Leakage Manager

South East Water; Barcombe; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stakeholder pension

5 weeks holiday

Flexible annual leave

Volunteer days

Cycle to work

Health cash plan

Life assurance

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

South East Water is seeking a Leakage Manager to lead all leakage detection operations across the network. You will align field teams with business strategy, translating network data into actionable plans to reduce water loss and meet targets.

You will oversee a leakage team, manage budgets, and ensure adherence to H&S policies while maintaining strong relationships with contractors and internal stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Numeracy and literacy proficiency at good standard.
• Management qualification or completed management courses.
• Blue Card (Water Hygiene) or ability to obtain.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret data and turn into actions.
• Understanding of Leakage Components and leakage management software.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the leakage team, including scheduling and performance reviews.
• Input and reconcile data on corporate systems and reports for field teams.
• Audit and improve leakage processes, ensuring H&S compliance.
• Liaise with contractors, other departments, and customers as needed.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Leadership

Budget awareness

Education

Management qualification

Tools

GIS

Leakage management systems

Pressure monitoring

Job description

Summary: Are you ready to spearhead critical infrastructure transformation and drive high-impact operational success? We are on an ambitious mission to become the water company that communities wholeheartedly trust and employees are genuinely proud to represent and we need an exceptionally driven leader to turn that vision into reality. As Leakage Manager, you will take full command of the strategic planning, orchestration, and high-precision scheduling of all leakage detection operations across our entire network. In this key leadership role, you will bridge the gap between field teams and business strategy. You will turn network data into clear actions to boost team efficiency, meet targets, and reduce water loss. By providing clear updates on active jobs and investigations to the wider business, you’ll give our front-line Field Team the daily operational support, direction, and resources they need to succeed.

Main responsibilities

• Team Management: Manage a leakage team comprising both internal and contract staff, including planning and scheduling work, managing performance (through appraisals) and handling team administration (such as annual leave and sickness). Manage local team budgets and company card spend. Mentor and develop the leakage team, supporting their career progression. Deputise for the Regional Leakage Manager at operational meetings and during periods of leave or absence.
• Operational and Administrative Support: Provide day-to-day operational support to the Regional Leakage Manager and field staff. Interrogate the company leakage system and other reports to identify and distribute areas of leakage to field teams. Monitor outstanding leaks and support the resolution of customer side leaks in a timely manner. Handle administrative requirements of the job, including accurately inputting work onto corporate systems (e.g., Nomad, GIS), and assisting leakage detection staff with these activities. Assist Key Accounts with chargeable work as required.
• Compliance, Auditing, and Process Improvement: Ensure strict adherence to all Health and Safety (H&S) practices, policy, and procedures for both staff and contractors. Ensure upward reporting of all H&S incidents, accidents, and near misses. Carry out audits on work submitted by technicians, vehicles, and equipment, and provide feedback to the Regional Leakage Manager for review. Review and provide input into leakage processes and implement improvements to aid efficiency.
• Stakeholder and Contractor Liaison: Liaise with R & M contractors and Distribution for leak repairs and manage operational incidents. Manage contractor KPIs and feedback to the Regional Manager on a monthly basis. Liaise with SEW staff (e.g., Customer Contact Centre, Production) on leakage team activities. Liaise with and assist SEW customers as required.

You’ll need

• Good standard of secondary education and able to demonstrate a good standard of numeracy and literacy skills.
• Management qualification or able to demonstrate management course(s) completed.
• National Water Hygiene ("Blue") Card - can be provided by SEW.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex operational data and translate it into actionable plans.
• Full understanding of Leakage Components.
• Proficient in using specialised water industry software (e.g., GIS, pressure monitoring/logging platforms, and leakage management systems) as well as standard business productivity suites for reporting and data analysis (e.g., spreadsheets, word processing, and email).
• Proven ability to motivate and lead field staff, develop effective work plans and leakage reduction strategies and apply systematic problem-solving to persistent network issues.
• Experience in the utilities/infrastructure industry (preferably the water industry).
• Experience in leading a team and an understanding of budgetary requirements including planning, resource allocation, PPE and expense control.

Working Hours & Pattern

Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Friday: 8:00am - 3:30pm
Standby: Managers standby duty on a 1-in-8 rolling rota

Benefits package

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

Compensation package

£47,152.35, plus a £6,492.36 car allowance. Participation on the manager's standby rota, including a standby allowance Be you, belong and valued. Grow a career with a meaningful purpose.

South East Water supplies top-quality drinking water to 2.3 million customers in the southeast of England. Through a network of 9,000 miles of pipe, we deliver 544 million litres of water every day. It's the skill and expertise of our employees that ensures our water meets the highest standards. We make sure we can meet the needs of our customers both now and in the future. Grow a career with a meaningful purpose. Be you, belong and valued. Grow a career with a meaningful purpose. Come to work to be safe, valued, and trusted. We’ll encourage you to create and pursue new opportunities for personal growth. A place to be the real you, build deeper connections and enjoy a sense of belonging. Be invested in helping us to create a sustainable water supply for now, and in the future.