Help shape how water is produced and moved across our region, now and in the future.
Salary: Starting from £52,000, dependent on skills and experience. Contract: Full Time, 12‑month maternity cover. Location: Across the Anglian Water region, with flexible hybrid working.
Every day, we balance water production, customer demand, asset availability, environmental constraints and regulatory obligations across a complex regional network. Production Planning brings that system together, helping us operate our assets with the discipline of a factory while keeping safe, wholesome water flowing to our customers.
We’re looking for a Strategic Production Lead to take that thinking further ahead. You will shape the long‑term strategy for how water is produced and moved across our increasingly connected regional network, bringing together operational, regulatory, environmental and financial priorities and turning them into clear choices, plans and action.
You will have the opportunity to influence important decisions, improve established ways of working and help build the Production Planning capability we will need as climate change, population growth and increasing system connectivity reshape the choices ahead.
What you’ll be accountable for
- Shaping a long‑term strategy for how we produce and move water across our region, balancing customer demand, asset capability, cost, environmental commitments and regulatory requirements.
- Bringing together insight from across the business to identify future risks, constraints and opportunities, then turning them into clear priorities and practical plans.
- Influencing major operational and investment decisions so that choices made today support a resilient, efficient and sustainable water system for the future.
- Leading improvements to the way Production Planning works, creating clearer processes, better use of data and stronger connections between long‑term strategy and day‑to‑day operations.
- Building trusted relationships across operational, technical and strategic teams, resolving competing priorities and providing clear recommendations when difficult choices need to be made.
- Tracking performance and benefits to show whether the strategy is delivering the right outcomes for customers, the environment and the business.
- Creating a safe, inclusive and improvement‑focused environment where people can challenge, share ideas and make well‑informed decisions.
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for a thoughtful strategic leader who is comfortable with both complexity and practical delivery. You will build credibility with operational colleagues, influence senior stakeholders and help turn competing priorities into a clear way forward. You will be curious, collaborative and prepared to challenge constructively. You will ask the questions that help people see the whole system, use data and insight to strengthen decisions, and help move difficult issues from discussion into action.
Essential experience and strengths
- Strategic thinking, with the ability to anticipate risk and opportunity and convert long‑term objectives into clear, actionable plans.
- Strong leadership, influencing and negotiation skills, including the confidence to bring together people with different priorities.
- Experience of working in a complex operational, infrastructure, manufacturing, utilities or regulated environment.
- The ability to understand connected systems, interpret data and explain complex strategic issues in clear, simple language.
- A track record of improving processes, establishing clear ownership and embedding new ways of working.
- Sound judgement when balancing service, risk, cost, environmental and regulatory outcomes.
- A full UK driving license, as the role includes travel across our region.
- Useful, but not essential: Water industry experience would be valuable, but it is not the only route into this role.
- We are equally interested in people who bring strong strategic planning, production planning, systems thinking or operational experience from another complex industry.
- You may be educated to degree level, or you may have developed equivalent capability through your career.
- What matters most is the quality of your thinking, your ability to influence and your determination to turn strategy into better operational outcomes.
Why join us?
You will join a talented Production Planning team that already plays a central role in moving Water Supply from reactive to proactive decision-making. This role gives you the opportunity to connect short‑term operational reality with the long‑term future of our regional water network and to leave a practical, lasting legacy. We invest in our people - as a valued employee, you’ll be entitled to:
- Personal private health care
- Generous double match pension – contribute 7% and Anglian Water will contribute 14%, giving a total contribution of 21%
- 24‑hour Virtual GP service for you and your household
- 26 days annual leave – rising with length of service and the ability to buy more
- Life assurance (up to 8 x salary)
- Personal accident cover (up to 5 x salary)
- Excellent family friendly policies, such as 26 weeks full pay for maternity / adoption leave, as well as 4 weeks paid paternity / partner leave.
- Opportunity for shared parental pay
- Bonus scheme
- Flexible benefits and working culture to support your wellbeing and lifestyle.
Closing date: Friday 18 September 2026 | Interviews: week commencing 28 September 2026
Inclusion at Anglian Water
Our customers come from all walks of life, and we want our teams to reflect that. We consider all suitably qualified applicants and recruit and develop our people based on merit and their passion for creating better outcomes.
We are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels they belong and is supported to succeed.
If you are excited by the opportunity but do not meet every point listed, we would still encourage you to apply. Your experience may be exactly what helps us think differently. #LI-SA2
We are committed to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve in both our workforce and our supply chain partners to help us to understand and meet the needs of our customers.
We are passionate and dedicated to the learning and development of our people, making sure they have the right skills and knowledge to be successful and to help achieve their potential.
We want to give everyone equal access to our recruitment process.
If you have a disability or long‑term condition, including neurodiversity and mental health conditions, we’ll support you throughout your application, and make any adjustments to make sure your disability or long‑term condition is not a barrier to recruitment.
If you need any support, please get reach out to our team resourcing@anglianwater.co.uk’
If you are offered a job with us, you’ll be subject to the relevant employment checks for your role, which could include references, driving licence check, DBS Check as well as your right to work in the UK.
More information about how we look after and use your information can be found in our Privacy Notice.
Become a part of Anglian Water’s future and join us on our journey as we live through our values to build trust, do the right thing, and are always exploring, to bring environmental and social prosperity to the region.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Strategic Production Lead Peterborough, Cambridgeshire Posted 15 hours ago employer: Anglian Water Group Ltd.
Anglian Water is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where you can make a real impact on the lives of millions by ensuring the delivery of safe, clean drinking water. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, generous benefits including a double match pension scheme and extensive family-friendly policies, we foster a culture of inclusivity and continuous professional development. Join us in Rutland or surrounding areas, where your leadership will inspire a dedicated team and contribute to our mission of operational excellence and environmental responsibility.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Production Lead Peterborough, Cambridgeshire Posted 15 hours ago
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In a full-time role, companies like Anglian Water Group Ltd. value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
