Start your journey into operational leadership

Location: Across West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent and Hampshire
Travel: Regular travel across our region, including to operational sites, will be required

Contract: 2 year fixed-term contract

Hours: 37 hours, Monday–Friday

Salary: £34,000 per year

Turn on a tap. Swim off a South Coast beach. Then imagine running the operation behind it.

Every second of every day, our operational teams keep clean water flowing to millions of homes and businesses, and take wastewater away safely to protect the rivers, harbours and coastline that make the South East special. It never stops. And it doesn’t run itself.

• Water is one of the most essential, and most talked-about, industries in the UK right now. The sector is going through its biggest period of investment and change in a generation, with new technology, smarter use of data and a sharper focus on the environment reshaping how we work. That’s where new ideas and fresh perspectives can make a real difference

Our Operations Management Graduate Development Programme puts you right in the middle of it. Over two years you’ll learn how a large, critical service really works, and build the leadership, commercial and problem-solving skills needed to help manage essential operations. This is not a scheme where you watch from the sidelines.

Whatever you’ve studied, we want to hear from you. It’s your curiosity, willingness to learn and potential we're interested in.

Pathways may include

• Graduate Management – Water or Waste: get under the skin of how we treat and supply drinking water, or how we collect and treat wastewater, and learn to lead the teams who make it happen.

• Operational Performance: use data and insight to understand how our operations are performing, then help make them better.

• MEICA (Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Control & Automation): for engineering-minded graduates who meet the technical entry criteria.

Why this programme?

You’ll gain the kind of exposure many people wait years for. Expect:

• Real responsibility from day one: real sites, real teams and real problems to solve, with experienced mentors and placement managers backing you.

• Leaders in your corner: coaching and guidance from operational colleagues and senior leaders.

• Projects that matter: the chance to contribute to live projects early in the programme.

• Recognised development: industry-recognised training, professional memberships and dedicated development days.

• Your cohort, your network: a close graduate community and a supportive network right across the business.

• Impact beyond the day job: get involved in community projects and regional events.

On the road

No two weeks look the same. You’ll be out across our region, at treatment works, operational sites and offices, so you’ll need a full UK driving licence and access to a car. We’ll reimburse business mileage beyond your normal home-to-base commute, in line with our Travel & Expenses Policy (mileage is claimable after deducting your home-to-base allowance). You’ll also get guidance on claiming expenses, a Permit to Drive where required, and practical support to travel confidently and safely between sites.

We’ll aim to base you as close as possible to your preferred location, but you’ll need to be flexible about travelling between offices, sites and placements.

Where it could take you

This is the launchpad for a career in operational leadership. As your skills and experience grow, future opportunities could include roles such as:

• Field Performance Manager (FPM)

• Assistant Operational Manager

• Operational Manager

• Regional Operations Manager

Some of these are longer-term career opportunities that you may work towards as you gain further experience beyond the graduate programme.

What’s in it for you

• Relocation support available, so distance doesn’t have to be a barrier to starting your career with us.

• Health and wellbeing support, including access to a health cash plan and employee assistance programme.

• Flexible working options, supporting a healthy balance between work and life.

• 28 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays.

• Two paid volunteering days each year, giving you the opportunity to make a positive impact in your local community.

• Employee discounts and benefits platform, helping your money go further.

Is this you?

You’re curious, collaborative and keen to learn. You like getting stuck in, you’re not fazed by a challenge, and you want your work to make a visible difference to people and the environment. Any degree discipline is welcome.

You’ll need:

• A predicted or achieved 2:2 degree (or equivalent)

• A full UK driving licence and access to a car by the programme start date

• Flexibility to travel across Hampshire, Sussex, Kent and the Isle of Wight

• The right to work in the UK

Where this programme can take you

The Graduate Development Programme is the starting point for building your career within our operational teams. As your experience and skills grow over time, there are a range of directions your career could take, including opportunities such as:

• Field Performance Manager (FPM)

• Assistant Operational Manager

• Operational Manager

• Regional Operations Manager

Some of these are longer-term career opportunities that you may work towards as you gain further experience beyond the graduate programme.

What happens next?

• Applications are scheduled to close on 4 January 2027. We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier if we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so we encourage you to apply early.

• After submitting your application, you'll be invited to complete an online skills assessment and online interview as the next stage of the recruitment process.

• Successful candidates will then be invited to an online assessment centre in February 2027.

• The programme will start in September 2027.

Interested in more than one graduate opportunity?
You don't need to submit multiple applications. As part of the recruitment process, we'll give you the opportunity to tell us about other graduate roles or pathways you're interested in. Apply for the opportunity that best matches your interests and experience, and you'll have the chance to share your other preferences with us during the process.

What our graduates say

“You get out what you put in - it’s a great place to grow.”

“It’s a career in a stable, essential industry.”

“You’re working with people who genuinely want to make a positive difference.”

“There’s a strong sense of community, trust and empowerment.”

Ready to make a difference?

Help us build a better future for the South East. Apply now to join our Operations Management Graduate Development Programme and start a purpose-led career with real impact.

Everybody Welcome

We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to facilitate your participation in the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Need flexibility in your work?

Does this opportunity excite you but you're not 100% sure you meet all the requirements? Or are you concerned that standard working arrangements may not work with your personal circumstances? Whilst we can't accommodate every flexible working request, we'll try to find a practical solution. We encourage you to speak to us about what might work.