Head of Overflows

Pennon Group Plc; Exeter; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Bonus

Private Healthcare

Company car or cash for car allowance

Pension

Share-save scheme

Health benefits & wellbeing support

Cycle to Work scheme

Financial support services

Development and training opportunities

Job summary

Pennon Group is seeking a strategic Head of Overflows for South West Water, based in Exeter. You will lead wastewater overflow strategy, coordinating across Asset Management, Engineering and Operations to reduce spills and improve environmental performance.

You will shape long-term wastewater strategy, oversee major investments, and ensure regulatory alignment, with significant leadership responsibilities and regular cross-team collaboration.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Asset Management or a related discipline.
• Chartered Engineer status (or working towards chartership) with ICE, CIWEM or an equivalent professional body.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic management of wastewater overflow assets across the network, pumping stations and treatment works.
• Develop and implement plans to reduce spills, improve asset performance and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Identify investment needs and oversee major programmes from planning to delivery.
• Provide technical leadership on overflow performance, regulatory requirements and asset planning.
• Monitor spill performance, emergency overflows and flow to full treatment.
• Contribute to DWMPs, Price Reviews and regulatory submissions.
• Collaborate across Asset Management, Engineering, Operations and Capital Delivery.

Skills

Asset management

Storm overflow regulations

Spill reduction programs

Asset planning frameworks

Sewerage hydraulics

Stakeholder collaboration

Leadership & influence

Education

Engineering degree

Chartered Engineer status (ICE/CIWEM)

Job description

Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose

At Pennon Group, we’re proud to serve communities while protecting the environment. Together with our subsidiaries, South West Water, Bristol Water, Bournemouth Water, SES Water, Pennon Water Services and Pennon Power, we’re leading the way in water and renewables. We’re proud to be recognised as 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.

Ready to make a splash?

Join our team today.

Lead one of the most important environmental programmes in the UK water sector

At South West Water, we’re committed to protecting and enhancing the environment while delivering essential services to our customers. We’re looking for an experienced and passionate Head of Overflows to lead the strategy, planning and delivery of our storm overflow improvement programme, helping drive significant reductions in spills, improving river and coastal water quality, and ensuring compliance with evolving environmental regulations. This is a highly visible leadership role with the opportunity to influence major investment decisions, shape long-term wastewater strategy and make a measurable impact on the environment across the South West. Due to the nature of the role and the need to build strong relationships across the business, regular presence in our Exeter office is required.

What You’ll Be Doing

As Head of Overflows, you’ll lead the strategic management of wastewater overflow assets across our network, pumping stations and treatment works. Working closely with colleagues across Asset Management, Engineering, Operations and Capital Delivery, you’ll develop and implement plans that reduce environmental impact, improve asset performance and support regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Leading the development and delivery of our Storm Overflow Spill Reduction Plan.
• Identifying and prioritising investment needs across wastewater overflow assets.
• Developing long-term strategies to reduce spills through data analysis, root cause investigations and targeted interventions.
• Sponsoring and overseeing major investment programmes from planning through to delivery.
• Providing technical leadership on overflow performance, regulatory requirements and asset planning.
• Tracking, reporting and driving improvements in spill performance, emergency overflows, pass forward flow (PFF) and flow to full treatment (FFT).
• Contributing to Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs), Price Reviews and wider regulatory submissions.
• Working across the business to ensure environmental performance targets are achieved and sustainable solutions are delivered.

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking a strategic leader with a strong technical background and a passion for delivering environmental improvement.

You’ll Bring

• Significant experience in asset management, wastewater networks or environmental infrastructure.
• Strong understanding of storm overflow regulations, wastewater performance and the regulatory landscape.
• Experience developing and delivering spill reduction or environmental improvement programmes.
• Knowledge of asset planning frameworks, investment planning and regulatory funding mechanisms.
• An understanding of sewerage hydraulics and overflow performance.
• Experience collaborating with operational, engineering and regulatory stakeholders.
• Excellent leadership, influencing and stakeholder management skills.

Qualifications

Required:

• Degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Asset Management or a related discipline.
• Chartered Engineer status (or working towards chartership) with ICE, CIWEM or an equivalent professional body.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to lead a critical environmental programme at a time of significant investment and transformation. You’ll play a key role in improving river and coastal water quality, reducing environmental impact and shaping the future of wastewater services across the South West.

• 30 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Bonus
• Private Healthcare
• Company car or cash for car allowance
• Competitive contributory pension
• Share-save scheme
• Health benefits & wellbeing support programmes
• Group discounts
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Financial support services
• Development and training opportunities … and much more!

Closing Date: 11th September 2026

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.