Operational Supervisor

Dŵr Cymru; Chester; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

34 days annual leave (pro rata)

Employer pension contributions

Cycle to work scheme

On-site parking

Health and wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is seeking an Operations Manager to oversee wastewater asset operations and associated teams in Chester. You will manage both direct and contracted crews, ensure safety, compliance, and environmental responsibilities while delivering excellent customer service.

The role involves performance management, budgeting support, and implementing improvements with new technology and practices. The position requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and a proactive approach to

Qualifications

• Full and valid driving licence and ability to travel as required.
• Proven supervisory experience within wastewater assets.
• Extensive operational experience managing teams and contractors.
• Proven track record in internal and external audit performance.
• Experience leading operational teams, implementing initiatives and managing change.

Responsibilities

• Manage operational crews for wastewater assets and sub-contractors.
• Ensure safety and regulatory compliance in all activities.
• Promote environmental responsibility and sustainability in operations.
• Deliver customer-focused service and maintain high performance.
• Provide cost management support to area management and budgets.
• Lead and develop teams, handle performance reviews and coaching.
• Coordinate standby rota and incident response procedures.
• Liaise with service partners, customers and site visitors to maintain a positive image.

Skills

Driving licence

Supervisory experience

Operational experience

Contractor management

Audit performance

Team leadership

Cost management

IT systems

Job description

City: Chester

Address:

Chester, England, GB, CH4 7QR

Salary Range £42,786.00-£48,912.00

Base Ashgrove

Closing Date Wednesday 18th November 2026 at 23:59

What you’ll be responsible for

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If you are experiencing difficulties creating a profile or submitting an application, please return and try again later. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience while we work to resolve the issue.

Managing operational crews involved in the operation and maintenance of wastewater assets including direct and sub contract workforces. This will include:

• Ensuring colleagues work safely delivering operational and maintenance activities, whilst achieving full compliance with all relevant regulatory and statutory requirements
• Ensuring that all operational activities are undertaken in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner. Actively promoting environmental awareness within the business. Seen as an environmental role model
• Managing and motivating colleagues to deliver great customer service, ensuring the business is customer led
• Acting as cover for Operational Managers as required
• Establishing a high performance culture with appropriate training and full implementation of process improvements afforded by investment in new technology or working practices where relevant
• Proactively and effectively managing team and individual performance in accordance with all current HR policies
• Ensuring public health is never compromised when delivering planned/reactive operational activities
• Providing cost management support to the area management team to help achieve department budget yearly
• Managing change across operational teams, creating high performing teams to deliver leading industry performance.
• Monitoring and managing area team performance to ensure high level targets are achieved
• Providing and testing appropriate functional contingency plans in line with emergency response procedures
• Achieving health and safety unit assessment compliance monthly, providing supplementary evidence
• Ensuring any operational incidents are managed effectively and in line with company procedures
• Taking part in a standby rota
• Being an effective team player, supporting other team colleagues and promoting best practice and standardisation to improve business performance
• Developing an effective and motivated workforce ensuring good communication and teamwork through undertaking regular team briefings, 1-1s and performance development reviews
• Taking a rigorous approach to day to day operational procedures whilst being able to deal with complex customer and asset problems
• Using SRM to procure bought in services and materials to ensure best value is achieved across the business
• Being able to demonstrate good working knowledge of work equipment and show understanding of the operation and maintenance of the equipment
• Being able to demonstrate strong leadership capabilities and having excellent communication skills which will enable you to liaise effectively with colleagues, customers, service partners and visitors to sites.

About you

These are essential for the role:

Qualifications

• Full and valid driving licence and ability to travel as the job requires

Experience

• Proven supervisory experience including knowledge of the wastewater assets and ability to demonstrate a proven track record of success and sector leading performance
• Extensive operational experience
• Experience of managing contractors and developing a team of qualified individuals
• Proven track record in exceptional internal and external audit performance
• Experience of managing operational teams, inspiring and motivating teams, successfully implementing initiatives, managing change and developing an effective team

Knowledge & Skills

• Ability to think strategically but with a strong focus on ensuring day to day operations are effective and efficient
• Enthusiastic and self - motivated, you'll be able to work under your own initiative and be able to demonstrate a proactive and flexible approach to work
• You must be able to demonstrate good problem solving skills and show process understanding
• Demonstrating a "can do" attitude and the ability to develop new skills is important. Your development will be well-supported, and training will be given in technical areas if required
• You must be able to demonstrate strong leadership capabilities and have excellent communication skills which will enable you to liaise effectively with colleagues, customers, service partners and visitors to sites
• Ability to work as a team player who understands the importance of ownership and accountability
• Ability to demonstrate commercial experience in cost management and in delivering efficiencies in operational budgets and supervising suppliers
• Effective communication skills and ability to translate initiatives and directives into actions that are fully understood by the team. Able to deal with external stakeholders in a professional manner promoting a positive image of DCWW at all times
• Ability to develop positive working relationships across the team and wider organisation
• Sound knowledge of a wide variety of IT systems

Good to know

• There will be a requirement to participate in standby rota
• Car allowance provided

If you would like further information on this role, please contact [e-mail]

As well as a market competitive salary, 34 days annual leave (pro rata, including public holidays), we offer a range of employee benefits and rewards including:

Variable pay schemes (your salary band will remain the same, but performance depending, you could receive an incremental within-band increase and a yearly incentive)
Option to buy additional annual leave up to 5 days per year
Enhanced employer pension contributions – Up to 11% employer contributions
Free Mortgage Brokering Services
Enhanced family friendly policies
Progression opportunities, including the ability to apply for funded training and coaching and mentoring programmes
Gym and fitness discounts as well as high street shopping
Cycle to work scheme
Discount off all Welsh Water visitor attraction centres and gift shops
Car-leasing scheme and free on-site parking at all sites
Health CashBack scheme and access to an online GP service
An employee assistance programme for employees and their immediate family
Many more can be found on our website.

Due to the nature of the industry, we require satisfactory references, post offer medical clearance, and a criminal records Basic Disclosure check on all new employees joining the business.

For some roles there may be additional checks and security clearance required, and this offer is subject to all checks being satisfied. You will receive further information on how to complete these checks via email once you have accepted this offer.

Who we are

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water keep 3 million people healthy each day with safe, reliable water, and take away wastewater to clean, before returning it safely to our beautiful rivers and seas.

To be able to deliver high quality, essential services which help to protect the health of our customers, colleagues and our environment, we need the right people to deliver on our vision. This is achieved by living our core values and demonstrating the core behaviours that underpin them. The security of our people, assets and information is key to us, so we are looking for people who understand and comply with the company’s required security objectives.

We know that the most successful teams are the most diverse teams. Equality, diversity and inclusion provide the very foundation to our culture at Welsh Water. We want every individual to feel confident, proud and able to bring their whole selves to work.

To ensure an improved representation in our workforce, applications are particularly welcome from minority groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people, Females, LGBT+, Non-binary and people with disabilities. Together we continue to build a workplace that not only celebrates the diverse voices of our colleagues but also represents each customer we serve.

In essence, ours is a company based on trust, openness, respect, commitment and honesty. A company that our colleagues are proud to work for.

Dŵr Cymru Cyf, a limited company registered in Wales No. 2366777. Registered office: Linea, Fortran Road, St. Mellons, Cardiff CF3 0LT

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