Business Improvement Partner

United Utilities; Warrington; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 26 days

Pension up to 14%

Bonus up to 10.5%

Healthcare plan

EVolve Car Scheme

Employee Assistance Plan

Flexible benefits

Enhanced parental leave

Job summary

United Utilities is seeking a Business Improvement Partner to analyse complex problems across a large organisation and turn insight into measurable improvements for operations, customers and finance.

You will combine Lean Six Sigma, data analysis and stakeholder insight to uncover root causes, challenge current ways of working and develop evidence-based recommendations for senior leaders. The role requires driving value while collaborating with transformation, technology and project teams.

Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt or equivalent.
• Significant experience applying Lean Six Sigma tools to real challenges and delivering measurable outcomes.
• Experience in large, complex organisations across functions/sites or regulatory environments.
• Strong track record in business improvement, operational excellence and transformation.
• Experience diagnosing problems, root-cause analysis and practical solutions.
• Strong data analysis skills to identify trends and risks.
• Advanced or highly capable Excel skills for analysis and decision-making.
• Strong storyboarding and presentation skills for senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Translate complex challenges into clear problem statements and actionable recommendations.
• Use Lean Six Sigma and root-cause analysis to identify underlying issues.
• Analyse operational, customer and performance data to identify trends and opportunities.
• Facilitate workshops, discovery sessions and process reviews with stakeholders.
• Prioritise opportunities based on value, risk, feasibility and alignment.
• Create data-led narratives and storyboards for senior stakeholders.
• Develop evidence-based business cases and recommendations for decisions.
• Lead or oversee improvement initiatives and select approaches.
• Collaborate with operations, transformation, change, technology and project teams to implement.
• Define success measures and benefits realisation plans to ensure sustainability.
• Coach leaders in continuous improvement and structured problem-solving.
• Contribute to development of improvement frameworks, tools and standards.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Stakeholder mgmt

Data analysis

Excel skills

Workshop facilitation

Process improvement

Communication

Driving licence

Tools

Excel

Job description

Business Improvement Partner

Location: Lingley Mere (UU), Lingley Green Avenue, Great Sankey, Warrington, WA5 3LP

Hybrid: 3 days per week onsite

Salary: Competitive + benefit package

Help us solve complex problems and deliver improvements that matter

At United Utilities, we are continually looking for ways to improve how we operate, serve our customers and deliver value across our organisation.

We are looking for an experienced Business Improvement Partner who can work across a large, complex and multifaceted organisation to analyse the big problems and turn insight into measurable operational, customer and financial improvement recommendations.

You will be a strategic problem solver and trusted partner who can move between different business areas, understand how processes, people, data and systems connect, and help senior leaders focus on the opportunities that will deliver the greatest value.

You will combine Lean Six Sigma expertise, structured problem-solving, data analysis and stakeholder insight to uncover root causes, challenge existing ways of working and thinking, as well as develop practical, evidence-based recommendations.

What you’ll be doing

As a Business Improvement Partner, you will:

• Translate complex and sometimes ambiguous challenges into clear problem statements and actionable recommendations.
• Use Lean Six Sigma methodologies, structured problem-solving and root cause analysis to identify underlying issues.
• Analyse operational, customer and performance data to identify trends, risks and improvement opportunities.
• Facilitate workshops, discovery sessions and process reviews to understand the experiences and perspectives of different stakeholder groups.
• Assess and prioritise opportunities based on business value, customer impact, risk, feasibility and strategic alignment.
• Create compelling, data-led narratives and storyboards that help senior stakeholders understand problems, options and recommended solutions.
• Develop evidence-based business cases and recommendations that support effective decision-making.
• Lead, support or oversee improvement initiatives, selecting the most appropriate approach for each challenge.
• Work collaboratively with operational, transformation, change, technology and project teams to support successful implementation.
• Define success measures and benefits realisation plans, ensuring improvements are measurable, sustainable and embedded.
• Coach leaders, managers and improvement champions in continuous improvement and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Contribute to the continued development of our business improvement frameworks, tools and standards.

What we’re looking for

To be successful in this role, you must have:

• A Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt or equivalent recognised improvement qualification.
• Significant experience applying Lean Six Sigma tools and methodologies to real business challenges and delivering measurable outcomes.
• Experience working within a large, complex and multifaceted organisation, ideally across several functions, business areas, sites or regulatory environments.
• A strong track record in business improvement, operational excellence, process excellence, transformation or performance improvement.
• Experience diagnosing complex problems, undertaking root cause analysis and developing practical, evidence-based solutions.
• Strong data analysis skills, including the ability to interpret complex information and identify trends, risks and systemic issues.
• Advanced or highly capable Microsoft Excel skills, with experience using data to support analysis (including sampling data out of systems), recommendations and decision-making.
• Strong storyboarding and presentation skills, with the ability to turn complex analysis into a clear and persuasive narrative.
• Excellent senior stakeholder management skills, including the ability to listen, understand different perspectives, build trust, challenge constructively and influence decisions.
• Experience facilitating workshops, process reviews and discovery sessions with operational and senior stakeholders.
• Previous experience supporting the integration of organisational processes, functions or systems.
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with hands‑on improvement delivery across multiple priorities.
• A full UK driving licence, as ad hoc travel to United Utilities sites may be required.

The experience that could make you stand out

We are particularly interested in candidates who have developed broad experience by working across different functions, organisations, operational areas or sites.

Experience within one or more of the following environments would be beneficial

• Logistics and supply chain
• Utilities or other regulated industries
• Manufacturing
• Construction and infrastructure
• Retail operations
• Large‑scale service‑based organisations
• Customer‑focused operational environments

You do not need to come from the water industry. What matters is your ability to navigate complexity, understand how different parts of an organisation interact and apply structured improvement methodologies to deliver sustainable results.

What you’ll bring

You will be curious, analytical and comfortable getting beneath the surface of a problem. You will understand that data is only part of the picture and will take the time to understand how stakeholders experience a challenge, why it matters to them and what may be preventing improvement.

You will be confident working with senior leaders while remaining close enough to operational teams to understand what is really happening. Most importantly, you will know how to turn insight into action and ensure improvements deliver lasting value.

If you are an experienced Lean Six Sigma practitioner who enjoys solving complex problems, influencing senior stakeholders and delivering meaningful business improvement, we would love to hear from you.

Benefits

We’ve got a lot to offer. You’ll be part of a thriving FTSE 100 company and will enjoy a range of core benefits that reflect your value and value contribution.

• A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service (increases one day per year), in addition to 8 bank holidays. Plus the opportunity to buy 5 additional days
• A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
• Up to 10.5% performance-related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
• A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company-funded scheme
• MyGymDiscounts - gym and wellness benefit that offers up to 25% off on gym memberships and digital fitness subscriptions
• Best Doctors
• Salary Finance
• Wealth at Work courses
• Deals and discounts
• EVolve Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Mental health first aiders
• ShareBuy
• MORE Choices flexible benefits
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Please note that this role may not be eligible for sponsorship. As we expect a high volume of applications, we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date.