Bio Resources Improvement Manager

Thames Water Ltd; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

26 days holiday increasing to 30

Performance-related pay

Pension scheme

Health and wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Thames Water Ltd is seeking a Bio Resources Improvement Manager to drive the future Bio Resources strategy. You will lead strategic and operational programmes across the Bioresources business, delivering improvements in sludge treatment, digestion, biogas, and resource recovery while ensuring regulatory and safety compliance.

You will collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Asset Management and external partners to translate strategic objectives into deliverable plans, manage budgets, and

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading operational improvement programmes.
• Strong programme management expertise in water/bioresources.
• Excellent leadership and stakeholder management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex Bioresources programmes from initiation through delivery, ensuring alignment with objectives.
• Drive performance across sludge, digestion, biogas and resource recovery with governance and risk management.
• Develop programme roadmaps, budgets, forecasts and delivery plans.
• Provide executive-level reporting on performance, risks, opportunities and benefits realisation.
• Engage with Operations, Engineering, Asset Management and external partners to ensure delivery of development plans.
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities and embed best practice programme management disciplines.
• Chair programme governance forums and steering groups; ensure regulatory compliance.

Skills

Programme management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Financial management

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

Bio Resources Improvement Manager

Take an active role in driving the future of the Thames Water Bio Resources strategy. Engage with operational teams to enhance the value of our Bio Resources agenda and then lead operational colleagues to deliver improvements.

This role is responsible for leading strategic and operational programmes across the Bioresources business. To ensure the delivery of regulatory, performance, asset health, optimisation and transformation initiatives that improve sludge treatment, digestion, biogas, resource recovery and environmental outcomes.

You will work closely with colleagues from Operations, Engineering, Capital Delivery, Asset Management, Regulation, Finance and external partners including EA/EHO - ensuring workstream improvement plans are developed, managed and driven through to successful delivery. Then engage regularly with operational colleagues on a local site basis to ensure full understanding of development plans is effectively delivered and understood.

What you’ll be doing as a Bio Resources Improvement Manager

• Lead complex Bioresources programmes from initiation through delivery, ensuring alignment with business objectives and AMP commitments.
• Drive performance across sludge, digestion, biogas and resource recovery programmes through robust governance and risk management.
• Develop programme roadmaps, budgets, forecasts and delivery plans.
• Provide executive-level reporting on programme performance, risks, opportunities and benefits realisation.
• Work closely with Operations, Engineering, Capital Delivery, Asset Management, Regulation and external partners.
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities and embed best practice programme management disciplines.
• Lead stakeholder engagement and chair programme governance forums and steering groups.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, health and safety and regulatory requirements.

What you should bring to the role

• Proven experience managing operational improvement programmes and strong programme management expertise.
• Experience within water, wastewater, and bioresources industries.
• Degree qualified in Engineering, Science, Business or related discipline.
• Thorough understanding of sewage treatment processes, particularly bioresources workstreams.
• Excellent financial, risk and performance management skills.
• Strong leadership, influencing and stakeholder management capability.
• Ability to translate strategic objectives into deliverable plans and measurable outcomes.

Additional skills and experiences would be great to have/bring

• Exposure to bioresources activity within waste & bioresources treatment activity.
• Exposure and involvement in largescale programme management activity.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary up to £70,000 per annum depending on skills and experiences.
• 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.
• 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.

Find out more about our benefits and perks (Please note different T&Cs apply if on secondment)

Who are we?

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.

Working at Thames Water

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 of 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’re here 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.

About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Base location: Hybrid Clear Water Court

Working pattern or hours: 36 hours

Company: Thames Water. Salary: £70,000 to £70,000 a year. Hours: Full-time. Location: Reading, RG1 8DB. Job type: Permanent. Posting date: 31 Oct 2026. Closing date: 13 Nov 2026.