Control Testing & Automation Lead

Thames Water Ltd; Reading; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary up to £80,000 per year

26 days annual leave (plus bank)

Generous pension scheme

Performance-related pay

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Thames Water Ltd is seeking a Control Testing & Automation Lead to design and deliver automated control testing and monitoring solutions across IT, OT, and business environments. You will work with the Control Testing & Assurance Manager, digital teams, and stakeholders to automate controls and support risk and compliance objectives.

The role focuses on modernising the control testing programme through automation, data collection improvements, and scalable monitoring to strengthen security and

Qualifications

• Experience in control testing automation or related assurance activities within an enterprise environment.
• Strong understanding of risk management practices and control frameworks (e.g., COBIT/COSO).
• Ability to measure, monitor, and report on control effectiveness using relevant metrics and data.
• Experience collaborating with both technical and business teams to deliver automation solutions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs in a structured manner.

Responsibilities

• Identify and assess opportunities to automate control testing across IT, OT, and business functions.
• Design, develop, and implement automation plans and workflows to support continuous monitoring of controls.
• Evaluate and recommend appropriate tooling and technologies for control testing automation.
• Collaborate with digital teams to establish reliable data acquisition and integration processes.
• Conduct regular reviews of automated testing outputs to identify and report control deficiencies.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation for automation workflows, processes, and exception handling.
• Engage with project teams, control owners, and key stakeholders to gather requirements and support automation initiatives.
• Ensure automation initiatives are delivered within expected timelines and aligned with programme objectives.
• Escalate issues, risks, or delays to the Control Testing & Assurance Manager and contribute to resolving challenges.
• Support the continuous improvement of the control testing programme through automation and innovation.
• Stay informed on relevant frameworks and best practices, including NIST CSF and CIS Controls, to enhance automation and monitoring capabilities.

Job description

As a Control Testing & Automation Lead, you will be responsible for designing and delivering automated control testing and monitoring solutions across IT, OT, and business environments at Thames Water. Working closely with the Control Testing & Assurance Manager, digital teams, and a wide range of business stakeholders, you will identify opportunities to automate control testing and implement continuous monitoring solutions that support the organisation’s risk and compliance objectives.

This role plays a key part in modernising the control testing programme by introducing automation, improving data collection processes, and enabling more efficient monitoring of control effectiveness. Combining strong automation expertise with a structured, risk-based approach, you will help build a streamlined and scalable automated control testing environment that strengthens Thames Water’s security and assurance capabilities.

To be considered for this position, candidates must be eligible to obtain security clearance to a minimum of Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) level.

What you’ll be doing as a Control Testing & Automation Lead

• Identify and assess opportunities to automate control testing across IT, OT, and business functions.
• Design, develop, and implement automation plans and workflows to support continuous monitoring of controls.
• Evaluate and recommend appropriate tooling and technologies for control testing automation.
• Collaborate with digital teams to establish reliable data acquisition and integration processes.
• Conduct regular reviews of automated testing outputs to identify and report control deficiencies.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation for automation workflows, processes, and exception handling.
• Engage with project teams, control owners, and key stakeholders to gather requirements and support automation initiatives.
• Ensure automation initiatives are delivered within expected timelines and aligned with programme objectives.
• Escalate issues, risks, or delays to the Control Testing & Assurance Manager and contribute to resolving challenges.
• Support the continuous improvement of the control testing programme through automation and innovation.
• Stay informed on relevant frameworks and best practices, including NIST CSF and CIS Controls, to enhance automation and monitoring capabilities.

Working pattern – 36 hours Monday to Friday.

What you should bring to the role

• Experience in control testing automation, process automation, or related assurance activities within an enterprise environment.
• Strong understanding of risk management practices and control frameworks.
• Ability to measure, monitor, and report on control effectiveness using relevant metrics and data.
• Experience collaborating with both technical and business teams to deliver automation solutions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs in a structured manner.

Technical experience and skills

• Expertise in automation tools and scripting technologies such as Python, PowerShell, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) platforms, or audit automation tools.
• Experience developing and implementing automation workflows related to control testing or assurance processes.
• Familiarity with IT environments, including IT infrastructure, operational technology (OT), and cloud platforms.
• Ability to implement monitoring mechanisms and analyse automated testing outputs to identify control weaknesses.
• Experience documenting automation processes, workflows, and exception management procedures.

Desirable qualifications and experience

• Experience working in a regulated environment, the water utility sector, or large complex critical national infrastructure organisations.
• Familiarity with governance and control frameworks such as COBIT or COSO.
• Exposure to cybersecurity principles and domains such as vulnerability management and identity and access management.
• Experience using data analytics or dshboarding tools such as Power BI or Tableau to visualise and report automation outcomes.

Desirable technical skills and qualifications

• Professional certifications such as CISA, CISSP, CRISC, or ISO 27001 Lead Auditor.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary of up to £80,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays)
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
• 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.

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.