Head of Reliability & Performance Strategy & Methods

Pennon Group; Exeter; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

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

Group discounts

Cycle to Work scheme

Financial support services

Development and training opportunities

Job summary

Pennon Group in Exeter is seeking a visionary Head of Reliability & Performance Strategy & Methods to shape Group-wide standards for maintenance reliability and operational excellence. You will lead a central technical capability, set governance, and translate strategic risk into practical, deployable approaches across the business units.

You will guide asset criticality, lifecycle decision making and process performance improvement, coaching technical specialists and collaborating with

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Engineering, Asset Management, Process Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Chartered Engineer, Chartered Asset Manager or equivalent professional accreditation.
• Professional qualifications in reliability, maintenance, asset management or operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Group's central technical capability for reliability, performance and operational excellence.
• Develop and embed standards, methodologies and governance frameworks that drive consistency across our operating companies.
• Translate asset management strategy, business risk and operational priorities into practical, deployable approaches.
• Own methodologies for asset criticality, FMECA/RCM, risk-based maintenance, defect elimination and process performance optimisation.
• Ensure maintenance and performance strategies are evidence-led and aligned to operational outcomes.
• Build strong feedback loops with operational teams, using field learning to continuously improve Group standards.
• Provide technical leadership, coaching and development for reliability and performance specialists.
• Partner with colleagues across Asset Management, Operations, Engineering, Digital, Transformation and Delivery functions.
• Stay at the forefront of industry best practice, innovation and emerging technologies, incorporating proven improvements into our approach.

Skills

Reliability leadership

Asset management

Operational excellence

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Engineering degree

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 the Future of Reliability, Performance and Operational Excellence

We're looking for an exceptional leader to establish and lead our Group-wide Reliability & Performance Strategy & Methods capability. This is a rare opportunity to shape how reliability, performance and operational excellence are delivered across Pennon Group, setting the standards, methodologies and technical direction that support resilient, efficient and sustainable operations.

Working at the heart of our Asset Reliability & Performance function, you'll combine technical expertise with strategic leadership to create a centre of excellence that enables our operating businesses to achieve outstanding performance while delivering long-term value for customers, communities and the environment.

What you'll be doing:

As Head of Reliability & Performance Strategy & Methods, you'll lead the development of Group-wide approaches to maintenance reliability, process performance and operational excellence.

You will:

• Lead the Group's central technical capability for reliability, performance and operational excellence.

• Develop and embed standards, methodologies and governance frameworks that drive consistency across our operating companies.

• Translate asset management strategy, business risk and operational priorities into practical, deployable approaches.

• Own methodologies for asset criticality, FMECA/RCM, risk-based maintenance, defect elimination and process performance optimisation.

• Ensure maintenance and performance strategies are evidence-led and aligned to operational outcomes.

• Build strong feedback loops with operational teams, using field learning to continuously improve Group standards.

• Provide technical leadership, coaching and development for reliability and performance specialists.

• Partner with colleagues across Asset Management, Operations, Engineering, Digital, Transformation and Delivery functions.

• Stay at the forefront of industry best practice, innovation and emerging technologies, incorporating proven improvements into our approach.

What we're looking for:

We're seeking a strategic and influential leader with deep expertise in reliability, asset management or operational performance within a complex, asset-intensive environment.

You'll bring:

• Significant experience leading reliability, asset performance, operational excellence or technical strategy programmes.

• Strong practical knowledge of reliability-centred maintenance, asset criticality, FMECA/RCM, defect elimination and whole-life asset decision making.

• Experience developing technical standards, governance frameworks and methodologies within large operational organisations.

• A strong understanding of process performance, continuous improvement and operational excellence principles.

• The ability to translate complex technical concepts and business risks into practical solutions.

• Proven leadership experience, including developing technical specialists and building high-performing teams.

• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the credibility to work across multiple business functions.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Degree qualified in Engineering, Asset Management, Process Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.

Desirable:

• Chartered Engineer, Chartered Asset Manager or equivalent professional accreditation.

• Professional qualifications in reliability, maintenance, asset management or operational excellence.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to shape the future of reliability and performance across one of the UK's leading infrastructure and environmental services groups. You'll have the platform to influence strategy at Group level, drive meaningful operational improvement and build technical capability that delivers lasting value for customers, communities and the environment.

• 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: 9th November 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.