Water Planning Director: Strategy, Delivery & Impact

Thames Water Ltd; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 76,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Annual bonus

Generous pension

Private medical healthcare

26 days annual leave

Job summary

Thames Water is seeking a transformative Head of Water Planning to lead our central planning capability for 16+ million customers. You will align strategy, operations, customer outcomes and infrastructure planning across both above-ground and below-ground teams.

As a senior leader, you will manage ~7–8 direct reports and ~200 colleagues, building credibility, aligning priorities, and delivering measurable outcomes for customers in a regulated environment. Hybrid working is offered.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in planning, infrastructure, or large-scale operations.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and influencing skills across senior networks.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on operational leadership.
• Experience leading leaders and large operational teams through an inclusive leadership style.

Responsibilities

• Lead Water Planning across above-ground and below-ground operations.
• Build trusted relationships across production, networks, asset management, and OSCC leadership.
• Coach and develop a large operational function with a high-performing culture.
• Contribute to senior leadership decisions and shape OSCC and Water strategy.
• Navigate competing priorities and influence customer-focused outcomes.
• Lead change and technology adoption, including Salesforce integration.

Skills

Leadership experience

Stakeholder mgmt

Strategic thinking

Change management

Job description

Thames Water is seeking a transformative Head of Water Planning to lead our central planning capability for 16+ million customers. You will align strategy, operations, customer outcomes and infrastructure planning across both above-ground and below-ground teams.

As a senior leader, you will manage ~7–8 direct reports and ~200 colleagues, building credibility, aligning priorities, and delivering measurable outcomes for customers in a regulated environment. Hybrid working is offered.