Asset Strategy Lead

TN United Kingdom; Worthing; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a strategic thinker to join their Water Asset Strategy Team. This full-time role focuses on developing sustainable asset strategies for clean water assets, ensuring compliance and efficiency. You will engage with senior stakeholders, challenge existing processes, and leverage data insights to drive cultural change. The position offers a hybrid working model, competitive salary, and a range of attractive benefits, making it an exciting opportunity for those passionate about the water sector and long-term planning.

Benefits

Company and performance-related bonus

Generous pension up to 11%

25 days annual leave

Life assurance equal to 4x salary

Salary sacrifice electric car scheme

Fully funded eye tests

Two paid volunteering days

Discounts with over 800 retailers

Study support for job-related qualifications

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in asset management, preferably in the water sector.
• Strong planning and strategic thinking skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and embed water asset strategies considering full asset lifecycles.
• Use data insights to guide decisions and investment planning.

Skills

Asset Management

Strategic Thinking

Data Analysis

Stakeholder Engagement

Systems Thinking

Education

Degree in Asset Management or related field

ISO 55000 Qualification

Tools

Modelling Tools

Job description

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Location: Falmer office (Hybrid Working)

Salary: Salary and package are to be discussed at the screening stage.

We’re looking to recruit a key hire in our Water Asset Strategy Team. This is a brilliant opportunity for someone who understands the challenges of the water or utilities sectors and is passionate about long-term planning, influencing change, and embedding future-thinking into day-to-day business.

Job Overview

This role is all about developing smart, sustainable asset strategies that help Southern Water deliver on its commitments safely, legally, and efficiently – both now and for the long term. You’ll be leading on strategic thinking around asset health, performance, criticality, and resilience – all of which are top priorities. The role is solely focussed on clean water assets.

You’ll be expected to challenge existing ways of working, spot opportunities, and work across teams to embed asset strategies into the wider business. It’s a visible, forward-thinking role, ideal for someone confident working with senior stakeholders, turning analysis into action, and helping drive cultural change.

Responsibilities will include:

• Developing and embedding water asset strategies that consider full asset lifecycles
• Focussing on the key areas of asset health, criticality and resilience
• Using a systems-thinking approach to understand interdependencies across the business and wider society
• Drawing insight from data and modelling tools to guide decisions and investment planning
• Recommending interventions that balance long-term value, cost, and risk
• Building strong relationships across teams to embed asset strategies into business-as-usual
• Supporting regulatory submissions and long-term business planning

About You

The ideal candidate will have solid experience in asset management, preferably within the water sector, although those with a utilities background or other regulated industries will also be considered. They’ll bring strong planning and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to develop and embed new approaches across the business. This person should be confident working cross-functionally, comfortable breaking down silos, and capable of engaging and influencing a range of stakeholders. A data-led mindset is essential – they should be able to draw meaningful insights from models and analysis, such as deterioration or whole-life cost models. A qualification in asset or risk management (such as ISO 55000) or a relevant degree would be highly desirable.

Package

This role will be full time Monday to Friday 37 hours a week.

Southern Water operate a hybrid approach to working between our Falmer office (minimum 1 day a week) and home.

We are offering a salary of up to £55,000 per annum depending on skills and experience as well as other benefits including:

• Company and performance-related bonus

• Generous pension up to 11% company contribution

• 25 days annual leave

• Life assurance equal to 4x salary

• Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months service)

• Full funded eye tests

• Two paid volunteering days a year

• Discounts with over 800 popular retailers

• Study support may be available for job-related qualifications

• Competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options

• Cycle to work scheme

Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?

Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose. To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support – because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority. That’s why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve. Joining the Southern Water family means you’ll become part of our incident support team. During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that apply to your position.

Privacy Statement:

Please note: If you are an existing Southern Water employee, you will need to confirm within your application that your Manager is aware of your application.

All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility (e.g. a passport or long birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months), will be required as part of the recruitment process. If you do not meet these criteria, your application will not be considered.