Area Water Resources Manager (South)

Dŵr Cymru; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

34 days annual leave (pro rata)

Enhanced employer pension: up to 11%

Flexible benefits package

Staff development and training

Free on-site parking

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is seeking an experienced Water Resource Manager to lead regional operations, oversee an Area Water Resource Team, and ensure regulatory reporting and risk management align with strategic objectives. You will apply hydrology knowledge to optimise water resources and support drought planning and asset development.

The role involves collaborating with Directors and operational staff, driving data-driven decisions, and contributing to regulatory submissions while delivering

Qualifications

• A proven Water Resource Manager with extensive operational experience.
• Significant experience in Water Resources and/or Production Planning in operational and regulatory roles.
• A degree or similar qualification in numerate earth science area, engineering, data science/mathematics, preferably with a further qualification in water resource planning, hydrology or engineering.
• A highly numerate person able to demonstrate experience in the utilisation of hydrological and water resource behavioural software and tools. (Experience of GR6J or other catchment models, Pyware or Aquator would is highly desirable. An understanding of the advantages of, or ability to code in Python would be an advantage)
• An ability to think both strategically whilst focusing on day-to-day water resource and production and distribution operation, effectively and efficiently
• Able to demonstrate experience in water resource risk management and drought planning through the capture of operational and hydrological evidence, to assess water supply consequence and benefits of improvement actions
• A proved track record in developing positive working relationships with colleagues at all levels of the organisation from Directors to front line operational staff. The ability to guide and influence change based on effective analysis and communication across management teams and wider organisation
• Able to demonstrate the successful management of a team through effective employee engagement, performance management and staff development
• The ability to build relationships with external agencies, to identify opportunities for cooperative working and mutually successful solutions
• Ability to travel as required

Responsibilities

• Oversee water resource operation for your geographic area and develop innovative thinking on water resources regionally.
• Lead a small expert Area Water Resource Team to ensure operational management, asset planning and regulatory reporting are effectively undertaken.
• Deliver optimal water resource operational plans in line with statutory and regulatory requirements; monitor water resource situation and communicate risk to managers and directors.
• Provide guidance on daily/weekly production planning calls regarding water resource situation for cost-optimal operation.
• Advise operational managers on preparation of water resource assets during spring to ensure water supply during dry weather; maintain dry weather operating manuals.
• Be an active member of the weekly drought incident team and advise on operational actions and capital investment during drought periods.

Skills

Water resource management

Operational planning

Regulatory reporting

Data analysis

Team leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Numerate earth science or engineering degree

Further qualification in water resource planning or hydrology

Tools

GR6J or catchment models

Pyware

Aquator

Python

Job description

City: Cardiff

Address: Cardiff, Wales, GB, NP10 8FZ

Work Type: Permanent

Job Function: Scientist

Salary Range: £58,751.00-£71,972.00

Base: Ty Awen

Closing Date: Wednesday 25th November 2026 - 23:59

Good to know

Water security has never mattered more, and we are looking for a leader who thrives on responsibility, challenge and real-world impact. This role sits right at the intersection of science, strategy and operational decision‑making. You will work within a truly expert Water Resources team within a wider Catchment and Growth Planning group. The team brings together expertise in environmental planning, water resources and risk management to identify future challenges and operational and investment options to support major decision‑making across the business. You may have gaps in skills and experience, and we pride ourselves on developing our staff, whether it be in systems modelling, in which we are industry leading, or in leadership and management.

What you’ll be responsible for

• Oversee water resource operation for your geographic area and develop innovative thinking on water resources regionally
• Have the energy and enthusiasm to run a small expert Area Water Resource Team to ensure that operational management, asset planning and regulatory reporting of water resources are effectively undertaken. You will be resilient in the management of both team and personal workload in meeting goals often to tight timescales, while maintaining a strong working relationship with Managers across the water business
• Be a technical specialist with a strong knowledge of hydrology, water supply systems analysis and environmental regulation, you will deliver optimal water resource operational plans in line with statutory and regulatory requirements for the business. Your team will monitor the water resource situation throughout the year, assess water supply risk and communicate risk level to managers and directors throughout the year to guide thinking on the need for drought management escalation. You will be capable of the efficient assessment of complex water supply issues through data science, both by yourself and through team members and be able to clearly and concisely communicate advice on options available and recommend preferred best value solutions to executive level
• Providing guidance on daily/weekly production planning calls regarding water resource situation to ensure the cost optimal operation of Welsh Water’s water resources/production assets throughout the year reflecting current and potential seasonal hydrology, drought management rules and asset performance.
• Advise operational managers on the preparation of water resource assets (dams, abstractions and raw water pumping stations etc) during the spring period to ensure availability of water supply during prolonged dry weather events. Maintain effective dry weather operating manuals to guide the business when moving into drought periods
• Be an effective member of the weekly Director led drought incident team when needed, where you will provide guidance and advice on courses of operational action and need for capital investment during drought periods. These commonly stand up between May and September
• You will support the development of regulatory submissions; Water Resource Management Plans, Drought Plans, annual reviews through your knowledge of the water supply systems in your area and your ability to analyse risk through system modelling
• Your team will provide expert advice to capital projects that impact on water resources (i.e. New asset development and Dam safety projects). You will support the delivery of the National Environment Programme investigations through your understanding of water abstractions and operations.
• As a member of wider national water resource institutions and technical groups, you will take an innovative approach in developing improved ways of working and capable of implementing change across the regional water resources team as these methodologies are developed

About you

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• A proven Water Resource Manager with extensive operational experience and ability to demonstrate a proven track record of success
• Significant experience in Water Resources and or Production Planning in operational and regulatory roles
• A degree or similar qualification in numerate earth science area, engineering, data science/mathematics, preferably with a further qualification in water resource planning, hydrology or engineering
• A highly numerate person able to demonstrate experience in the utilisation of hydrological and water resource behavioural software and tools. (Experience of GR6J or other catchment models, Pyware or Aquator would is highly desirable. An understanding of the advantages of, or ability to code in Python would be an advantage)
• An ability to think both strategically whilst focusing on day-to-day water resource and production and distribution operation, effectively and efficiently
• Able to demonstrate experience in water resource risk management and drought planning through the capture of operational and hydrological evidence, to assess water supply consequence and benefits of improvement actions
• A proved track record in developing positive working relationships with colleagues at all levels of the organisation from Directors to front line operational staff. The ability to guide and influence change based on effective analysis and communication across management teams and wider organisation
• Able to demonstrate the successful management of a team through effective employee engagement, performance management and staff development
• The ability to build relationships with external agencies, to identify opportunities for cooperative working and mutually successful solutions
• Ability to travel as required

As well as a market competitive salary, 34 days annual leave (pro rata, including public holidays), we offer a range of employee benefits and rewards including:

• Variable pay schemes (your salary band will remain the same, but performance depending, you could receive an incremental within-band increase and a yearly incentive)
• Option to buy additional annual leave up to 5 days per year
• Enhanced employer pension contributions – Up to 11% employer contributions
• Free Mortgage Brokering Services
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Progression opportunities, including the ability to apply for funded training and coaching and mentoring programmes
• Gym and fitness discounts as well as high street shopping
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discount off all Welsh Water visitor attraction centres and gift shops
• Car-leasing scheme and free on-site parking at all sites
• Health CashBack scheme and access to an online GP service
• An employee assistance programme for employees and their immediate family
• Many more can be found on our website.

Due to the nature of the industry, we require satisfactory references, post offer medical clearance, and a criminal records Basic Disclosure check on all new employees joining the business.

For some roles there may be additional checks and security clearance required, and this offer is subject to all checks being satisfied. You will receive further information on how to complete these checks via email once you have accepted this offer.

Who we are

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water keep 3 million people healthy each day with safe, reliable water, and take away wastewater to clean, before returning it safely to our beautiful rivers and seas.

To be able to deliver high quality, essential services which help to protect the health of our customers, colleagues and our environment, we need the right people to deliver on our vision. This is achieved by living our core values and demonstrating the core behaviours that underpin them. The security of our people, assets and information is key to us, so we are looking for people who understand and comply with the company’s required security objectives.

We know that the most successful teams are the most diverse teams. Equality, diversity and inclusion provide the very foundation to our culture at Welsh Water. We want every individual to feel confident, proud and able to bring their whole selves to work.

To ensure an improved representation in our workforce, applications are particularly welcome from minority groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people, Females, LGBT+, Non-binary and people with disabilities. Together we continue to build a workplace that not only celebrates the diverse voices of our colleagues but also represents each customer we serve.

In essence, ours is a company based on trust, openness, respect, commitment and honesty. A company that our colleagues are proud to work for.

Dŵr Cymru Cyf, a limited company registered in Wales No. 2366777. Registered office: Linea, Fortran Road, St. Mellons, Cardiff CF3 0LT

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