Trade Effluent Investigation Technologist

As a Trade Effluent Investigation Technologist, you’ll be out meeting business customers, helping them manage their wastewater responsibly, and protecting both our network and the environment.

You’ll build relationships, address problems on site and step in when things go wrong — whether that’s creating action plans or gathering evidence for enforcement. It’s a hands-on role where every day is different and your work really matters.

What you’ll be doing as a Trade Effluent Investigation Technologist

• Visiting business customer sites to investigate trade effluent discharges and agree on action plans (driving licence essential).
• Encouraging customers to return to compliance — and if not, gathering evidence to support enforcement or prosecution.
• Working with our operations teams on pollution incidents, such as blockages or unusual substances entering treatment works.
• Occasionally raising trade effluent charges for non-compliance.
• Building strong working relationships with customers, colleagues, and legal teams.
• Preparing clear records and reports that stand up to scrutiny.

Base Location: Thames Valley/Home Counties & North/South London

What you should bring to the role
We know this is quite a unique role, so we don’t expect you to tick every box. If you’re motivated to learn, we would love to hear from you.

Essential:

• Confident communicator with experience in a customer-facing role.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a suitable vehicle.
• Good IT skills (MS Office) and strong attention to detail.
• Able to think logically, follow regulations, and keep accurate records.

Desirable:

• Understanding of wastewater or environmental processes.
• Regulatory background (e.g. auditing, enforcement, police).
• Knowledge of basic chemistry or lab work.
• Experience using Salesforce or similar CRM tools.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary £32,000 – £44,000 depending on experience.
• 24 days holiday per year, increasing to 28 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays).
• Performance-related pay plan up to 10% of salary.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of yourself 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.