monitoring SCADA: Investigating and Interpretation of trends coupled with responding proactively to alarms to maintain system performance and security of supply.
• Support the team of Water Process Operatives and external contractors to ensure smooth operations by providing constructive feedback that fosters performance improvement while ensuring colleagues feel valued and supported.
• Ensuring compliance with key focuses on WQ compliance and regulatory requirements, Softening targets, Abstraction and discharge Licences, Regulatory External and Internal audits, and internal procedures.
• Identifying opportunities for efficiency improvements in energy use, chemical process optimisation and site operations as part of a Continuous improvement culture
• Working on exciting projects, collaborating with Internal teams, Supply chain partners and External contractors across the business to deliver long-term solutions
• Health and Safety: Lead by example, deliver a culture of safety and wellbeing boosting employee engagement, empowering your team to confidently find resolutions, feedback and ensure H&S remains the top priority.

Working conditions are varied, from the control room to physical work inside, outside and in exposed areas. You'll be working with chemicals and gases, sometimes in confined spaces so you will need to be physically fit. Due to confined space/breathing apparatus work you will have to pass a medical examination.

What We're Looking For:

• Experience in water process operations and water quality sampling (or a similar industry)
• NVQ Level 2 in Water Process Operations
• Strong leadership skills, to build a high performing team
• Experience of Internal / External stakeholder liaison
• Strong problem-solving skills with a keen eye for detail
• Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team
• Comfortable using IT systems, including Microsoft Office & SCADA monitoring
• Full driving licence and flexibility to work on a 1 in 5 standby rota
• Ideal but not essential CABWI Level 3 Diploma in Water Treatment
• Mechanical, electrical, or instrumentation knowledge
• Experience in handling chemicals and confined space operations (training provided)

We look forward to welcoming you to our team and making a positive impact on the lives of those we serve and the environment we cherish. Together we are changing the face of water, one drop at a time. We thrive on the knowledge and life experiences of our colleagues, recognizing that our differences bring diverse perspectives and make us a great team. We welcome people who live our values, bring their true selves to work, and have a desire to share their lived experience to serve our communities both now and in the future.

Please let us know if you need any support during the application process.