District Inspector

SES Water; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol Water is seeking a District Inspector to support delivery of performance targets across the water distribution network. You will diagnose network issues, carry out site inspections and provide technical expertise while delivering safe, reliable service.

You will participate in a 24-hour standby rota, manage incidents, communicate with customers and internal teams, and ensure regulatory compliance while working across multiple disciplines to protect water quality and continuity.

Qualifications

• Experience within water distribution, utilities, network operations or a related engineering environment.
• Strong technical understanding of distribution network operations.
• Excellent problem-solving and diagnostic skills.
• Strong customer service and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to work independently and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic operational environment.
• Competent IT skills and experience completing reports and recording operational information.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Willingness to participate in standby and emergency response arrangements.

Responsibilities

• Investigate and diagnose issues across the water distribution network, including supply interruptions, pressure concerns, leakage, water quality complaints and asset failures.
• Support the delivery of key operational and regulatory performance targets including CML, C-MeX, Leakage and Water Quality measures.
• Carry out site inspections, network investigations and customer visits to identify root causes and agree appropriate corrective actions.
• Support network incident management activities, escalating issues where required and coordinating responses with operational teams.
• Provide technical expertise and recommendations to support network optimisation and asset performance.
• Act as the primary point of contact for customers experiencing operational or network-related issues.
• Assess customer concerns in a professional, sympathetic and non-judgemental manner, ensuring customers remain informed throughout the resolution process.
• Deliver a high-quality diagnostic and investigation service within company standards of service.
• Effectively manage sensitive situations involving vulnerable customers, service failures, property impacts or complex complaints.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with customers, local communities and key stakeholders.
• Provide operational support and technical advice to internal stakeholders including Customer Care Team, Operations, Control Room, Wholesale Services, New Supplies, Works Planning, Capital Delivery Teams, Delivery Partners.
• Liaise with external stakeholders including Local Authorities, contractors and third-party organisations.
• Support coordinated responses during network incidents, planned works and emergency situations.
• Participate in a 24-hour standby rota, providing out-of-hours operational response across the company's area of supply as required.
• Respond to emergencies including bursts, loss of supply events, water quality incidents and other operational emergencies.
• Work independently while maintaining effective communication with the Control Room and management team.
• Support major incident responses and business continuity activities.

Skills

Water distribution experience

Problem solving & diagnostics

Communication skills

IT reporting & data handling

Driving licence

Job description

Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose

At Bristol Water, we’ve been serving generations of families since 1846. Ensuring people in our communities have access to healthy water is paramount, which is why we work around the clock testing our water hundreds of times a day.

We’re proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we’re working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.

Whether you’re starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.

Role Purpose

The District Inspector is a technically skilled, customer-focused operational professional responsible for supporting the delivery of key company performance measures including Customer Minutes Lost (CML), C-MeX, Leakage and Water Quality targets. The role plays a critical part in ensuring the safe, efficient and reliable operation of the water distribution network while delivering exceptional service to both internal and external customers.

Acting as the face of the company within local communities, the District Inspector provides expert technical investigation, diagnosis and resolution of network-related issues, balancing customer expectations with company policy, regulatory requirements and operational priorities.

The role operates across multiple network disciplines, providing a 24-hour service through participation in standby arrangements and supporting business continuity during planned activities, emergencies and major incidents.

Key Responsibilities

Network Operations & Technical Support

• Investigate and diagnose issues across the water distribution network, including supply interruptions, pressure concerns, leakage, water quality complaints and asset failures.

• Support the delivery of key operational and regulatory performance targets including CML, C-MeX, Leakage and Water Quality measures.

• Carry out site inspections, network investigations and customer visits to identify root causes and agree appropriate corrective actions.

• Support network incident management activities, escalating issues where required and coordinating responses with operational teams.

• Provide technical expertise and recommendations to support network optimisation and asset performance.

Customer Service & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary point of contact for customers experiencing operational or network-related issues.

• Assess customer concerns in a professional, sympathetic and non-judgemental manner, ensuring customers remain informed throughout the resolution process.

• Deliver a high-quality diagnostic and investigation service within company standards of service.

• Effectively manage sensitive situations involving vulnerable customers, service failures, property impacts or complex complaints.

• Build and maintain positive working relationships with customers, local communities and key stakeholders.

Operational Collaboration

• Provide operational support and technical advice to internal stakeholders including:

  • Customer Care Team

  • Operational Customer Services

  • Control Room

  • Wholesale Services

  • New Supplies

  • Works Planning

  • Capital Delivery Teams

  • Delivery Partners

• Liaise with external stakeholders including Local Authorities, contractors and third-party organisations.

• Support coordinated responses during network incidents, planned works and emergency situations.

Incident Response & Standby Duties

• Participate in a 24-hour standby rota, providing out-of-hours operational response across the company's area of supply as required.

• Respond to emergencies including bursts, loss of supply events, water quality incidents and other operational emergencies.

• Work independently while maintaining effective communication with the Control Room and management team.

• Support major incident responses and business continuity activities.

Regulatory & Legal Responsibilities

• Issue legal notices to customers where appropriate and in accordance with company policies and legislative requirements.

• Gather evidence relating to damage caused to company assets or infrastructure.

• Accurately complete reports and documentation to support recovery of costs from third parties.

• Prepare evidence and represent the company in legal proceedings or court appearances when required.

• Ensure all activities comply with relevant legislation, company policies and regulatory obligations.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Promote a positive safety culture and comply with all Health, Safety and Environmental requirements.

• Undertake risk assessments and ensure safe systems of work are followed.

• Identify and report hazards, incidents and near misses.

• Ensure vehicles, equipment and company assets are used safely and effectively.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Essential

• Experience within water distribution, utilities, network operations or a related engineering environment.

• Strong technical understanding of distribution network operations.

• Excellent problem-solving and diagnostic skills.

• Strong customer service and stakeholder management abilities.

• Ability to work independently and make sound decisions under pressure.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic operational environment.

• Competent IT skills and experience completing reports and recording operational information.

• Full UK driving licence.

• Willingness to participate in standby and emergency response arrangements.

Working Conditions

• Field-based role covering the company's operational area.

• Requirement to work in varying weather conditions and operational environments.

• Participation in a 24-hour standby rota.

• Occasional lone working.

• Requirement to attend emergency incidents and major operational events outside normal working hours.

• Travel across the operational region as required.

Closing Date: 22nd Sept 2026

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.

Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.

Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:

Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.

Be You - We want you to bring your best everyday. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.

Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.