2026 Graduate - Quality & Process Improvement

Veolia Group is a global leader in environmental services, operating across all five continents with nearly 218,000 employees. Specializing in water, energy, and waste management, Veolia Group designs and implements innovative solutions for decarbonization, depollution, and resource regeneration, supporting communities and industries in their ecological transformation.

Within this framework, Veolia's Water Technology Business brings together a dedicated team of experienced professionals committed to tackling the world’s most complex challenges related to water scarcity, quality, productivity, and energy. Together, we pursue a shared mission to create a more sustainable future.

VEOLIA GRADUATE PROGRAM 2026
Quality & Process Improvement Graduate

Location: Bourne End, Buckinghamshire (Hybrid Working)

Required: Degree in Business Management, Engineering, Operations Management, Science/Technology, or Quality Management

Application Deadline: 27th April 2026

Salary: £29000 per annum
Note: the term 'Graduate 2026' refers to our program, not the year you are expected to have graduated.

Veolia are ready to launch our Graduate Recruitment Campaign for 2026!

You will join us between July and October 2026 and complete our 1-year fully immersive graduate programme. This structured development journey leads to exciting long-term career opportunities across our global operations.

This is a permanent position from day one, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to our graduates' long-term success and development. We believe in investing in our future leaders by offering permanent contracts rather than fixed-term positions, providing our graduates with job security and peace of mind from the start. This approach allows you to fully focus on your development and career growth.

At the end of the 12-month graduate program, we conduct comprehensive career conversations with each graduate to explore their strengths, interests, and aspirations. This discussion helps determine the most suitable career path within our company. Our commitment to permanent employment reflects our confidence in our graduate program and our dedication to nurturing long-term talent. It also demonstrates our strong track record of graduate retention and career progression within Veolia.

We pride ourselves on our positive and inclusive culture that emphasises equality and collaboration rather than focusing on hierarchy. At Veolia, our employees' diverse perspectives are encouraged and valued. Joining us means you will participate in our thriving DEI communities and related initiatives.

Veolia has a meaningful purpose where you'll be part of something bigger than just a job; you'll be part of a network driving ecological transformation and making a meaningful impact on society and the environment through our work.

Our Graduate Program is our commitment to developing talented employees through:

• Structured training on both essential and technical skills
• Networking opportunities
• A dedicated support network of a Program Leader, Line Manager, Mentor, Coach, and HR Manager
• Experiential learning, delivered on a monthly basis
• Four times in-person workshops at key locations at our operations across Europe
• A Sustainability Challenge to develop your entrepreneurial skills
• Regular reviews with your support network - and a great chance for feedback

As a Graduate Quality & Process Improvement Analyst, you will play a pivotal role in driving operational excellence across Veolia's business functions. Working alongside experienced professionals, you will support the analysis and improvement of key business processes, contribute to quality management systems, and help embed a culture of continuous improvement. You will gain hands-on experience in data analysis, internal auditing, and stakeholder reporting, building a strong foundation for a rewarding long-term career in quality and process improvement within a global organisation committed to ecological transformation.

Day-to-Day Duties and Learnings:

• Process Analysis & Documentation – Support the identification, mapping, and documentation of existing business processes, helping to highlight inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement
• Process Improvement Initiatives – Assist in the development and implementation of improvement projects, applying methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma to drive operational excellence
• Data Collection & Analysis – Gather and analyse operational data to identify trends, performance gaps, and areas requiring corrective action, presenting findings clearly to relevant stakeholders
• Quality Management Systems – Contribute to the maintenance and ongoing development of quality management systems, processes, and customer experience frameworks in line with industry standards
• Internal Audits & Quality Reviews – Assist in conducting internal audits and quality reviews, supporting compliance with relevant regulations and standards such as ISO 9001
• Reporting & Dashboards – Help prepare reports, dashboards, and presentations to communicate performance insights and improvement progress to key stakeholders across the business
• Root Cause Analysis – Support root cause analysis and corrective action processes, working collaboratively with cross-functional teams to implement sustainable solutions
• Standard Operating Procedures – Assist in the development and review of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions, ensuring best practices are clearly defined and consistently applied

Ideal Skills and Experience:

• Degree in Business Management, Engineering, Operations Management, Science/Technology, or Quality Management (essential)
• Fluent in English - other European languages are useful
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ideally, some knowledge of quality management frameworks such as ISO 9001, Six Sigma, or Lean (desirable)
• Experience with data analysis tools or process mapping software such as Lucidchart (desirable)
• Willingness to travel

As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination.