Sampling Field Operations Manager

This is an exciting opportunity to step into a new, high-profile role leading a specialist sampling team supporting major capital projects across water and wastewater services. The role plays a key part in commissioning upgraded treatment processes and helping us meet important environmental and regulatory standards.

Based in the Reading and wider Thames Valley area, this is a hybrid role with a minimum of 3 days per week on site. You’ll work across 3 base locations within the Thames Valley, so flexibility and comfort with travel are important.

What you’ll be doing as a Sampling Field Operations Manager

• Build, lead, and develop a sampling field operations team
• Champion health and safety and create a strong safety-first culture
• Deliver high-quality, compliant sampling services in line with regulatory requirements
• Drive technical excellence, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement
• Manage budgets, resources, and performance against agreed SLAs and KPIs

Base location: Thames Valley, with travel across 3 base locations
Working hours: 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday, typically 9 am to 5 pm
Working pattern: Hybrid, minimum 3 days per week on site

What you should bring to the role

• Strong experience in water or wastewater sampling, with a good understanding of regulatory requirements
• Proven experience leading, motivating, and developing operational field teams
• Ability to deliver high-quality, compliant services while managing performance, SLAs, and KPIs
• Knowledge of ISO17025 standards and an understanding of Drinking Water Inspectorate and/or Environment Agency regulations
• Confident communication skills, able to work effectively with technical, operational, and stakeholder groups
• A degree in a scientific discipline or equivalent industry experience, with good IT and data-handling skills

What’s in it for you?

• This role will be paid from £52,050 up to £60,000 per annum depending on skills and experience
• 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays)
• 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 (Please note different T&Cs apply if on secondment)

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.