Job Description
Who are we?
Read all the information about this opportunity carefully, then use the application button below to send your CV and application.
Thames Water is the UK's largest water and wastewater company. We make a daily difference to our 15 million customers by supplying 2.6 billion litres of water through 32,000 km of pipes, keeping taps flowing and toilets flushing.
At Thames Water, every one of our actions, big and small, matters every day. Water is essential to life, so our business is always open.
What you'll be doing
Leading and managing a large team of analytical chemists including team leaders and technical specialist in day-to-day operations within our inorganic chemistry section. The team undertake the preparation and analysis by plasma-based techniques of potable, wastewater, trade effluent and solid samples. You will take responsibility for resources including analytical instrumentation, materials and laboratory infrastructure within the agreed budget and deadlines. This carried out whilst maintaining the highest standards of quality management conforming to ISO 17025, DWTS and MCERTS and ensuring company leading health, safety, and wellbeing standards.
Key areas of accountability will include:
- Leadership in Health, Safety & Wellbeing within your analytical section
- Ensuring that all data generated by the section conforms to the laboratory quality management system and have the ability to apply extensive knowledge on ISO17025, DWTS and MCERTS regulation to day-to-day situations.
- Ensuring service delivery meets internal laboratory targets and customer requirements in terms of quality, speed, reliability, and flexibility
- Managing and controlling finances (opex & capex) for the team, maximising efficiency and productivity
- People management within the analytical section, including recruitment, defining purpose, goals and responsibilities, performance management and effective communication of laboratory and corporate strategy
- Improving the engagement levels of staff to increase both productivity and job satisfaction
To be considered for this you must have experience in laboratory management of large teams within a fast-paced environment, a degree in a related discipline, be a member of the RSC and either have or able to work towards chartered status and have an excellent working knowledge of ISO 17025.
You must have the ability to prioritise and organise your own and your team's work under pressure. You should have experience in managing your workload to meet deadlines and turnaround times.
What's in it for you?
This is a key leadership role within a high-throughput laboratory, which is well equipped with state-of-the art analytical instrumentation. This particular team are passionate about maintaining the quality of drinking water, protecting the environment and providing an excellent service to customers. The role is to co-ordinate, through others, the efficient processing of sample arrival, with many results critical to public health, the section generates over 400,000 test results per year. Required to drive training, staff development and building a team, who deliver constantly in a high throughput rapid turn round environment, while maintaining quality and safety at the highest levels. We are looking for an effective problem solver to contribute to the analysis of trends, spot issues before they become problems and look for opportunities to improve process, to co-ordinate the development and validation of analytical techniques, and play a part in selecting future processes to meet changing customer demands.
Our competitive salary package includes an excellent contributory pension, 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with length of service and a wider benefits scheme including our benefits hub, which is packed full of offers and information to save you money and support your wellbeing.
Thames Water is a dynamic, rewarding and diverse place to work, with opportunities around every corner. If you join our team, you'll enjoy a fulfilling career and flexible working arrangements.
We're also proud to embrace and promote diversity and believe that creating a workforce that reflects the communities we serve will help us to thrive. We encourage applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process.
Find out more about working at Thames Water.
We deliver life's essential service so our customers, communities and the environment can thrive. This means, when a crisis happens, we all rally round 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, meet colleagues and a earn bit of extra money along the way.
Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close a vacancy earlier than the advertised date. This is so we can manage all the applications properly and give candidates a positive experience. Once closed, we can't consider any further applications, so please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.