Water Technical Manager

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

The Water Technical 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 Water 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 supports 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: Led 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 in 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 spending to ensure the 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 the 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 is a free fitness plan and access to several well-being apps for you and up to three family members as well as discounted plans nationwide.
• Cycle to work scheme, always on and up to £3,000 save money, get fit and help protect the environment.
• WeCare, a variety of health and well-being 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)

Find out more about our benefits and perks

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 fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.
Whether you’re interested in a role in one of our call centres or science labs, we’re looking for people like you with real passion and a burning desire to make things better.

So, 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.
The real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is a great, diverse and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process. We aim to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support you.

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.