Senior Innovation Technical Expert

Severn Trent; Coventry; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water management company in Coventry is seeking a Senior Innovation Technical Expert to lead innovative projects and embed technological solutions. This role includes overseeing technical trials and collaborating with various teams to ensure high delivery standards. The ideal candidate will possess strong scientific expertise, excellent communication skills, and a willingness to travel. Benefits include a salary starting from £50,908, annual bonuses, and extensive opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Salary starting from £50,908

28 days holiday + bank holidays

Annual bonus scheme

Leading pension scheme

Sharesave scheme

Dedicated training and development

Electric vehicle scheme

Family friendly policies

Two volunteering days per year

Qualifications

• Recognised as an expert in your field with deep technical knowledge.
• Ability to own and drive technical and scientific aspects of programmes.
• Strong understanding of multiple projects within a programme.
• Skilled in delivering robust, viable solutions to complex challenges.
• Proven ability to act as a role model and mentor technical colleagues.
• Clear and confident in conveying technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.
• Experience with operational environments and willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Lead on projects from pilot to full scale and investigate cutting edge technologies.
• Support delivery of technologies from design to embedding into practice.
• Turn outlined scopes into technical trials demonstrating various feasibilities.
• Develop technical oversight of projects and support team members.
• Collaborate with teams to ensure delivery to the right standard.
• Present findings to stakeholders to gain buy-in and drive improvements.
• Embed innovative solutions into real site environments.

Skills

Scientific and Technical Expertise

Programme Leadership

Project Oversight

Problem-Solving

Leadership & Mentorship

Communication

Operational Environment Experience

Digital AI Approaches (Desirable)

Job description

Overview

We're looking for a Senior Innovation Technical Expert to lead on a range of projects from pilot to full scale. You will be working on investigating cutting edge technologies and approaches, supporting the delivery of these technologies from design through commissioning to embedding and translating into practice. This role involves turning outline scopes into technical trials and ensuring trials demonstrate innovative technology or processes that are feasible, viable, scalable, and meet a business challenge. You will develop technical oversight of all projects within your allocated work programme and support others working on them. You will work with a wide range of departmental teams to ensure the project is delivered to the right standard with all necessary outcomes, requiring excellent communication and stakeholder skills. A key aspect is understanding stakeholders and presenting findings to gain their buy-in so the insight lands effectively and contributes to continuous improvement and future technology adoption. Operational and site experience is important, as you will embed innovative solutions into real site environments. You will work independently and as part of a high-performing team, upholding Severn Trent values of Pride, Courage, Curiosity and Care and maintaining excellent safety behaviours. The role is on a 6 month FTC and is based at our Head Office in Coventry, within the Asset Intelligence and Innovation team. The role requires 37 hours per week, with consideration for a part-time pattern; WFH flexibility is available and travel to other sites is required. You will need a full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead on a range of projects from pilot to full scale and investigate cutting edge technologies and approaches.
• Support the delivery of technologies from design through commissioning to embedding and translating into practice.
• Turn outlined scopes into technical trials and ensure trials demonstrate feasibility, viability, scalability, and alignment to business challenges.
• Develop technical oversight of all projects within your work programme and support others working on them.
• Collaborate with multiple departmental teams to ensure delivery to the right standard and achieve necessary outcomes.
• Present findings to stakeholders to gain buy-in and drive continuous improvement and future adoption.
• Embed innovative solutions into real site environments with emphasis on operational practicality.
• Work independently and as part of a high-performing team, demonstrating Severn Trent values and safeguarding safety behaviours.
• Be prepared to travel to other sites and work at various locations as required.

Qualifications & Skills

• Scientific and Technical Expertise: Recognised as an expert in your field with deep technical knowledge.
• Programme Leadership: Ability to own and drive the technical and scientific aspects of strategic programmes.
• Project Oversight: Strong understanding of multiple projects within a programme, including technical approvals and issue resolution.
• Problem-Solving: Skilled in delivering robust, viable solutions to complex challenges in a timely manner.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Proven ability to act as a role model, supporting the upskilling and development of technical colleagues.
• Communication: Clear and confident in conveying technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.
• Experience with operational environments and site embedding of innovations; willingness to work across sites and hold a full UK driving licence.
• Desirable: Experience with digital and artificial intelligence approaches and visibility of networks.

Benefits

• Salary starting from £50,908
• 28 days holiday + bank holidays (and the ability to buy/ sell up to 5 days per year)
• Annual bonus scheme (up to £2,250 of base salary per annum based on company performance)
• Leading pension scheme – we will double your contribution (up to 15% when you contribute 7.5%)
• Sharesave - the chance to buy Severn Trent Plc shares at a discounted rate
• Dedicated training and development with our 'Academy'
• Electric vehicle scheme and retail offers
• Family friendly policies
• Two volunteering days per year