Distribution Science Manager

South East Water UK; Pembury; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stakeholder pension

Holiday entitlement

Flexible annual leave

Volunteering days

Cycle to work

Health cash plan

Life assurance

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

South East Water is seeking a Distribution Science Manager to lead a specialist technical team protecting water quality from treatment works to the customer’s tap. You’ll own network performance by proactively identifying risks before they impact supply and ensuring the delivery of safe, wholesome drinking water.

You will balance fast-paced operational demands with long-term maintenance strategies to optimise the network’s resilience and reliability, while guiding technical experts with a

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in water network distribution or water quality management is essential.
• Must have valid UK driving license.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and technical direction to the Distribution Science team, focusing on the monitoring and management of the water distribution network.
• Develop and implement proactive strategies to identify, control, and mitigate water quality risks within the network.
• Oversee performance analysis of the distribution system, using data to drive improvements in water quality and network health.
• Optimise team workload by effectively delegating tasks and streamlining workflows to reduce reactive pressures.
• Collaborate closely with operational teams on flushing programs, network maintenance, and the management of customer water quality contacts.
• Ensure all distribution activities align with regulatory requirements and internal quality assurance standards.
• Provide technical oversight and support during distribution-related water quality incidents, ensuring rapid and effective mitigation.
• Coach and mentor team members to build technical capability and ensure robust scientific support across the region.
• Act as a technical subject matter expert in network infrastructure and water quality projects.
• Evaluate and evolve standard operating procedures for network maintenance to minimize impact on water quality and consumer supply.

Skills

Leadership

Risk management

Data analysis

Regulatory compliance

Mentoring

Job description

Summary:

As the Distribution Science Manager, you’ll lead a specialist technical team dedicated to protecting water quality from our treatment works right to the customer’s tap.

Reporting directly to the Water Quality Manager, you’ll take ownership of network performance by proactively identifying potential risks before they impact supply and ensuring the continuous delivery of safe, wholesome drinking water.

In this role, you will balance fast-paced operational demands with long-term maintenance strategies to optimise the network’s overall resilience.

You will bring proven experience in water quality or distribution science, strong leadership skills to guide technical experts, and a proactive, analytical approach to risk management that guarantees compliance and maintains customer trust.

• Provide leadership and technical direction to the Distribution Science team, focusing on the monitoring and management of the water distribution network.
• Develop and implement proactive strategies to identify, control, and mitigate water quality risks within the network.
• Oversee performance analysis of the distribution system, using data to drive improvements in water quality and network health.
• Optimise team workload by effectively delegating tasks and streamlining workflows to reduce reactive pressures.
• Collaborate closely with operational teams on flushing programs, network maintenance, and the management of customer water quality contacts.
• Ensure all distribution activities align with regulatory requirements and internal quality assurance standards.
• Provide technical oversight and support during distribution-related water quality incidents, ensuring rapid and effective mitigation.
• Coach and mentor team members to build technical capability and ensure robust scientific support across the region.
• Act as a technical subject matter expert in network infrastructure and water quality projects.
• Evaluate and evolve standard operating procedures for network maintenance to minimize impact on water quality and consumer supply.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in water network distribution or water quality management is essential.
• Must have valid UK driving license

Please note: This role includes participating in the Duty Science Manager call-out rota on a 1 in 5 basis, providing phone-based escalation support to the duty scientist.

Grow a career with a meaningful purpose.

We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That’s why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package:

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

What can you expect from your recruitment?

• It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water.
• Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks.

Compensation package:

Up to £60,000 p.a. (dependent on experience)