Process Compliance Industrial Placement

Are you interested in how science, data, and real-world operations come together to protect the environment? At Thames Water, our one year Process Compliance Industrial Placement offers you the opportunity to work closely with our Process Compliance team, supporting the performance and regulatory compliance of wastewater treatment sites.

What you’ll be doing across your placement year

Supporting the Process Compliance team with technical work to improve wastewater treatment processes
Learning how wastewater treatment sites operate and how they are managed day to day
Helping ensure treatment sites operate in line with environmental regulations and permits
Investigating process and compliance issues in real-world scenarios
Using data, scientific principles, and root cause analysis to help identify and solve problems
Supporting actions that help prevent pollution and improve environmental performance
Communicating findings and recommendations clearly with a range of stakeholders

What you should bring to the role
To thrive in this role, the essential criteria you’ll need is
Working towards an environmental science degree or related discipline
A full driving license, access to own vehicle and business travel insurance is required due to travel across the Thames Valley Region
We’re looking for enthusiastic and curious individuals who enjoy working with others and learning new skills. You’ll be someone who likes sharing ideas, asking questions, and contributing as part of a supportive and diverse team

What’s in it for you? 

Salary: £23,000

Location:

This role is flexible in base location and may be based at Reading, Oxford, Swindon, Banbury, or Little Marlow Sewage Treatment sites. The successful candidate should be comfortable travelling across the Thames Valley region as part of the role
Duration: 1 year placement, starting September 2026 until August 2027
24 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
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

Next steps

Apply online by completing the application form for the role
Complete the online pre-screen and assessment sent to you by email after you apply. This stage helps us get to know you better and may include:
Questions about your values, personality, and how you would handle different situations
Reasoning exercises (including verbal, numerical, mechanical, or inductive), depending on the programme
Upload evidence of your degree(s), or a letter from your university if you are currently studying, when requested
Record a video interview so we can learn more about you and your motivations
If successful, attend an interview which will be taking place from March 2026
Offer and feedback

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,…