Water Distribution Science Lead

South East Water; Pembury; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stakeholder pension

5 weeks holiday

Flexible annual leave

Volunteer days

Cycle to work

Health cash plan

Life assurance

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

South East Water is seeking a Water Network Science Manager to lead a specialist technical team and safeguard drinking water quality from treatment works to the customer tap. You will balance fast-paced operations with long-term maintenance strategies, guiding experts and driving proactive risk management to protect supply and maintain trust.

Reporting to the Water Quality Manager, you will oversee network performance, mentor staff, and act as the technical SME for network infrastructure and

Qualifications

• Experience leading technical teams in water distribution or quality management.
• Strong IT proficiency with Word/Google Docs and Excel/Sheets.
• Full UK driving licence and ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and technical direction to the Distribution Science team.
• Develop proactive strategies to identify and mitigate water quality risks.
• Oversee performance analysis to drive improvements in network health.
• Coordinate with operational teams on flushing programs and maintenance.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and quality standards.

Skills

Team management

Communication skills

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

UK driving licence

Self-motivation

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Education

Recognised management qualification

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

South East Water is seeking a Water Network Science Manager to lead a specialist technical team and safeguard drinking water quality from treatment works to the customer tap. You will balance fast-paced operations with long-term maintenance strategies, guiding experts and driving proactive risk management to protect supply and maintain trust.

Reporting to the Water Quality Manager, you will oversee network performance, mentor staff, and act as the technical SME for network infrastructure and