Pollution Compliance Specialist

Want to make a real impact on the environment? As a Pollution Compliance Specialist, you’ll help manage pollution incidents, analyse environmental data, and support our field teams to protect our waterways. It’s a fast-paced role where your insight and collaboration will drive real improvements across our operations.

What you’ll be doing as a Pollution Compliance Specialist

As a Pollution Compliance Specialist, you’ll be at the heart of our pollution response efforts—using cutting-edge data and environmental expertise to protect our waterways and improve our regulatory performance. You’ll work closely with our Waste Control Room and field teams to ensure incidents are managed effectively and learnings are embedded into future operations. This is a fast-paced, high-impact role where your insights will help shape how we respond to pollution and drive continuous improvement.

• Working core business hours, you will support our 24/7 Pollution Co-Ordination function by liaising with internal and external stakeholders, collating environmental information and logging our response and decision-making as we respond to potential pollution incidents.
• Communicating regularly with our regulators, providing clear and concise updates on environmental incidents and developing positive working relationships.
• Conducting regular checks and reviews of pollution response data to identify areas for improvement and learning, working closely with the management team to trial and implement any changes.
• Monitoring key leading indicator data including weather and Sewage Treatment Works effluent quality to identify trends, instigate resolutions and case manage the follow up actions.
• You will attend wash-ups and learning review meetings following pollutions incidents and apply learnings to drive improvements in the Waste Control Team.
• Participate and represent Waste System Operations in companywide improvement initiatives and projects related to Pollutions.

Location: Hybrid – Kemble Court, RG2 6AD

What you should bring to the role:

We’re looking for someone who is committed to environmental protection and eager to make a real difference—someone who thrives in a fast-paced, data-driven setting and is motivated by the opportunity to protect our natural resources. You’ll be a key player in our pollution response efforts, helping us to continuously improve how we operate and communicate.

The essential criteria for this role include:

• A degree or relevant experience in an environmental-related science.
• Excellent relationship-building skills and confident in presenting information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills—both technical and non-technical.
• Experience working with regulators is beneficial.
• A keen eye for detail, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to work well under pressure.
• Experience in wastewater utility operations and pollution reporting/investigation is desirable.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary from £39,800 to £44,000 per annum depending on skills & experience.
• 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 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.
• 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

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.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

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.

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.