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- Tasks: Lead and support a team in ensuring smooth water treatment operations.
- Company: SES Water, part of the Pennon group, committed to sustainable water services.
- Benefits: Generous salary, annual leave, company van, and wellness support.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainability and operational efficiency in water quality.
- Qualifications: Experience in water process operations and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive culture with excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 41000 - 52000 £ per year.
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. We’re also part of a larger family. In 2024, we became part of the Pennon group, which also owns South West Water, Bristol and Bournemouth Water. This means that as part of our team, you’ll get the best of both worlds – the dynamism and fast pace of a smaller company, along with the security and breadth of opportunity that comes with being part of a large organisation.
About the Role:
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 in Woodmansterne, 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.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- 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 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 focusses 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. This also means that you will need to be clean shaven.
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.
- CABWI Level 3 Diploma in Water Treatment.
- Mechanical, electrical, or instrumentation knowledge.
- Experience in handling chemicals, confined space operations and use of Breathing Apparatus (training provided).
What’s In It For You?
- Generous salary of £48,000-£52,000 dependent upon experience.
- Generous annual leave allowance 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.
Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.
Our core values which are essential to our success are:
- Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.
- Be You - We want you to bring your best every day. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.
- Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.
Lead Water Process Operative... in Surrey employer: SES Water
Contact Detail:
SES Water Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Water Process Operative... in Surrey
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the water industry, attend local events, and connect with SES Water on social media. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching SES Water's values and recent projects. Show us that you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for sustainability and how you can contribute to our mission of delivering high-quality water services.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership skills! Think of examples from your past experiences where you’ve led a team or improved processes. We want to see how you can inspire others and drive efficiency in our operations.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining the SES Water family and making a real impact.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Water Process Operative... in Surrey
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Lead Water Process Operative role. Highlight your relevant experience in water process operations and leadership skills, showing us why you're the perfect fit for our team.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific achievements that demonstrate your impact in previous roles. We love to see how you've improved processes or led teams to success!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that’s easy to read and understand.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at SES Water
✨Know Your Water Processes
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of water process operations and quality sampling. Be ready to discuss specific processes you've worked with and how you've contributed to operational efficiency in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in managing teams and fostering a culture of safety and performance improvement. Think about times when you’ve successfully led a team through challenges or implemented changes.
✨Familiarise Yourself with SCADA Systems
Since monitoring SCADA is a key part of the role, be prepared to talk about your experience with these systems. If you have any specific examples of how you've used SCADA to improve system performance, make sure to mention them.
✨Emphasise Problem-Solving Abilities
Be ready to discuss your problem-solving skills, particularly in relation to water quality compliance and regulatory requirements. Think of scenarios where you identified issues and implemented effective solutions, as this will demonstrate your proactive approach.
