Water Treatment & Environmental Solutions Executive Search Expertise
At Kelham Partners, we deliver executive search for companies at the forefront of water treatment, process chemicals, and environmental solutions, supporting leadership hiring across innovation, operations, and commercial functions.
From industrial water treatment and effluent control to emerging green technologies, we partner with global manufacturers, regional service providers, and private equity-backed platforms focused on sustainability, performance, and compliance.
Whether you need a GM to scale an eco-chemicals business, a Regulatory Director to navigate REACH and EPA frameworks, or a Sales Leader to drive customer growth in utilities and industrial markets, we help you secure the people who make a measurable difference.
Who We Support
We work across
- Industrial & municipal water treatment chemicals
Coagulants, flocculants, scale inhibitors, corrosion control, biocides - Wastewater treatment
Sludge management, odour control, process optimisation - Environmental remediation
Soil and groundwater treatment agents - Boiler & cooling water solutions
Speciality blends and real-time monitoring additives - Desalination & ultrapure water
Advanced materials and chemical systems - Sustainability-led chemistry
Biodegradable, non-toxic, and circular economy products - Specialist service providers
Chemical dosing, lab testing, digital process monitoring
Clients include integrated multinationals, regional toll manufacturers, and green chemistry innovators.
Typical Roles We Recruit
We specialise in international recruitment across
- Commercial
VP Sales, Regional Sales Directors, Business Development Leads, Global Key Account Managers, Sales & Business Development Managers - Operations
VP Operations, Plant Managers, Supply Chain Directors, CI & EHS Leaders - Regulatory & Quality
Heads of QA/RA, Product Stewardship, Environmental Compliance Managers - Executive
Division MDs, Country Managers, Technical VPs, C-Suite
Our Edge in Water & Environmental Chemistry
We understand the pressure this sector faces, balancing compliance, cost control, and innovation in a fast-changing regulatory landscape. With deep relationships across Europe, North America, and Asia, we bring access to leaders who thrive in technical, operational, and impact-driven roles.
Our clients choose us because we’re not generalists, we’re specialist chemical recruiters who speak your language, understand your market, and protect your brand throughout every search.
Case Study
Global Regulatory Affairs Director – Water Treatment Business
Client
A multinational producer of Speciality water treatment chemicals with growing exposure to the US and Asia Pacific markets.
Brief
Hire a Global Regulatory Affairs Director to lead cross-regional product compliance, shape global regulatory strategy, and ensure readiness for increasingly complex environmental legislation (e.g. REACH, TSCA, and biocide regulations).
Challenges
- Needed a candidate with global exposure and expertise across multiple regulatory regimes
- Role required internal influence with R&D and commercial teams, plus external engagement with regulators
- Mandate required strict confidentiality due to internal restructuring
Our Approach
We delivered a targeted retained search across Europe and North America, identifying senior regulatory leaders in adjacent sectors (water, agrochem, biocides) with cross-functional leadership skills.
Outcome
The hired candidate had previously built the global regulatory framework for a leading biocide firm and brought both technical fluency and strategic capability. Within 6 months, they led a regulatory realignment that accelerated time-to-market for 3 key products in Asia.
Hiring into water treatment or environmental solutions?
We’d love to help you build the leadership team to move sustainability forward.
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