Strategic Development Manager

Pertemps; Old Warren; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water company in England is seeking a Strategic Development Manager to shape its growth and sustainability strategies. This role involves identifying new opportunities and building strong relationships with stakeholders. The ideal candidate should demonstrate leadership in managing teams and possess excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. This position offers flexibility with a hybrid work model and an annual salary between £60,000 and £70,000, along with generous benefits including a pension scheme and health perks.

Benefits

26 days holiday

Performance-related pay

Generous Pension Scheme

Health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Proven ability to build and manage strong stakeholder relationships.
• Experience leading and developing teams to deliver high-quality results.
• Strong understanding of how regulated businesses are funded.

Responsibilities

• Shape long-term growth plans and identify new opportunities.
• Align teams for improved workflows focusing on customer experience.
• Monitor performance and provide clear reporting on key metrics.

Skills

Stakeholder relationship management

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Team leadership

Financial forecasting

Organizational skills

Proactiveness

Tools

Standard office software

Job description

As Strategic Development Manager,you’llplay a key role in shaping how Thames Water supports growth and sustainable development across our region.You’lllead the strategic direction ofemergingmarkets, giving developers greater choice while positioning Thames Water as a proactive, trusted partner. This role is about spotting opportunities, shaping long-term growthplansand delivering smart, integrated solutions that balance commercial success with positive environmental and customer outcomes.

Whatyou’llbe doing as aStrategic Development Manager

You’llhelp set the direction for future growth by working with external partners and local authorities to shape long-term plans andidentifynew opportunities.You’lllook ahead, connect the dots across thebusinessand ensure decisions support a single, joined-up vision for growth.

You’llplay a key role in aligning teams, improving how we work and ensuring the customer experience is considered in strategic decisions.You’llalso support senior leaders by managing priorities, coordinating keymeetingsand helping keep focus on the things that matter most, while fostering a positive, inclusive environment that drivesstrong performanceand results.

• Build andmaintainstrong working relationships across multiple teams and external stakeholders, aligning sharedobjectiveswhile recognising individual priorities
• Plan, organise and prioritise workloads to support efficient day-to-day operations and consistent service delivery
• Maintain a strong customer focus, ensuring statutory timescales, service level agreements,escalationsand complaints are managed effectively
• Monitor performance, risks, opportunities and key metrics, providing clear reporting andtimelyescalation whererequired
• Work collaboratively with peers and senior leaders to share insight, feedback and learning that drives continuous improvement
• Lead,supportand develop the team, creating a positive environment that encourages innovation,accountabilityand high performance
• Actively promote a strong Health & Safety culture while influencing internal and external stakeholders to deliver aligned, value-driven outcomes

Base location: Clearwater Court, Reading–Hybridwith 2 days in the office

Working hours: 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday

What you should bring to the role

• Proven ability to build and manage strong stakeholder relationships, with excellent analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Experience leading,developingand motivating teams to deliver high-quality results
• Strong understanding of how regulated businesses are funded, including planning, estimating and financial forecasting
• Highly organised, able to plan, prioritise and manage workloads effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Confident and competent in using company IT systems and standard office software to support decision-making
• Comfortable operating at all levels of the organisation, from hands-on delivery to engaging confidently with senior and executive stakeholders
• Proactive and adaptable,anticipatingchange and supporting improvements to meet futurecustomer and business needs

What’s in it for you?

• Offering an annual salary of £60,000 - £70,000 depending on skills and experience.
• 26days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays)
• Performance-related pay plandirectly linkedto company performance measures and targets
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shoppingvouchersand life assurance.

Find out more about our benefits and perks

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

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, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just 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 what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

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.