Production Operator (Wastewater)

Process Operator (Wastewater)

Working hours 37 hours per week (flexible working arrangements including part time will be considered))

Up to 23 months - Fixed term contract/ Secondment 

Salary from £26,450

Location Willington Sewage Treatment Works, Crook, Co Durham 

About the role

At Northumbrian Water we provide both water and sewerage services to 2.7 million customers in the Northeast of England. This role focuses on our wastewater treatment service, aiming to enhance and protect the environment, whilst also improving the quality of rivers and coastal waters for the benefit of wildlife and the communities we serve. We are excited to offer you the opportunity to join our team as a Wastewater Operator, where you will play a vital role in delivering this essential service.

This role offers full training to support the successful candidate to complete the various technical aspects of this role. This means we’re seeking someone with transferrable skills which would allow them to develop into this position.

We understand the importance of professional development which means we offer opportunities for training and growth within the organisation.

Daily responsibilities would involve sampling and analysing the water to ensure it is treated to the correct standards, identifying issues with equipment, and carrying out routine checks on the assets.

Working as part of a team, you will be responsible for operating and controlling wastewater treatment works and pumping stations across the Willington area.  You will carry out routine tasks to ensure that our wastewater assets are operating correctly.

You would be using data from company systems to identify trends in performance and when issues arise. This means you will undertake fault-finding investigations with support from the wider Team.

In addition you will collaborate and communicate with a diverse range of teams to ensure we maintain compliance with our regulatory obligations and protect the environment.

About you

Communication is essential in this role therefore we seek someone who is an excellent communicator, both verbally and written. You will be a good problem-solver allowing you to respond quickly to issues, understand the problem, and identify the best solution.

We are looking for a team player who is adaptable to meet a varied workload and someone who is also comfortable working alone with minimal supervision. You will be proactive by nature and willing to make suggestions for improvement.

If you have good attention to detail, then we would like to hear from you. Monitoring the assets is done via visual checks on site, computer systems and lab analysis, so an ability to follow processes and procedures is required. You will be computer literate and willing to use new Apps.

We’re committed to ensuring “Everyone Home Safe Everyday” therefore awareness of health and safety would be beneficial. You would be using company safety devices to ensure you have the support and controls needed.

The role involves pumps and process equipment so any prior experience or working with equipment would be advantageous, however this is not essential as training would be given.

The water industry is forever changing therefore you need to be adaptable to meet business need.

If you are practical, pragmatic and enjoy hands-on problem solving then this could be a great role for you. Please note you will need a full valid UK manual driving licence. 

Here at Northumbrian Water, we embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity which means bringing your full self to work. We encourage and welcome all applications, as we believe and strive to be an equal opportunity employer committed in having a diverse community represented within all our teams, structures, and organisation.  We have our colleague network groups, including Rainbow Support Network (LGBT+), REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), WiSTEM (Women in STEM) and Thisability (disability and neurodiversity) networks too.

About us

Here are NWG we strive to make Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) a Great Place to Work, for all. We embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity and encourage you to bring your full self to work. As an equal opportunity employer we’re committed to having a diverse community represented across our business.

We’re aware that not everyone will have every skill listed in the job description, and that female candidates are less likely to apply if they don’t have the full range of skills, however if you have some of the skills listed, we 'd encourage you to apply.

Please note:

This role has been defined as a safety or security critical role and as a condition of a formal offer of employment you’ll be required to undergo a drug and alcohol test.  Prospective employees and agency workers in defined safety and security critical roles will be required to undertake a drug and alcohol test after the job offer has been made. This will be prior to or within four weeks of their start date.

Prospective employees and agency workers who fail a pre-employment urine drug screen will have their sample analysed by the Company appointed laboratory as a matter of course. Failing a pre-employment drugs or alcohol test may lead to the job offer being revoked.

Please note this role may require a DBS to be completed prior to employment

NWG at a glance:

Our purpose at NWG is caring for the essential needs of our communities and environment, now and for generations to come.

We do this by providing reliable and affordable water and wastewater services for our customers.

We make a positive difference by operating efficiently and investing prudently, to maintain a sustainable and resilient business.

Our vision is to be the national leader in the provision of sustainable water and wastewater services. To support us in achieving our vision, we have five core values which are the guiding principles, defining who we are, what we do and how we do it.

Our benefits

We’re a Great Place to Work because of the amazing people who work for us, and to say thank you we offer a range of benefits to colleagues.

Benefits to include, here’s just a few of them:

• Enhanced maternity pay

• Enhanced annual leave with additional special leave for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
• Company pension scheme
• Digital GP
• Award winning wellbeing website
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Life assurance
• Qualification loans
• Professional subscription
• Buy and sell annual leave
• Discounts and cashback offers