Groundwater Resources Manager

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK water utility company is seeking a Groundwater Resources Manager to lead a team focused on sustainable groundwater management. You will be responsible for shaping the long-term vision, guiding a team of specialists, and ensuring alignment with environmental and regulatory standards. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in hydrogeology and leadership skills. This hybrid role offers a competitive salary between £60,000 and £65,000 per year, along with excellent benefits including generous holiday and pension schemes.

Benefits

Competitive salary

26 days holiday per year

Generous Pension Scheme

Health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Familiarity with groundwater modelling tools and data interpretation.
• Ability to set clear priorities and foster a collaborative team culture.
• Confidence to interpret incomplete datasets and present insights clearly.

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver the long-term vision for groundwater resource management.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team, providing direction and support.
• Provide senior technical input into strategic documents.
• Oversee analysis of key datasets.
• Identify optimisation opportunities across sources and assets.
• Champion cross-functional collaboration with other departments.
• Support team members in field visits to deepen understanding of assets.

Skills

Technical background in hydrogeology

Managing or mentoring technical staff

Analytical skills

Strong communication skills

Education

Degree in Geology, Environmental Science, Engineering or related field

Postgraduate qualification in Hydrogeology or equivalent experience

Tools

Groundwater modelling tools

Job description

Job title Groundwater Resources Manager Ref 43427 Division Strategic Water Resources Location Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Salary Offering between £60,000 and £65,000 per annum based on experience. Job grade B Closing date 26/12/2025

Water sustains communities, ecosystems, and life itself. At Thames Water, we supply over 10 million customers with around 2.6 billion litres of water every day — much of it drawn from the ground beneath our feet. To protect this essential source, we’re looking for a Groundwater Resources Manager to lead our talented team and shape the long-term direction of groundwater management across our region.

As the Groundwater Resources Manager, you will set the vision for how Thames Water manages, protects, and optimises its groundwater resources. Leading a team of four specialists, you’ll guide technical priorities, empower your team to deliver high-quality work, and ensure alignment with organisational, environmental, and regulatory goals. Your leadership will drive the sustainable use of our aquifers, the protection of groundwater quality, and the safeguarding of the chalk rivers that are central to our environment and heritage.

Key responsibilities include:

• Shape and deliver the long-term vision for groundwater resource management at Thames Water, ensuring it aligns with wider business, regulatory, and environmental priorities.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team, providing direction, coaching, and support to enable them to excel in technical and strategic groundwater work.
• Provide senior technical input into strategic documents such as the Water Resources Management Plan, Drought Management Plan, and regulatory submissions that influence regional water security.
• Oversee analysis of key datasets (e.g., pumping tests, CCTV surveys, monitoring networks), ensuring insights are robust and inform operational decisions and investment planning.
• Identify optimisation opportunities across sources and assets, helping reduce environmental risks, strengthen drought resilience, and improve performance.
• Champion cross-functional collaboration, working with colleagues in Operations, Engineering, Asset Management, and Environment to translate groundwater insights into practical actions.
• Maintain a strong connection to the field, supporting team members in site visits to groundwater sources, treatment sites, and monitoring locations to deepen understanding of assets and local conditions.

Base Location: Hybrid working from our Clearwater Court, Reading, 2 days a week.

Working Pattern: Full-time, Monday–Friday (36 hours per week)

This position is paying a salary of between £60,000 and £65,000 per annum based on experience.

What you’ll bring to the role:

• A solid technical background in hydrogeology, including familiarity with groundwater modelling tools and data interpretation.
• Experience managing or mentoring technical staff, with the ability to set clear priorities and foster a supportive, collaborative team culture.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, with the confidence to interpret incomplete datasets and present insights clearly to non-technical audiences.
• A degree in Geology, Environmental Science, Engineering, or a related field, ideally supported by a postgraduate qualification in Hydrogeology (or equivalent experience).

Extra qualities that would be a great fit for our team:

• Experience in the water industry or groundwater resources management, or transferable experience from a related environmental or engineering field.
• A full UK driving licence and enthusiasm for field engagement, including occasional visits across our region — from urban boreholes to the iconic chalk rivers that help define our landscape.

What’s in it for you?

Joining Thames Water means becoming part of a supportive, innovative team where your strategic vision makes a tangible difference. You'll play a vital role in creating sustainable water management strategies. Alongside career growth and professional recognition, you’ll receive:

• Competitive salary from £60,000 to £65,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus, bank holidays)
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• 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.

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.

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.