Asset Investment Manager - Wastewater Treatment

Southern Water; Chatham; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Water is seeking an Asset Investment Manager (Wastewater Treatment) to lead a strategically important wastewater programme within AMP8. You will drive governance, risk management and investment prioritisation to deliver regulatory and business outcomes, building robust investment cases with internal and external experts.

You will influence senior leaders and work across organisations to shape investment decisions, manage whole-life costs and deliver high-quality solutions while

Qualifications

• Strong strategic thinking, analytical capability and leadership.
• Experience balancing operational, regulatory, commercial and customer considerations.
• Proven track record in developing investment strategies and business cases.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Providing strategic leadership across programme governance, risk management and investment prioritisation to ensure delivery of regulatory and business outcomes.
• Championing a culture of innovation, continuous improvement and evidence-based decision making across programme development activities.
• Acting as a recognised subject matter authority for the programme, building confidence with internal stakeholders, regulators and delivery partners.
• Owning programme development and submissions for regulatory price reviews, building evidence-based investment cases.
• Managing investment portfolios, ensuring whole-life cost considerations are embedded and value is realised.
• Driving optimisation of programme scope and delivery plans to meet business needs while assuring performance against commitments.
• Leading and developing a team of technical specialists to identify needs, prioritise investment, and develop credible solutions.

Job description

Closing Date

2026-11-06

Job Title : Asset Investment Manager - Wastewater Treatment

Location: ideally within our region with one day a week in either Falmer or Durrington (Sussex)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37, Monday to Friday

Salary: circa £75,000 + car allowance

There has never been a more important time to join Southern Water. As we move through AMP8, we are delivering one of the most ambitious capital investment programmes in the industry, focused on improving environmental performance, service resilience and long-term affordability for customers.

About the role

As Asset Investment Manager (Wastewater Treatment) you will lead the development one of the strategically important wastewater programmes. This role is accountable for delivering regulatory and business outcomes, while creating and maintaining a robust Strategic Programme Execution Plan for wastewater treatment assets.

This is a highly influential role requiring strong strategic thinking, analytical capability, and leadership. You will bring together complex data, diverse stakeholder perspectives, and technical expertise to make informed decisions across organisational boundaries. Working closely with senior leaders, technical specialists, and delivery partners, you will help shape investment decisions and ensure successful programme delivery.

What you will be responsible for

• Providing strategic leadership across programme governance, risk management and investment prioritisation to ensure delivery of regulatory and business outcomes.

• Championing a culture of innovation, continuous improvement and evidence-based decision making across programme development activities.

• Acting as a recognised subject matter authority for the programme, building confidence with internal stakeholders, regulators and delivery partner.

• Owning programme development and submissions for regulatory price reviews, working with internal and external experts to build compelling, evidence-based investment cases.

• Managing investment portfolios, ensuring whole-life cost considerations are embedded and that value is realised from the investments made.

• Driving optimisation of programme scope and delivery plans to meet business needs, while assuring performance against regulatory commitments and Strategic Programme Execution Plans.

• Leading and developing a team of technical specialists responsible for identifying needs, prioritising investment, and developing high-quality, credible solutions that support delivery objectives.

What you’ll bring to the role

• A strong understanding of infrastructure, utilities, water, wastewater or other highly regulated industries, with experience balancing operational, regulatory, commercial and customer considerations.

• Proven experience developing investment strategies, prioritising programmes and building robust evidence-based business cases to support funding and regulatory submissions.

• Strong financial and commercial acumen, with experience managing substantial investment budgets and applying whole-life cost and value-based decision‑making principles.

• Experience of developing whole lifecycle asset management solutions, including criticality, failure risk, maintenance strategy, lifecycle planning and investment strategies.

• Demonstrable experience leading multidisciplinary teams and influencing stakeholders across a complex organisation without direct authority.

• The ability to analyse complex technical, operational and financial information and translate this into clear recommendations and decisions.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with experience engaging and influencing senior leaders, executive teams and external stakeholders.

• A proven track record of deploying your experience alongside strong Asset Management principles to effectively develop deliverable strategies and plans.

• A collaborative leadership style, with the ability to build trusted relationships across operational, technical, commercial and delivery functions.

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.

You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long‑term value creation.

At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we'd love to hear from you even if you don't tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need.

Our Commitment to Diversity

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Additional information

In line with Southern Water's security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK,criminal recordcheck (DBS)and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years. Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all preemployment checks, including security vetting. Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment. Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.