Asset Standards Manager

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A major water utility company in the UK seeks an Asset Standards Manager to oversee standards for design, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning. This role involves leading a team of six specialists, providing technical leadership, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. Candidates should have a degree in Engineering or Asset Management, relevant experience, and strong stakeholder engagement skills. The position offers a competitive salary up to £85,000, hybrid working, and various employee benefits.

Benefits

26 days holiday per year

Performance-related pay

Generous Pension Scheme

Private Medical Health

Cycle to Work schemes

Qualifications

• Must have a valid UK driving license for site visits.
• Experience leading technical teams and coordinating input.
• Ability to present to senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain lifecycle standards for design and operation.
• Lead a team of standards specialists to ensure compliance.
• Prepare and present compliance reports to senior leaders.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory knowledge

Technical documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Asset Management

Master’s preferred

Tools

ISO 55000

Job description

Job title Asset Standards Manager Ref 43812 Division Asset Operations & Capital Delivery Location Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Salary Competitive salary up to £85,000 per annum depending on experience. Job grade C Closing date 29/01/2026

We are looking for a strategic technical leader who will set the standards across the full asset lifecycle—covering design, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning ensuring we meet our organisational goals and regulatory requirements.

What you’ll be doing as an Asset Standards Manager

You’ll lead a team of standards specialists and work hand‑in‑hand with Engineering, Operations and Capital Delivery to embed best practice and unlock performance and value in design, construction, operation and maintenance through implementation of optimal asset standards.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain lifecycle standards:
  • Design – define technical specs and design criteria for consistency and quality.
  • Operation – set operational protocols and performance benchmarks.
  • Maintenance – shape preventive/predictive strategies.
  • Decommissioning – create safe, efficient, cost‑effective retirement and disposal standards.
• Provide technical leadership, collaborating with SMEs across Engineering, Operations and Capital Delivery to ensure standards meet business needs.
• Track industry trends and regulatory change to keep us compliant and competitive.
• Own the governance framework for asset standards, including creation, adoption and change control.
• Lead a team of six standards specialists; set clear objectives and support their development.
• Prepare and present compliance and standards reports to senior leaders and regulators.
• Manage the Asset Standards team budget and deliver indirect cost savings across design, construction, operation and maintenance.

Working pattern/hours:

36 hours, Monday- Friday

Requirements:

Must have a valid UK driving license, as there will be site visits to meet job requirements.

What you should bring to the role

To thrive in this role, the essential criteria you’ll need are:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Asset Management, or related field (Master's preferred) and relevant professional certifications (e.g. CEng).
• Demonstrable experience developing engineering or asset standards, or leading asset management, engineering design and/or maintenance.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements, asset lifecycle principles, and relevant industry standards (e.g. ISO 55000).
• A track record of leading technical teams and coordinating cross‑functional input.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence at pace.
• Expertise in technical documentation and report writing; data‑driven decision‑making.
• Strategic, systems‑thinking mindset with strengths in change management, continuous improvement, and risk & lifecycle awareness.
• Confidence in presenting to senior stakeholders and external bodies/regulators.

Additional skills and experiences would be great to bring:

• Experience in regulated utilities (water or similar).
• Experience embedding standards into capital delivery and day‑to‑day operations.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary up to £85,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays)
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON
• Private Medical Health
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

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.

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 meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

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's 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.

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

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process . If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else, just let us know. We’rehere to help and support .

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 and meet colleagues.

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.