Water Network Technician (Nights)

South East Water UK; Barcombe; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Holiday entitlement

Flexible annual leave

Cycle to work

Health plan

Life assurance

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

South East Water UK is seeking a Night Network Technician to safeguard the water supply overnight. You will support the mains network, identify and resolve customer supply issues, and protect system integrity.

The role involves nocturnal leakage detection, data validation, and reporting to inform repairs. Shift patterns run 22:00–08:00 on a 5-on, 4-off cycle, with travel time and variable weather conditions.

Qualifications

• Good standard of secondary education and numeracy and literacy skills.
• National Water Hygiene provided by the business.
• Strong Customer Service Skills.
• Ability to work effectively alone at night, outdoors in all weather.
• Proficiency in data entry and understanding of work management systems such as GIS.
• Experience in utilities/infrastructure (preferably water).
• Experience handling customer complaints or queries.
• General knowledge of water distribution and leakage detection practices.

Responsibilities

• Perform mains shutdowns with risk assessments and interruption reports.
• Investigate leaks using specialised equipment and leakage detection techniques.
• Undertake network validation, pressure zonal tests and flow tests for DMA integrity.
• Repair and maintain leakage assets like PRVs, district meters and data logging gear.
• Collect and record network asset data using systems like Maximo and GIS.
• Supervise contractors and create work orders for responses.
• Conduct flushing and take water samples per regulatory guidelines.
• Liaise with customers regarding supply leaks and plumbing issues.

Skills

Customer service

Night shift work

Data entry

GIS familiarity

Education

Secondary education

National Water Hygiene (in-house)

Tools

Maximo

GIS

Job description

As a Night Network Technician, you play a critical role in managing our mains water network to ensure the continuous delivery of wholesome water to homes and businesses.

You will provide essential technical support to identify and resolve customer supply issues, protect system integrity, and keep our infrastructure operating reliably.

During quiet night hours, you will execute planned leakage detection, validation, and survey work to meet leakage reduction targets. Utilising specialised equipment, you will locate hidden leaks, validate existing data, and deliver accurate reporting to inform repair schedules.

You will also maintain District Metered Areas, optimise network pressures, and perform targeted maintenance on pressure control and monitoring assets.

Your work directly minimises water loss, helping us hit key efficiency and environmental targets. If you have the technical mindset to safeguard an essential public service while the city sleeps, we want you on our team.

Main Responsibilities

• Perform essential network activities such as mains shutdowns, including carrying out risk assessments and interruption reports.
• Investigate and locate hidden leaks utilising specialised equipment (e.g. correlators) and leakage detection techniques (e.g. step testing).
• Undertake network validation, pressure zonal tests and flow tests activity to ensure the integrity of network DMAs.
• Undertake repair and maintenance activity on network leakage assets, such as pressure reducing valves, district meters and data logging equipment.
• Accurately collect, record, or correct network asset data and details of all work completed, utilising systems like Maximo and GIS.
• Supervise contractors working on the distribution network, which includes creating work order requests for contractor response.
• Conduct flushing activity and perform water sampling in line with regulatory guidelines.
• Liaise with and assist customers regarding supply pipe leaks and plumbing issues.
• Coordinate with internal staff (e.g., Distribution, Leakage, Contractors, Customer Contact Centre, Production) on night team activities and leak repairs.

You'll need:

• Good standard of secondary education and able to demonstrate a good standard of numeracy and literacy skills.
• National Water Hygiene (provided by the business).
• Strong Customer Service Skills.
• Ability to work effectively alone with minimal supervision at night, often outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Proficiency in accessing, data entry and understanding of work management systems such as GIS.
• Experience in the utilities/infrastructure industry (preferably the water industry).
• Experience in handling customer complaints or queries.
• General knowledge of water distribution such as plumbing and leakage detection practices, including the use of common tools and technologies is preferable.

Working Pattern:

Night Shift is 22:00pm- 08:00am operating on a 5-on, 4-off rotating shift pattern.

This role involves approximately 30 minutes travel time, with operational flexibility required to meet network needs.

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.
• 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: