Continuous Improvement Implementation Lead

Thames Water Ltd; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days holiday increasing with length

Performance-related pay

Generous Pension Scheme

Health and wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Thames Water Ltd is seeking a Continuous Improvement Implementation Lead to drive cross-functional improvements within the Operational Service Control Centre. You will use data and feedback to identify problems, lead change, and deliver measurable benefits across teams.

The role focuses on sustaining improvements, managing risks, and communicating with stakeholders through the full project lifecycle in a hybrid Reading-based position. It requires strong CI expertise and customer-focused thinking.

Qualifications

• Experience using Continuous Improvement and change management approaches to help projects land well.
• Ability to build relationships, work with different people and influence others.
• Project management experience or knowledge with good business awareness.
• A clear understanding of who our customers are and what matters to them.
• Good analytical and organisational skills.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office software.

Responsibilities

• Lead improvement initiatives that support OSCC, regulatory, customer and environmental performance.
• Maintain risk logs, controls and escalations.
• Keep stakeholders informed throughout the project lifecycle.
• Follow the internal Gate framework to manage projects consistently.
• Agree ways of working with stakeholders, including risk logs, maps and implementation plans.
• Use data and insight to validate issues, identify solutions and deliver benefits.
• Act as a CI and business change SME, supporting colleagues with improvement projects.

Skills

Change management

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Analytical thinking

Microsoft Office

Tools

Lean Six Sigma

DMAIC

Prince2

Data analytics

Job description

The Continuous Improvement Implementation Lead helps drive improvements across the whole of the Operational Service Control Centre (known as OSCC), making sure initiatives improve performance, service, quality and customer experience.

The role focuses on spotting opportunities, leading change and making sure improvements deliver real results.

Working with operational teams, stakeholders and leaders, you’ll look at how things are done now, find what can work better and put lasting improvements in place. You’ll use data, insight and feedback to solve problems, support teams through change and help build a culture of continuous improvement.

What you will be doing as the Continuous Improvement Implementation Lead

• Lead improvement initiatives that support OSCC, regulatory, customer and environmental performance.
• Maintain risk logs, controls and escalations.
• Keep stakeholders informed throughout the project lifecycle.
• Follow the internal Gate framework to manage projects consistently.
• Agree ways of working with stakeholders, including risk logs, maps and implementation plans.
• Use data and insight to validate issues, identify solutions and deliver benefits.
• Act as a CI and business change SME, supporting colleagues with improvement projects.

Location: Hybrid role based out of Kemble Court, Reading.

Hours: 36 hours Monday to Friday

Contract: This is a secondment contract for between 12 and 18 months.

What you should bring to the role:

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

• Confidence using Continuous Improvement and change management approaches to help projects land well.
• The ability to build relationships, work with different people and influence others.
• Project management experience or knowledge with good business awareness.
• A clear understanding of who our customers are and what matters to them.
• Good analytical and organisational skills.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office software.

Additional skills and experiences would be great to have/bring:

• Water or Utilities sector experience.
• Lean Six Sigma, DMAIC, Prince or equivalent understanding and knowledge.
• Data analytics understanding.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary from £55,800 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.

Learn more about our purpose and values

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.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

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.