Water Network Science Manager

South East Water UK; Pembury; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stakeholder pension scheme

5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays

Flexible annual leave policy

Paid volunteering days

Cycle to work scheme

Health cash plan

Life assurance

Wellbeing related benefits

Job summary

South East Water UK is seeking a Water Network Science Manager to lead a specialist technical team focused on protecting water quality from treatment works to customers’ taps. You’ll own network performance, proactively identifying risks and ensuring safe drinking water delivery.

The role balances fast-paced operations with long-term maintenance strategies to boost network resilience. Strong leadership, analytical risk management, and regulatory compliance experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Excellent team management and communication skills.
• IT skills: Word/Google Docs and Excel/Google Sheets.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Self-motivated, committed and organised.
• Ability to work independently, proposing solutions for departmental processes.
• Task prioritisation and flexibility with workload changes.
• Strong attention to detail to ensure data integrity.
• Positive image of South East Water and ability to inspire teams.
• Ability to produce quality outputs to deadlines.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in water network distribution or water quality management.
• Preferably hold a recognised management qualification.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and technical direction to the Distribution Science team.
• Develop strategies to identify, control, and mitigate water quality risks.
• Oversee performance analysis to improve water quality and network health.
• Optimize team workload and workflows to reduce reactive pressures.
• Collaborate with operational teams on flushing programs, maintenance and customer water quality contacts.
• Ensure all distribution activities align with regulatory requirements and QA standards.
• Provide technical oversight during distribution-related water quality incidents.
• Coach and mentor team members to build technical capability.
• Act as SME in network infrastructure and water quality projects.
• Evaluate and evolve SOPs for maintenance to minimise impact on water quality and supply.

Skills

Team management

Communication

IT skills

Driving licence

Self-motivated and organised

Independent problem solving

Attention to detail

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Leadership

Management qualification (preferred)

Education

Management qualification (preferred)

Job description

Summary

As the Water Network Science Manager, you’ll lead a specialist technical team dedicated to protecting water quality from our treatment works right to the customer’s tap.

Reporting directly to the Water Quality Manager, you’ll take ownership of network performance by proactively identifying potential risks before they impact supply and ensuring the continuous delivery of safe, wholesome drinking water.

In this role, you will balance fast-paced operational demands with long-term maintenance strategies to optimise the network’s overall resilience.

You will bring proven experience in water quality or distribution science, strong leadership skills to guide technical experts, and a proactive, analytical approach to risk management that guarantees compliance and maintains customer trust.

Main responsibilities

• Provide leadership and technical direction to the Distribution Science team, focusing on the monitoring and management of the water distribution network.

• Develop and implement proactive strategies to identify, control, and mitigate water quality risks within the network.

• Oversee performance analysis of the distribution system, using data to drive improvements in water quality and network health.

• Optimise team workload by effectively delegating tasks and streamlining workflows to reduce reactive pressures.

• Collaborate closely with operational teams on flushing programs, network maintenance, and the management of customer water quality contacts.

• Ensure all distribution activities align with regulatory requirements and internal quality assurance standards.

• Provide technical oversight and support during distribution-related water quality incidents, ensuring rapid and effective mitigation.

• Coach and mentor team members to build technical capability and ensure robust scientific support across the region.

• Act as a technical subject matter expert in network infrastructure and water quality projects.

• Evaluate and evolve standard operating procedures for network maintenance to minimize impact on water quality and consumer supply.

What you’ll need

Skills / Experience / Qualifications

• Excellent team management and communication skills.

• Good general IT skills, including proficiency in Word/Google Docs and Excel/Google Sheets.

• A full UK driving licence is required.

• Must be self-motivated, committed, and organised.

• Ability to work independently, demonstrating initiative in finding solutions and proactively identifying and proposing solutions for departmental processes and policies.

• Required to demonstrate task prioritisation and flexibility in changes to workload for themselves and the team.

• Strong attention to detail is necessary to ensure the integrity of collected information, including data analysis and handling.

• Must provide a positive image of South East Water and inspire the direct team and other departments to meet goals.

• Must be a strong manager and team player, capable of producing quality outputs in line with required deadlines and company procedures.

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in water network distribution or water quality management is essential

• Preferably hold a recognised management qualification.

Please note: This role includes participating in the Duty Science Manager call‑out rota on a 1 in 5 basis, providing phone‑based escalation support to the duty scientist.

Grow a career with a meaningful purpose.

We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That’s why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.

• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.

• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.

• Paid volunteering days.

• Cycle to work scheme.

• Health cash plan.

• Life assurance.

• Wellbeing related benefits.

What can you expect from your recruitment?

• It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water.

• Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks.

Compensation package

Up to £60,000 p.a. (dependent on experience)