Hydraulic System Operator in Reading

This is an exciting opportunity to join the wider System Operations team, responsible for managing water supply from source to tap. Based in a control room environment, you will play a key role in monitoring and controlling the hydraulic system, helping to ensure water is produced, stored, and distributed safely within a highly regulated setting.

You will be at the heart of real-time operations, spotting emerging risks, supporting effective mitigations, and helping to keep our treatment works, reservoirs, pumping stations, and wider network running smoothly. As part of the Water Control team, you will contribute directly to the 24/7 delivery of a critical service, helping to protect customer supply and maintain water quality every single day.

What you’ll be doing as a Hydraulic System Operator:

• Monitoring the water supply system to identify emerging risks early and minimise disruption to customers.
• Ensuring water production, storage, and distribution meet strict water quality, safety, and regulatory standards to protect public health.
• Maintaining situational awareness through desk coverage, routine system checks, and responding quickly to alarms, incidents, and operational issues.
• Managing flows, pressures, and treated storage to maintain resilience and support stable network operation.
• Assessing and prioritising incoming information from emails, phone calls, direct messaging, and control room systems, escalating high-risk issues promptly to the incident team.
• Working closely with field teams, providing operational guidance during planned and emergency work, managing permits, maintaining accurate logs, and tracking issues through to resolution.

Base location: Kemble Court in Green Park, Reading, located just off the M4 and approximately a 20-minute bus journey from central Reading.

Working hours: This role involves working 12-hour days and night shifts on a rotating shift pattern of 14 days on and 28 days off over a 6-week cycle.

What you should bring to the role:

• Confidence using IT systems and digital tools, including operational software and data-handling applications. Experience with SCADA and GIS systems would be advantageous.
• The ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced, real-time operational environment.
• A strong analytical and data-driven mindset, with the ability to interpret information, identify trends, and make evidence-led decisions.
• Previous experience working shifts, in a 24/7 operational environment, or within the water industry or another regulated utility would be helpful, but none are essential, as full training will be provided.

What’s in it for you?

You’ll be joining a supportive team delivering one of the UK’s most critical services in a rewarding environment where no two days are the same. You will receive full training, ongoing technical and managerial support, and access to the systems and tools you need to succeed. As a key worker, you’ll play a vital role in protecting customer supply, safeguarding water quality, and supporting the health and well-being of millions of people, making a real difference every single day.

Competitive salary from £32,715 to £38,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience. A full training and development programme is provided to ensure you feel confident in the role, and there are great opportunities for career progression.

Annual Leave is 24 days holiday per year, increasing to 28 with the length of service. (Plus bank holidays)

Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution.

Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year.

Wider benefits scheme including our benefits hub, which is packed full of offers and information to save you money and support your wellbeing.

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.

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.

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.