Head of Water Networks - Thames Valley and Home Counties

Thames Water Ltd; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car Allowance

Performance pay

Pension Scheme

Private Medical Health Care

Health & wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Thames Water Ltd in Reading is seeking a strategic Head of Water Networks to lead the regional team responsible for delivering a continuous supply of safe drinking water to millions across the Thames Valley and Home Counties. You will drive operational excellence, manage contractor relationships, and oversee safety, performance, and capital projects, including major investment programmes.

The role reports to the Water Director, requires engaging leadership across a geographically diverse region,

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of regional teams in utility or regulated sectors.
• Experience managing contractor relationships and leading change.
• Track record of driving safety, operational performance, and customer service.
• Experience in regulated environments and managing budgets.
• NEBOSH qualification and knowledge of Road and Streetworks Act advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute regional business plan for Thames Valley and Home Counties.
• Lead Field Operations and external suppliers to reduce incidents and leaks.
• Ensure safe, reliable water supply and manage capital investment programme.
• Collaborate with Water Director and stakeholders on improvements.
• Champion health and safety and customer service standards.

Skills

Leadership

Influence

Stakeholder management

Contractor management

Change management

Continuous improvement

Commercial acumen

LEAN/Six Sigma

NEBOSH qualification

Road and Streetworks Act knowledge

Job description

Head of Water Networks - Thames Valley and Home Counties

What could be more professionally fulfilling than leading the team that provides a continuous supply of safe drinking water to millions of customers? That’s the role that we are now seeking to fill.

We’re looking for a strategic and dynamic person to join us to lead the water network team in our Thames Valley and the Home Counties. As Head of Water Networks in the Thames Valley, you will be responsible for providing drinking water to over 3 million people from the Cotswolds to Surrey. It is truly an amazing opportunity to lead a highly motivated and high-performing team providing life’s essential service Thames Valley and the Home Counties.

Are you an inspiring leader with a passion for operational excellence and customer service? Thames Water is looking for a forward-thinking and experienced Head of Region to steer the performance and future resilience of our essential services.

What you will be responsible for

• Developing, leading, and executing the business plan across your region, ensuring the efficient distribution of a continuous supply of safe, wholesome water to customers in the Thames Valley and the Home Counties.
• Continue the transformation in operational performance through your Field Operations team and external suppliers, helping us to reduce reactive incidents and improve leakage and customer service, ensuring all activities are delivered safely, efficiently, and on schedule.
• Lead the team providing exceptional service standards for our customers, undertaking and improving network performance, minimising disruption to customers and managing the repair of leaks whilst enabling our biggest ever capital investment programme – sustainably building for the future.
• You will also proactively identify and respond to current and emerging risks to our network or general security of water supplies to the region.
• Reporting to the Water Director, you will collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders, overseeing planning and recommending improvements on critical regional issues.

Other high-profile areas of focus include

• Health and Safety: Champion a safety-first culture, ensure all activities comply with Health and Safety regulations, and lead continuous improvement in safety behaviours and incident management.
• Operations: Oversee operational performance and its contributed transformation, resource allocation, and supplier management to deliver high-quality services. Drive continuous improvement initiatives and support long-term asset management planning.
• People: Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing regional team. Foster a culture of excellence, customer focus, and two-way communication.
• Finance: Manage regional budgets, ensuring value for money and commercial accountability. Challenge suppliers on cost and performance, keeping spend aligned with capacity plans.

Location: Hybrid - Reading, Swindon or Oxford

Hours: Monday to Friday, 36 hours a week.

What we are looking for is for you to have

To excel in this role, you’ll bring:

• Outstanding leadership experience with a track record of engaging, inspiring, and developing teams.
• Strong ability to influence, negotiate, and collaborate at all levels across a geographically diverse region.
• Experience managing contractor relationships and leading teams through change.
• Evidence of driving cultural change and continuous improvement within a regulated environment.
• Commercial acumen and previous responsibility for managing budgets.
• Exposure to LEAN, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies (desirable).
• NEBOSH qualification and knowledge of the Road and Streetworks Act (advantageous).

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary up to £100,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
• 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays)
• Car Allowance.
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Private Medical Health Care.
• 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.

Who are we?

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.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

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.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.