Strategic Data Analyst

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water management company in the UK is seeking a Strategic Data Analyst to shape future water strategies. You're expected to provide data-driven insights, engage with stakeholders, and develop long-term policies. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical and communication skills, with a degree in Science or Maths. The role offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits, contributing to significant projects that impact communities and sustainability.

Benefits

Competitive salary from £45,000 to £50,000

26 days holiday per year

Generous Pension Scheme

Access to health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in collating multiple complex datasets in different formats.
• Proven capability to produce reliable and auditable processes.
• Ability to write methodologies and summary reports.

Responsibilities

• Own and share in-depth analysis to drive system strategies.
• Assist in developing business case for business plan.
• Engage with stakeholders to influence decisions.

Skills

High proficiency in Excel

Working knowledge of GIS systems

Problem-solving capability

Strong communication skills

Education

Science or Maths degree or A Levels

Job description

Overview

Job title Strategic Data Analyst Ref 42416 | Division Asset Operations & Capital Delivery | Location Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB | Contract type Permanent | Full-time

Shape the future of water strategy with the support of quality data. Join Thames Water’s Water System Strategy team and help build long-term investment plans that tackle climate change, population growth, and asset resilience. Your fact-based analysis will guide decisions from corporate strategy to local systems, influencing our business plans through to 2050.

This role is perfect for someone highly analytical, curious, and passionate about making a difference. You’ll work across teams, engage with stakeholders, and help ensure Thames Water is ready for an ever-changing future.

Apply now and be part of the transformation.

Responsibilities

• Own, develop and share in-depth analysis using fact-based data/information you have gathered, to drive clear insight in areas that will develop and maintain longer-term system strategies by WRZ / Sub systems / River Basins / Catchments aligning with our TW 2050 vision goals and regulatory/statutory performance expectations.
• Utilise the fact-based data/information to assist in developing the business case for our business plan (Price Review 2029) for relevant areas of work that meet the business performance/policy and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure all data/information used in providing insight is tested to ensure it is fact-based, and the development of analysis is repeatable and auditable, so the method of production is written down and data sets are stored and time dated.
• Assist in developing key longer-term policies and standards to manage data and insight, and how this becomes embedded into the business.
• Assist in the development and utilisation of decision support tools to provide required system insight.
• Understand the long-term objectives of our government, customers, stakeholders, and regulators and influence and embed into our work.
• Assist with alignment (and influence where required) of data/information being used in existing strategic planning frameworks, including Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) which includes the Water Resources in the Southeast (WRSE) plan, Net Zero, Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMP), Drought Plan, Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) etc.
• Consider future advances in technology and innovation in the analysis undertaken.
• Ensure that the analysis will consider key drivers of change, environmental and social value, and include adaptive pathways where appropriate.
• Fully engage the business in the development of the analysis undertaken to ensure key knowledge and experience are involved appropriately, along with acceptance of the outputs. This will require providing your information content and insight in workshops and attendance to key internal meetings to share and influence.
• Support the management of longer-term risks via the corporate risk register.

Requirements

• High proficiency in Excel, databases, producing pivot tables, PowerPoint, etc.
• Working knowledge of GIS systems such as ESRI, with capability to guide / recommend use of this tool to visualise data.
• Experience in collating multiple complex datasets in different formats.
• Proven capability in problem solving and providing simplified tables or visuals of complex data to explain issues / challenges the business faces.
• Ability to produce reliable and auditable processes to allow repeatable results.
• Ability to write methodologies of approaches taken, and summary reports on results to be shared with director, peers and external bodies.
• Ability to identify problems or opportunities for improvement and take ownership of them, driving them through to resolution.
• Perseverance to seek out data/information.
• Strong communication skills to share complex information in a simple manner.
• Ability to influence at peer level across the business and managers, and to account for others’ views in our plans.

Extra qualities

Hold Science or Maths degree or A Levels or experience in similar data analytical roles.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary from £45,000 to £50,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with length of service (plus bank holidays).
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to both company and individual performance measures and targets.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Access to benefits supporting health, wellbeing, and finances – including annual health MOTs, physiotherapy, counselling, Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers, and life assurance.

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, serving over 16 million customers daily. We aim to build a better future for customers, communities, people, and the planet.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work with meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re pursuing a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way.

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, please 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 this rewarding experience.

Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.