Digital Risk Lead

Thames Water; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water services provider is seeking a Digital Risk Lead in Reading to develop and manage risk management processes. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of risk principles and experience in operational governance. This role offers a competitive salary and benefits while supporting hybrid work arrangements.

Benefits

Competitive salary up to £45,000

26 days annual leave

Generous pension scheme

Health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Practical understanding of risk management principles.
• Experience delivering operational processes or governance models.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain risk identification and mitigation processes.
• Embed operational risk practices across Digital.
• Support and maintain risk frameworks and governance.

Skills

Risk management principles

Operational risk frameworks

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Education

Degree-level education

Job description

Overview

As a Digital Risk Lead, you will be responsible for defining, implementing, and continuously improving risk management processes across Thames Water’s Digital organisation. You will play a key role in operationalising risk-based thinking, maintaining high‑quality risk data, and supporting the integration of risk practices into business‑as‑usual digital management. You will work closely with the Digital Planning & Reporting Lead, operational leadership teams, and wider Digital stakeholders to ensure risks are accurately captured, assessed, mitigated, and effectively embedded within Digital governance.

What you’ll be doing as a Digital Risk Lead

• Define, develop and maintain clear, repeatable processes to identify, log, assess and mitigate risks across Digital.
• Embed operational risk management practices aligned with Thames Water’s broader enterprise management standards.
• Maintain and regularly update risk records, documentation, and evidence ensuring accuracy, consistency, and completeness.
• Support the rollout, improvement, and ongoing maintenance of asset and enterprise risk frameworks, providing guidance to operational leadership teams.
• Contribute to the development and consistent use of risk scoring methodologies to support sound, data‑driven decision‑making.
• Provide assurance on digital risk data quality through structured reviews, reporting cycles, and continuous improvement recommendations.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure risks are captured with appropriate detail, context, and actionable mitigation plans.
• Coordinate initial responses for internal audit and compliance actions.

Base Location

Reading, Clearwater Court – Hybrid

Working Pattern

36 Hours

What you should bring to the role

Essential Experience

• Practical understanding of risk management principles and operational risk frameworks.
• Experience supporting or delivering operational processes, governance models, or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and influence stakeholders.
• High resilience, accuracy, and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and maintain quality under pressure.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working within Digital, IT, or operational functions where risk management is integral to day‑to‑day delivery.
• Familiarity with enterprise risk or asset risk frameworks.

Essential Technical Skills & Qualifications

• Degree‑level education (or equivalent experience) is desirable.

Desirable Technical Skills & Qualifications

• Professional risk‑related qualification (e.g., Institute of Risk Management Certificate, Institute of Asset Management Certificate) or currently working towards one.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary up to £45,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• Annual Leave – 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with length of service (plus bank holidays).
• Performance‑related pay plan directly linked to both company and individual performance measures and targets.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Access to a range of benefits to support health, wellbeing and finances, including annual health MOTs, physiotherapy and counselling, Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Find out more about our benefits and perks

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.

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us each 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.

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.

Why choose us?

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

Inclusive workplace

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.

Crisis 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.