Senior Shift Controller (Water) in Essex

Job title Senior Shift Controller (Water) Ref 46047 Division Asset Operations & Capital Delivery Location Thames Gateway - Essex - IG11 0AD Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Hours 38 hours per week 12 hour shifts Salary Offering a salary up to £45,000 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. Job grade A Closing date 22/10/2026

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Shift Controller to join our Clean Water Treatment team at Thames Gateway Essex.

You will be responsible for the effective day-to-day running of Thames Gateway Water Treatment works.

Thames Gateway is a unique site as it is the only Desalination site currently in the UK and uses ultra-filtration and Reverse Osmosis as part of the treatment process. This is done by using SCADA and responding to specific situations to ensure the relevant processes are brought under control or escalated to an event.

Also, at times, you may be required to be the responsible person on-site and will direct the Process Technicians to ensure that services are delivered by standards.

What you’ll be doing as a Senior Shift Controller

• Being responsible for the overall operation of the Water Treatment Works, the plant, and equipment.
• Ensure priority of delivering wholesome water.
• Monitoring, collating, and reporting data to ensure that statutory and regulatory compliance is met, and the site meets regulatory quality standards and customer demand.
• Interpreting and assessing trends on SCADA.
• Optimising plant performance and availability.
• Reviewing and authorising/rejecting RAMS.
• Manage/Liaise with contractors to ensure compliance with Safe Systems Of Work.
• Undertaking complex isolations to ensure the plant is safely maintained and to ensure the safety of any plant being worked on.
• Processing faults and advise suitable rectification by first fix, raising issues to the Maintenance Scheduler or Manager as required.
• Assisting with on-site capital project works, coordinating maintenance and operational personnel raising reactive work when required.
• Regularly collect water samples from around the site and complete basic laboratory analysis on them.
• Monitoring stock levels and requesting and taking deliveries as required.
• Undertaking safety and security checks and taking responsibility for the health and safety of yourself and your colleagues.
• Operating and monitoring the processes from the Control room using SCADA, and where necessary, go into the process area to carry out operations and when required, inspect the process area.
• Undergo training in safety procedures including confined space entry.

Working Pattern or hours: 38 Hours per week on a 12-hour Rotational shift pattern.

What you should bring to the role

• Process experience within water production process and the ability to coordinate & prioritise work.
• ONC or HNC relevant required. however, qualification in a technical discipline would be advantageous.
• Have working experience on major infrastructure projects.
• The ability to work unsupervised and be prepared to work both day shift and/or operate on a 12-hour continental shift pattern. (where cover is required)
• Prepared to be trained in safety procedures including Confined Space Entry.
• Significant experience in a relevant industry and with experience in managing or controlling the relevant processes or networks.
• Previous experience in reviewing and approving RAMS.
• Previous experience in issuing permits to contractors.
• Previous experience in undertaking isolations.
• Fully competent at using the appropriate Company IT systems and Office software.
• Experience with SCADA systems.

What’s in it for you?

• Offering a salary up to £45,000 per annum depending on qualifications and experience.
• 24 days holiday per year increasing to 28 with the length of service. (Plus bank holidays)
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Generous Paternity Leave, including 4 weeks paid and an optional 2 weeks unpaid.
• Enhanced Maternity Leave, 26 weeks full pay and 13 weeks half pay.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Find out more about our benefits and perks (Please note different T&Cs apply if on secondment)

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.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

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. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

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