Technical Manager

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Technical Manager to join the West Thames Valley Water Production Team.

The Technical Support Manager is a critical role, responsible for the risk profile of the area, ensuring regulatory (DWI and EA) commitments are met for the WTV area and management of a large capital budget.

You will be responsible for leading the technical support team to deliver process compliance assurance, technical support, efficiency, and optimisation of projects both directly and indirectly across West Thames Valley. You will also lead the risk management process from identification, through to escalation and solution delivery.

• Location(s): Latton WTW, Farmoor WTW, Cleeve WTW
• The role also participates in an out of hours coordinator rota, for which an extra payment is made

What you will be doing as a Technical Manager
Key to the role is stakeholder engagement, within and outside of Water Production; for example, this facilitates the preparation and reviewing of Site Operating Manuals to Asset Standards, DWSP risk mitigation and Best Operating Practices.
You may also be expected to stand in for the Area Operations Manager.
The role covers a large geographical area in West Thames Valley, so a willingness to move around day to day is essential.

• Team Management: ensure that direct reports have the capacity, capability, competence and confidence to undertake their tasks and activities. Ensure robust performance management is in place but actively support development; ensuring appropriate succession plans are in place to maintain a continuity of operational support. This will require the development of relationships with TW departments/teams
• Process Assurance & Regulatory Compliance: lead the Production team’s assurance on process compliance against Water Quality Regulations, supporting local teams to achieve compliance and investigate any events. Lead the interface with Regulatory Response on DWSP actions, audits and information requests – ensuring regulatory commitments are met.
• Technical (Process) Support: proactively and reactively provide operational support to process teams. Take an active role into the regional Responsible Person forum and Process Working Groups, and work with production managers to ensure learning and updates are effectively communicated and implemented to the wider team
• Risk Management: Ensure the team is compliant with risk management processes and reporting requirements. Escalation of risks and opportunities through local risk reviews; manage asset planning system (APS) compliance for the team and take the overall lead for the area team with Asset Management liaison to secure both short and longer-term investment requirements. You will also lead the risk management process from identification, through to escalation and solution delivery
• Optimisation and Project Delivery Support: lead the delivery of optimisation projects for the team; proactively seek out new opportunities and work with stakeholders to push forward. Lead support for indirectly delivered optimisation projects, facilitating as required. Act as the main point of contact in the area for Capital Delivery teams
• Financial Control & Efficiency: support operational budget delivery through adequate financial control including budget challenges. Track Capital spend to ensure budget for the area is delivered and risks escalated. Feed into annual business planning to assist operational budgets are set correctly and fully understood
• Completion of management of water production (MOWP) training
• Participation in out of hours coordinator rota (additional payment received)

What you should bring to the role?

• Have good leadership, capability, and vision
• NEBOSH/IOSH qualified and able to demonstrate application in the field to improve operational safety
• Competent in water production or wastewater process operations – Management of Water Production & Management of Disinfection (training will be provided for the right candidate)
• Excellent communicator, influencer, and problem solver
• Ability to deliver against operational targets
• Sound business process knowledge
• Have proven relevant experience in frontline of operational management
• Able to demonstrable role modelling of Thames Water’s values and behaviours
• Project delivery and/or asset management experience would be advantageous
• Ability to write business cases and risk briefing notes to secure funding

What's in it for you?

• Offering a salary up to £54,000 per annum depending on skills and experience plus a car allowance 
• GymPass, a free fitness plan and access to several wellbeing apps for you and up to three family members as well as discounted plans nationwide!
• Cycle to work scheme, always on and up to £3k, save money, get fit and help protect the environment
• WeCare, a variety of health and wellbeing services for you and your family including up to 10 specialist counselling sessions, 24/7 access to a virtual GP, get fit programmes and access to a nutritionist
• Benefits on Tap, access to discounts, cashback and instant vouchers
• Generous Paternity Leave, including 4 weeks paid and an optional 2 weeks unpaid
• Enhanced Maternity Leave, 26 weeks full pay and 13 weeks half pay!
• Ongoing performance development reviews to help you be your best and identify growth opportunities
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution
• Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year
• 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (Plus bank holidays)

Who are we?
At Thames Water, our purpose is crystal clear - to deliver life’s essential service so our customers, communities and planet can thrive.

Water is life’s great leveller. Every living thing needs it, every single day. From people to plants, birds to bees, farms to factories, we all need it to thrive, and we’re committed to taking care of it for us all.

But keeping water flowing is becoming harder. From scorching summers to wetter winters, extreme weather affects everything from our pipes to our local rivers. We need to keep millions more kettles boiling, public services operating, washing machines spinning, showers running and more, so every drop is more precious than ever. Are you ready to play your part?

Working at Thames Water
At Thames Water we recognise that people are at the heart of our business. To help us succeed in providing life's essential service, we need a range of skills and capabilities, representative of society throughout our business.

We seek to attract and retain a cultural mix of people who can offer different but complementary attitudes, values, talents, and knowledge. We understand the importance of appreciating and harnessing the unique skills, experiences, background, and differences that each individual brings.

Our over-arching diversity and inclusion aim is to ensure Thames Water is a diverse and inclusive great place to work. 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.

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, meet colleagues and earn some extra money along the way.

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.