Operational Business Management Graduate in Ellesmere Port

There are 2 Operational Business Management Graduate positions.

Salary: Base salary of £28,000 plus Veolia Benefits Package

Location: The first rotations will be at Merseyside and Ellesmere Port

Hours: 40 hours per week

Programme Duration: 2-year programme starting September 2026

Candidate shortlisting will take place in February, with assessment days taking place on the 3rd of March.

Through our Graduate Programme, you will help us to achieve our purpose of Ecological Transformation and build a career we can be proud of. No matter what role you have, when you join us, you can play a key role in achieving our vision.

What we can offer you:

• 25 days of annual leave
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Access to our company pension scheme
• Access to a range of resources to support your physical, mental and financial health
• 24-hour access to a virtual GP, 365 days a year, for you and family members in your household
• Discounts on everything from groceries to well-known retailers
• One paid day leave every year to volunteer and support your community

Join Veolia’s Treatment Business Unit as a rotational graduate in operational business management. This exciting opportunity will develop you into a future leader, managing facility operations, driving performance excellence, and contributing to our mission of Ecological Transformation.

You’ll rotate through different departments and operational sites, building expertise in operations, commercial, financial, people management and leadership. Working on strategic projects alongside experienced managers, you’ll gain hands-on experience delivering innovative solutions across our treatment facilities.

Successful candidates must be willing to travel and/or relocate during the programme to gain exposure to different operational environments. You’ll also receive expert training through monthly sessions at our Kingswood (Cannock) office, join our supportive graduate network, and benefit from dedicated mentorship throughout your journey.

This rotational programme gives you real exposure to operational business management within our Treatment facilities. Working alongside experienced managers, you’ll build the skills needed to become a future Operations Manager through hands-on experience across three key areas:

• People and Leadership: Shadow operational teams and learn how to manage performance, develop people, and build a positive safety culture. Support stakeholder communications and observe interactions with regulators. Contribute to team training, development initiatives, and engagement activities.
• Operations and Compliance: Get involved in day-to-day facility operations and learn how treatment processes work. Support client contract delivery and work on projects with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams. Learn about Environmental Permits, ISO standards, and Veolia’s operational requirements. Assist with performance reporting on budgets, asset availability, and project progress.
• Commercial and Financial Management: Contribute to continuous improvement projects and identify efficiency opportunities. Support CAPEX planning and learn about financial management in operations. Get involved in incident investigations, risk assessments, and innovation initiatives. Help enhance customer service and drive operational performance.

Throughout your rotations, you’ll develop the technical knowledge, leadership skills, and business acumen needed to progress into a Business Manager role with responsibility for leading teams, managing budgets, and delivering operational excellence.

What we’re looking for:

• Degree-level qualification in Business Management, Engineering, Environmental Science, or related discipline (to be achieved by September 2026)
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills
• Willingness to travel and relocate for rotational requirements
• Commitment to continuous learning and development
• Genuine interest in operations, leadership, and environmental impact
• Commitment to safety, compliance, and high standards

Before we can progress your application to the next stage, you’ll need to complete a couple of short strength-based assessments to assess your potential for success in the role against skills, behaviours, personality and motivation.

If you’re successful following this, we’ll then invite you to attend one of our virtual assessment days. Apply today, so we can make a difference for generations to come.

We want to ensure that you feel supported throughout the application process and provide reasonable adjustments where necessary and requested. If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of your application and interview process, please do not hesitate to let us know.

We reserve the right to close applications earlier than expected if we receive an exceptionally high volume of submissions. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.

We are proud to support applicants with a disability or long-term condition. As a proud Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to applicants with a disability or long-term condition who opt-in to the Disability Confident scheme, and meet the minimum criteria for our roles.

We’re also committed to ensuring that all applicants and colleagues receive fair treatment without discrimination on any grounds, aiming to create a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.

We’re proud to have been named as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work for three consecutive years in 2023, 2024 and 2025.