Job Title: Head of Operational Excellence
Reference: 39934
Division: Asset Operations & Capital Delivery
Location: Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB, Hybrid - Coppermills (WTW) - E17 7HE, Hybrid - Hampton (WTW) - TW12 2ES, Hybrid - Latton (WTW), Hybrid - Orpington (PS & Depot)
Contract Type: Permanent
Full/Part-time: Full-time
Hours: 36 hours per week, Monday - Friday
Salary: Offering a salary up to £85,000 per annum depending on skills and experience + a car allowance
Job Grade: C
Closing Date: 05/03/2025
We are looking for a Head of Operational Excellence to join Thames Water permanently. This is an integral and influential role in our Water Operations team, accountable for the development and delivery of continuous improvement plans with sustainable financial, efficiency, and performance outcomes.
This role is very purpose-driven and plays a key role in reducing the impact of the Water function on the environment through energy saving, emissions reduction, and pollution prevention.
The effective delivery of these outcomes will involve leading a team of technical and operational staff and active collaboration with internal teams and external stakeholders. Success will be the ability to interpret and articulate complex technical, risk and financial concepts, and both lead and influence to the desired outcome.
What will you be doing as a Head of Operational Excellence?
* Lead the development and delivery of sustainable efficiency plans and operational strategies for the whole Water business.
* Accountability for the health, safety and well-being of your team and those around you.
* Support the development and active financial management of the annual capital and operational budgets for Water alongside our Head of Finance and Water Sponsors.
* Financial accountability for Operational Excellence’s Totex budget and joint responsibility for Water.
* Accountable for the directly managed capital spend for Water in collaboration with the Water Sponsors.
* Lead for corporate governance and risk management for Water assets across Thames Water.
* Provide technical support for water assets/operation and provide support to the delivery of process optimisation.
* Lead the continuous improvement approach for Water, delivering operational excellence across our assets, people, and processes.
* Through your team, lead the customer strategy, plans, and performance reporting.
* Ensure clear data and reports for use by the Water team to deliver outputs.
Base Location: This role is hybrid, meaning you can work from a variety of our sites and partly from home. Travel will be required weekly to other sites within our area.
Working Hours: 36 hours per week Monday – Friday, with flexible planning around core hours. If you would like to do this role in 4 days, please apply and discuss this with our recruitment team.
What should you bring to the role?
* Ability to think strategically, enabling you as an individual and through others, to generate and apply insights and opportunities into practical operational plans.
* Ability to work with ambiguity, under pressure and operate across all levels of the business.
* Strong financial acumen and experience managing large budgets, governance, and decision-making.
* Experience in risk-based decision-making.
* A passion for collaborative problem solving, with excellent communication and facilitation skills.
* Passion for continuous improvement and change management with a proven track record of delivery.
* Authentic leadership style and experience managing a team.
* Commercially minded with the ability to maximise operational performance at all levels.
* Ability to drive change, influence, and win the hearts and minds of a team through periods of change and transformation.
* Operational experience and broad understanding of the water industry (or similar sector/transferrable skills).
What’s in it for you?
* Offering a salary up to £85,000 per annum depending on skills and experience.
* 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays).
* Annual Bonus.
* Private Health Care.
* Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of your and your family’s health and well-being, and your finances.
* 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.
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.
We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process. Our aim is to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support.
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.
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