EMS Lead

Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of designers, consultants and experts working globally. At Arup you will have the opportunity to collaborate on ambitious projects - delivering remarkable outcomes for clients and communities, and to do socially useful work that has meaning. Arup's purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set it apart for over 75 years, and now is your opportunity to join.

The EMS Lead will play a pivotal role in enhancing Thames Water's Environmental Management System (EMS) in response to increasing regulatory scrutiny and the potential future pursuit of ISO 14001 certification. Working within the Integrated Management System (IMS) team and reporting to the IMS Manager, the EMS Lead will consult with key stakeholders to develop and gain approval for a multi-year EMS improvement plan. This is a part-time position, requiring three days of work per week over a three-month period, with occasional visits to Clearwater Court in Reading. The role is designed to strengthen the robustness and compliance of the EMS, ensuring it supports business objectives and regulatory obligations.

Key Accountabilities

• The EMS Lead will be responsible for scoping and executing the internal EMS audit programme, ensuring that it aligns with both regulatory expectations and internal performance goals.
• They will support the review and development of documented business processes and procedures, ensuring these are compliant with environmental regulations and permit requirements.
• Acting as a subject matter expert, the EMS Lead will help the organisation learn from environmental non-conformances and embed those lessons to prevent recurrence.
• A key deliverable of the role will be to consolidate and package all work completed during the secondment, ensuring a robust and seamless handover to the incoming permanent EMS Lead.

Skills, qualifications, experience - minimum required:

• The ideal candidate will bring substantial experience in environmental management systems, with a strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and ISO 14001 principles.
• They should have a proven ability to lead internal audits, develop and refine business processes, and influence organisational learning from non-conformances.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills are essential, as is the ability to work independently and deliver structured outcomes within a fixed timeframe.
• Experience in the water sector or a similarly regulated industry would be highly advantageous.
• The candidate should be confident in acting as a subject matter expert and capable of producing high-quality documentation and handover materials to support continuity and long-term EMS improvement.

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. Guided by its values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Arup creates and contributes to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Arup's internal employee networks support their inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion - creating a space for everyone to express themselves and make a positive difference.

If you are interested in applying for this position and meet the criteria outlined above, please click the link to apply and speak to one of our Sourcing Specialists.

AMS are committed to providing all our candidates with the opportunity to perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. Please let us know if you require any additional support or reasonable adjustments during the screening process and we will work with you and Arup to identify the best solution to meet your requirements.