Water Catchment Strategy Lead

Kelda Group Limited 0000411940 - Kelda Group Limited; Bradford; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A water services provider in the UK is seeking a Water Catchment Strategy Lead to develop policies in water management. This hybrid position involves collaboration across teams, data analysis, and strategic planning. Ideal candidates should hold a relevant degree and have extensive experience in water treatment and asset management. The role supports flexible working options.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in water treatment, resilience planning, and asset management.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks, including DWI and WRMP.
• Proven ability to align strategic goals with AMP cycles.

Responsibilities

• Define water catchment and abstraction policy and strategy.
• Build business cases for new policy implementation.
• Collect and analyse operational data for strategy decision-making.

Skills

Water treatment

Asset management

Regulatory frameworks

Communication skills

Data analysis

Education

Degree or equivalent qualification

Job description

Overview

Water Catchment Strategy Lead

Location: Hybrid Working (2-3 days in the office a week – Bradford or alternative Yorkshire Water base)

Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday - Friday

We have an exciting opportunity for a Water Catchment Strategy Lead to join the Water Quality & Asset Planning teams at Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water to provide the best service to our customers.

What we do

We ensure that over 5.4 million people in the region, and visitors, have clean and safe drinking water and that wastewater is managed. We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire’s water, today, tomorrow, 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, playing a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity. New environmental legislation, investment and evolving customer expectations create opportunities within the water industry. Water Service Delivery is a key part of meeting these expectations.

The Water Asset Planning Team manages risks and shapes capital investment across raw water collection, storage, transmission, and treatment. This role defines investment strategies and regulatory requirements, with a focus on future planning for AMP 8 and preparation for AMP 9. Responsibilities include tracking and reporting scheme progress to regulators, setting objectives for future investment, and aligning asset planning with long-term business strategy.

This position will be instrumental in developing policy and strategy around catchment management, abstraction, and raw water transmission, ensuring resilience in water delivery. A key focus will be on drinking water quality, WINEP, and DPC & SRO schemes, integrating them into existing operations while maintaining a forward-looking approach. The candidate will work across departments and with other water companies to embed innovation and strategic thinking, ensuring Yorkshire Water meets customer needs and regulatory expectations through effective, future-proofed asset planning.

Where you fit in

As our Water Catchment Strategy Lead, you will:

• Work with other teams across the Business to define water catchment and abstraction policy and strategy.
• Build business cases (costed and appropriately resourced) to implement new policy and strategy across the raw water, Water Production business area.
• Collect and analyse operational data to inform strategy and policy decision making for a 10-25 year horizon.
• Liaise with other water company strategy leads, supply chain and consultancies to shape best practice in catchment and abstraction management in YW.
• Work closely with Water Quality, Asset Planning and raw water Water Production teams to create defined, long-term improvement plans for Compliance Risk Index (CRi).
• Liaise closely with Water Resources teams to inform future WRMP strategy and direction.
• Represent Asset Planning on DPC and SRO Schemes, contributing where necessary and appropriately to the successful implementation of these major projects.
• Contribute to the development of robust investment plans for raw water, Water Production for PR29, with a focus on specifying the WQ submission for AMP9.
• Support and liaise where necessary with non-infra Asset Planning sponsors on the development of strategic business cases.
• Support and contribute where necessary to the successful delivery of AMP8 DWI WQ schemes.

What skills & qualifications you will need

• Degree (or equivalent) level qualification and/or relevant equivalent experience.
• Extensive experience in water treatment, resilience planning, and asset management.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks, including DWI and WRMP, and their integration into strategic planning.
• Proven ability to align strategic goals with AMP cycles (AMP 8, AMP 9) and PR29 definition.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to engage with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Understanding of CRI and potential improvement methodologies.
• Strong data collation and analysis skills including demonstration of WLC, cost-benefit analysis and Asset Management lifecycles.
• Using an evidential and risk-based approach to decision making and policy/strategy proposals.

We support flexible working patterns and job-share options where possible to help balance work and life commitments.

Closing date - 26 September 2025

If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks including a Basic Disclosure Check. Depending on the role, you may also undergo security vetting. All roles are subject to a medical questionnaire and any required further medicals. We are committed to accessibility in recruitment and can discuss reasonable adjustments on request. Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date.