Strategic Operations Head of Transformation

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Reading, Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading utility provider in the UK seeks an experienced Strategic Operations Head of Transformation to drive key high-profile programmes. The role involves strategic planning, team leadership, and stakeholder engagement to ensure seamless project delivery. Ideal candidates will have a track record of managing complex transformations within the Utilities sector and demonstrate strong operational and financial skills. In return, a competitive salary and various benefits await, including health care and performance-related pay.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual leave

Performance-related pay

Generous pension scheme

Private medical health care

Wellness benefits

Qualifications

• Proven track record of successful definition and delivery of complex programmes in the Utilities industry.
• Experience in leading large, distributed teams.
• Strong health and safety culture.

Responsibilities

• Define and prioritise the programme of work.
• Communicate with Directors regarding delivery status.
• Manage inter-dependencies with other portfolios.

Skills

Self-motivation

Strategic thinking

Operational experience

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Financial acumen

Job description

Hybrid - Camelford House, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP, Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB

Job title Strategic Operations Head of Transformation Ref 42414 Division Asset Operations & Capital Delivery Location Hybrid - Camelford House, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP, Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Hours 36 hours a week Salary Competitive salary between £95,000 & £115,000 per annum depending on previous experience. Job grade C Closing date 15/12/2025

Thames Water is undergoing a significant business transformation spanning all areas of the organisation, and as such, the environment is fluid, challenging, yet hugely rewarding.

We are looking for an experienced Head of Transformation to oversee and lead the delivery of several major high-profile programmes, including scaling our capital to ensure our spend in an efficient and effective way that will directly influence whether we are to deliver our AMP8 plan and commitments to regulators.

What you’ll be doing as a Strategic Operations Head of Transformation

Partnering with key members of the AOCD Leadership Team, you will operate as a trusted advisor and critical friend and be accountable for the delivery of the whole transformation programme.

The role holder will operate across several different environments - sometimes leading matrix teams, sometimes executing actions themselves, and sometimes leading consultants.

Work with executive stakeholders across the business, ensuring scope is well defined, justified and successfully managed to enable the realisation of the benefits stated in the business case.

Day-to-day, you will be responsible for:

• Defining and prioritising the programme of work.
• Actively challenge the status quo and ensure the successful delivery of the business-critical activity.
• Act as the single point of contact as well as communicating with Directors and Exec regarding delivery status.
• Understand and manage the inter-dependencies with other portfolios across the business.
• Contribute to, influence, and take responsibility for the realisation of strategic decisions within Thames Water which relate to transformation and change.
• Lead and embed change and industry ‘best in class’ standards & methodologies across the organisation.
• Work with all Thames Water teams to ensure requirements are captured and delivered in line with what our customers and colleagues would expect to see from a world-class organisation.
• Ensure recognition of high performance, tackling underperformance and developing talent, articulating the benefits of change to stakeholders at all levels.

Base Location can be flexible, with the expectation is to being on-site regularly. Travel across your region will also be expected.

Working Pattern is 36 hours a week.

What you should bring to the role

To thrive in this role, the essential criteria you’ll need are:

• Self-motivation, drive and pragmatism are critical, as is a proven track record of successful definition and delivery of complex programmes, ideally within the Utilities industry.
• Be a strategic thinker with operational experience, ideally in programme and portfolio management, with a proven track record in delivering complex change in operational environments.
• You will have experience in leading, engaging and managing large, distributed teams.
• Passion for health and safety with a strong track record in fostering a strong culture of H&S excellence.
• Ability to be an Ambassador for Thames Water with demonstrable ability to proactively engage and influence stakeholders and develop sustainable, long-lasting relationships both with networks and in the wider business.
• Be an advocate for the environment with a demonstrable track record of compliance and environmental excellence.
• Have strong financial and commercial acumen with demonstrable ability to manage budget and to drive local accountability for cost control.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary between £95,000 & £115,000 per annum, depending on previous experience.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays)
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Private Medical Health Care
• 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, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

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.

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 .

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.