Regional System Performance Manager

United Utilities; Manchester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave plus 4 years: 30

Competitive pension with employercon‑(

Bonus scheme up to 20%

Healthcare plan

Job summary

United Utilities is seeking a Regional System Performance Manager to lead regional teams across System Operations, Regional Performance and Energy Generation. This site-based role shapes regional strategy, translating investment plans into practical improvements that benefit frontline teams and customers.

You will influence long-term planning, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive continuous improvement with a hands-on leadership style across multiple sites in the Greater Manchester area.

Qualifications

• Experience in wastewater, bioresource, sludge treatment, anaerobic digestion, biogas or operational energy generation environments.
• Proven experience leading multi-disciplinary operational teams and driving improvements in performance, resilience, efficiency and compliance.
• Strong understanding of wastewater and bioresource operations, including balancing performance, environmental outcomes and regulatory commitments.
• Ability to translate long-term strategy, business planning and investment priorities into practical improvements for frontline operations.
• Experience influencing investment decisions and prioritising resources for best outcomes in operational performance and asset health.
• Track record of leading transformation and embedding change while maintaining performance focus.
• Strong stakeholder management to build trusted relationships across Operations, Asset Management, Engineering and Planning functions.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills using data to identify root causes and improve system performance.
• Visible leadership that engages with senior stakeholders while staying connected to frontline teams.
• Resilience and judgement to operate in demanding environments and respond to emerging risks.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional teams across System Operations, Regional Performance and Energy Generation to drive safety, operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Own performance of key operational, environmental and business measures, delivering sustainable improvements across the wastewater system.
• Bridge frontline operations and strategic transformation, translating plans into better outcomes for teams and customers.
• Drive TOTEX-informed decision making to prioritise investments for value, resilience and performance regionally.
• Partner with Wastewater Operations, Asset Management, Engineering and Planning to identify opportunities and mitigate risks.
• Develop and deliver regional improvement plans using performance data to address root causes and efficiency.
• Provide visible leadership across sites and ensure practical realities shape future strategy and investment.
• Champion innovation and new ways of working to improve performance and simplify day-to-day delivery.
• Influence regional and business-wide decisions with expert operational insight on long-term planning and asset health.
• Lead transformation programmes to embed changes that deliver measurable benefits for customers and communities.
• Respond to emerging issues and incidents with direction, including occasional out-of-hours support.
• Drive the vision of making tomorrow easier for operational teams and future-proofing the operation.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Strategic thinking

Change management

Communication

Job description

The Role

This is a site-based role and requires a visible presence across our operational sites. As such, this is not a hybrid position.

This role sits at the heart of how we improve performance today while building a better operation for tomorrow. As Regional System Performance Manager, you'll play a pivotal leadership role across Bioresource and Energy Services, connecting operational delivery, strategic planning and business transformation to ensure our teams have the tools, processes and capabilities they need to succeed now and in the future. Drawing on a combination of operational expertise, strategic thinking and strong leadership, you'll influence how the region performs whilst leading significant change that drives efficiency, resilience and long-term value.

Leading a number of specialist operational teams, including energy generation, regional system operations and performance functions, you'll work closely with wastewater operations, asset management and planning teams to translate long-term investment and transformation plans into practical, deliverable improvements. This is a highly visible leadership position where you'll shape regional strategy, drive continuous improvement and help solve complex operational challenges, ensuring that what we invest in today makes life easier for our operational teams tomorrow.

We're looking for an influential and forward-thinking leader with a strong operational background, proven experience of driving change and the ability to engage stakeholders at every level. You'll be equally comfortable navigating strategic discussions and supporting teams through day-to-day operational challenges, leading with energy, resilience and a genuine passion for improving performance. This is primarily a site-based role and offers the opportunity to make a significant impact across one of the most critical areas of our business.

What you'll be doing

• Leading regional teams across System Operations, Regional Performance and Energy Generation, creating a high-performing culture focused on safety, operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Owning the performance of key operational, environmental and business measures, ensuring targets are achieved while driving sustainable improvements across the wastewater system.
• Acting as the bridge between frontline operations and strategic transformation, ensuring business plans, investment programmes and change initiatives translate into better outcomes for operational teams and customers.
• Driving a TOTEX approach to decision making, influencing both operational and capital investment priorities to deliver the greatest value, resilience and performance across the region.
• Working in partnership with Wastewater Operations, Asset Management, Engineering and Planning teams to identify opportunities, mitigate risks and optimise whole-system performance.
• Leading the development and delivery of regional improvement plans, using operational insight and performance data to address root causes and improve efficiency, compliance and service delivery.
• Providing visible leadership across operational sites, building strong relationships with frontline teams and ensuring operational realities shape future strategy and investment decisions.
• Championing innovation and continuous improvement, embedding new ways of working that enhance operational performance while making day-to-day delivery simpler and more effective for our teams.
• Influencing regional and business-wide decision making, providing expert operational insight into long-term planning, resilience, asset performance and future investment requirements.
• Leading through change, ensuring transformation programmes are successfully embedded and deliver measurable benefits for customers, colleagues and the environment.
• Responding to emerging operational issues, risks and incidents, providing leadership and direction when required, including occasional out-of-hours support for significant operational events.
• Driving the vision of "making tomorrow easier for our operational teams", ensuring today's decisions create a safer, more resilient and higher-performing operation for the future.

What you'll bring

• Significant leadership experience within a wastewater, bioresources, sludge treatment, anaerobic digestion, biogas or operational energy generation environment, with a strong understanding of the operational, environmental and regulatory challenges associated with these activities.
• Proven experience leading multi-disciplinary operational teams and driving improvements in performance, resilience, efficiency and compliance across complex operational assets.
• A strong understanding of wastewater and bioresource operations, including the challenges of balancing operational performance, environmental outcomes, asset reliability and regulatory commitments.
• The ability to translate long-term strategy, business planning and investment priorities into practical improvements that support frontline operations and deliver measurable business benefits.
• Experience influencing investment decisions and prioritising resources to achieve the best outcomes for operational performance, environmental compliance and long-term asset health.
• A track record of leading transformation and embedding change, bringing teams with you whilst maintaining focus on performance and operational delivery.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across Operations, Asset Management, Engineering and Planning functions.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, using operational data and insight to identify root causes, mitigate risks and improve system performance.
• A visible and engaging leadership style, with the credibility to influence senior stakeholders whilst remaining connected to frontline operational teams.
• The resilience, flexibility and judgement required to operate within a demanding operational environment, responding effectively to emerging risks and business-critical issues.

Benefits

• A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service (increases one day per year), in addition to 8 bank holidays
• A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
• Up to 20% performance-related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
• A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company-funded scheme
• MyGymDiscounts - gym and wellness benefit that offers up to 25% off on gym memberships and digital fitness subscriptions
• Best Doctors
• Salary Finance
• Wealth at Work courses
• Deals and discounts
• EVolve Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Mental health first aiders
• ShareBuy
• MORE Choices flexible benefits
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

About Us

"Salary - Competitive Salary
Work Type - Onsite
Job Location - Davyhulme Wastewater Treatment Works, Trafford Way, Urmston, Manchester, M17 8DD
Role Type - Permanent
Employment Type - Full Time
Working Hours -

United Utilities’ (UU) purpose is to deliver great water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West of England. We are committed to providing our services in a way that respects the environment, supports the economy, and benefits society.

We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves.

We uphold our ethics, values and business model to fulfil our mission and, by setting clear goals and objectives, we create sustainable long-term value for our colleagues, customers and communities. Whether you work with a team that shares your vision or join a network of peers with similar interests, you will find a welcoming and supportive organisation to be part of.

We’ve got a lot to offer. You’ll be part of a thriving FTSE 100 company and will enjoy a range of core benefits that reflect your value and value contribution."