Head of Water Network & Operations

Kelda Group Limited 0000411940 - Kelda Group Limited; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 108,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive bonus plan

Private health care

Health screening

Pension up to 12%

Life assurance 4x salary

25 days leave + holidays

Wellness days

Retail savings scheme

Online GP, cycle to work, gym

Job summary

Yorkshire Water is seeking a Head of Network Services to lead its operational network, ensuring safe, reliable water service across the region. You will drive strategic delivery, manage budgets and collaborate with regulators, unions and partners to improve performance and resilience.

The role requires extensive leadership experience in water or regulated environments, with a focus on transformation, operational excellence and people development.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent industry experience.
• Significant experience within the water industry or a similarly regulated environment.
• Significant experience leading large operational teams and delivering results through others.
• A collaborative leadership style that empowers and develops people.
• Strong experience of strategic planning, business planning and budget management.
• Experience leading large-scale transformation, operational excellence or continuous improvement programmes.
• A proven track record of achieving business goals and performance targets.
• The ability to make balanced decisions using a broad understanding of operational performance, customer outcomes and business risk.
• Experience delivering complex programmes, improvements or change initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to build trusted relationships across a wide range of audiences.
• Significant experience of working in partnership with Trade Unions at a strategic level, demonstrating the ability to influence, negotiate and build trusted relationships whilst leading operational performance and organisational change
• Confidence to challenge constructively, influence decision making and drive positive outcomes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• High personal standards, integrity and professionalism.
• Good understanding of the regulatory environment, including Ofwat, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) and the Environment Agency (EA).
• A passion for creating safer, smarter and more efficient ways of working

Responsibilities

• Lead operational network teams to ensure safe, reliable and high-quality water service across Yorkshire.
• Drive operational excellence, continuous improvement and resilience of the water network.
• Shape work patterns, collaborate with stakeholders and regulators to deliver outcomes.
• Develop capability in teams, manage budgets and strategic plans for service delivery.
• Partner with unions and service partners to balance performance, safety and cost.

Skills

Operational leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Budget management

Change management

Negotiation

Communication

People development

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Degree-level qualification

Job description

Yorkshire Water is seeking a Head of Network Services to lead its operational network, ensuring safe, reliable water service across the region. You will drive strategic delivery, manage budgets and collaborate with regulators, unions and partners to improve performance and resilience.

The role requires extensive leadership experience in water or regulated environments, with a focus on transformation, operational excellence and people development.