Distribution Technician

South East Water; Detling; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 10% employer

Five weeks holiday plus bank holidays

Flexible annual leave policy

Volunteer days

Cycle to work scheme

Health cash plan

Life assurance

Wellbeing related benefits

Job summary

South East Water is seeking a Distribution Technician in the Detling area to help keep our communities supplied with clean, reliable water. This field-based role involves on-site work, responding to supply issues, and supporting customers with guidance and service.

You’ll handle mains work, safety checks, and coordination with contractors, with duties that span diagnostics, testing, and quick problem-solving. A valid driving licence and good IT skills are essential.

Qualifications

• A valid driving licence.
• Passion for delivering excellent customer service and solving problems.
• Comfort with using IT and computers.
• Water industry qualifications are advantageous but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Attend customer appointments and carry out work, providing general advice and assisting with water meter locations.
• Carry out mains shutdowns, risk assessments, interruption reports, flushing, sampling and liaising with developers for new supplies.
• Raise contractor requests and supervise contractors on the distribution network.
• Investigate leaks, bursts, and water discoloration and provide practical solutions.
• Adhere to Health & Safety policies and participate in standby rota for out-of-hours support.

Skills

Driving licence

Customer service

Initiative

IT literacy

Water industry knowledge

Plumbing knowledge

Tools

IT systems

Job description

Summary

As a Distribution Technician, you'll be the person keeping the water flowing and ensuring our community receives a reliable, uninterrupted supply every single day.

In this hands-on, field-based role, no two days are ever the same. You'll spend your time out on the front lines tackling real-world challenges, investigating sudden supply issues, fixing mains bursts, and stepping in as a supportive face for customers when things don't go to plan.

Whether you're attending scheduled appointments, running water quality tests, helping customers locate their water meters, or offering friendly advice, your daily work will make an immediate, positive impact.

Main responsibilities

• Customer Support: Attending customer appointments and carry out allocated work for them, responding to customer requests and offer general advice, water quality tests, and help locating water meters if needed.
• Network Support: Carrying out mains shuts, risk assessments, interruption reports, proactive maintenance flushing and water sampling and liaising with housing developers when they need to install new water supplies. This role will also be carrying out regulation inspections on new build properties.
• Contractor Support: Raising requests via IT systems for works that require a contractor response and supervising contractors working on the Distribution network.
• Investigations: Attending sites to investigate issues of leaks, mains bursts and water discoloration, and offering solutions and practical assistance.
• Health & Safety: Adhere to relevant Health and Safety legislation and Company policy.
• Take part in a Standby rota to provide out of hours support to the operational area.

You’ll need

• A valid driving licence
• A passion for delivering excellent customer service: supporting customers with their complaints or queries
• The ability to take initiative, work well under pressure and have a keen interest in problem-solving
• Confident using IT and computers
• Previous Water Industry qualifications advantageous but not essential
• Previous knowledge of plumbing or water mains/service laying would be advantageous but not essential.

The Work Pattern

• Early: 07:00 - 15:00
• Day: 08:00 - 16:00
• Mid: 09:00 - 17:00

Standby & Extra Earnings

Once you are fully trained and confident in the role, you'll join our out-of-hours standby rota. This ensures our customers and operations are supported around the clock, while offering you an excellent opportunity for boosted earnings:

• Standby Allowance: Average of £1,800 per annum.
• Standby hours: 11:00 - 19:00
• Call-Out Pay: Additional overtime rates apply if you are called out during your standby shift.

Note: You will also work Saturdays (07:00 - 14:30) on a scheduled basis.

Salary & Career Progression

Base Starting Salary: £33,027.81

• Level 1: £34,364.75
• Level 2: £35,701.69
• Level 3: £37,742.40
• Level 4: £39,793.49
• Level 5: £41,535.25Starting level and initial salary offer will be determined based on relevant prior experience.

Employees are required to be flexible and to be prepared to perform duties and other tasks within their capabilities. The nature of our business is such that the contents of any job profile are subject to change from time to time.

Grow a career with a meaningful purpose.

Culture & Values

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.

Compensation package

Salary Range (Visible On External/Internal Career Sites)

£33,027 to £41,535 p.a. dependent on experience