Operations Technician (Isles of Scilly) in Exeter

Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose. South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK’s most stunning landscapes. We’re proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we’re working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and support farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.

We currently have an opportunity available for an Operations Technician to join our team working on St Mary’s. Joining us on a full-time, permanent basis, you will receive a competitive salary of £25,300 per annum (with the opportunity to join the Operator Progression Scheme), plus benefits. It is a busy and varied role where good communications and a flexible approach to teamwork are essential. You will be based mainly on St Marys, but you will be required to work on other islands when necessary.

Responsibilities of our Operations Technician:

• Monitoring and managing raw water sources to ensure they are optimised for use on the islands.
• Operating and maintaining water (and in the future wastewater) treatment processes in accordance with operating protocols, ensuring best practice is always maintained.
• Completing proactive and reactive maintenance across all islands in a timely fashion to ensure continuous supply of high-quality water.
• Repairing and replacing network assets, responding to reactive bursts, ensuring effective hygiene precautions are always discharged.
• Calibrating instrumentation used in the treatment or network processes, documentation of readings, analysing trends in water consumption and potential identification of leakage.
• Using handheld or online technology to determine water system status and potential fault diagnosis.
• Communicating effectively with customers and stakeholders, ensuring issues are escalated as necessary and effectively logged in corporate systems.
• Communicating effectively with the wider business and management, ensuring a transparent and open approach to work.
• Working with our Engineering department to develop new solutions and delivering investment to the islands.
• Keeping tools, equipment and consumables in good working order and replenished according to the inventory lists.
• Participation within a standby rota.
• Undertaking grounds maintenance including strimming and general site repairs.

What we are looking for:

• 5 GCSEs at grade A-C or equivalent in Maths, English and a Science subject.
• A proven ability to work within a team environment but also on your own.
• A proven ability to communicate and liaise effectively with team members and external customers.
• A full UK driving licence.
• The ability to work within a framework that ensures adherence to operational procedures and risk assessments.
• The ability to prioritise daily duties and, on occasion, conflicting demands.
• Ideally previous experience of working within a utility-related or similar industry.
• The ability to assimilate and analyse information/intelligence from a range of sources.
• The ability to ensure that reactive issues are progressed and dealt with effectively and efficiently.

What’s In It For You?

At South West Water, we don’t all do the same job, but we each get out of bed in the morning knowing that every day is a chance to make incredible things happen together. In return for our people’s hard work and commitment, we offer an excellent range of benefits:

• Generous holiday allowance plus bank holidays.
• Buy or sell annual leave to offer you extra flexibility.
• Buy a bike and safety equipment tax-free, through our Cycle to Work scheme.
• We offer free car parking at most of our sites.
• Take up to 26 weeks’ additional maternity leave.
• Share your parental leave and split your time off to care for your child how you choose.
• Invest in Pennon Group plc through our employee share schemes.
• We support our people by offering a free, confidential Employee Assistance Programme.
• Look after your wellbeing with our Champion Health support platform.
• Enjoy access to thousands of deals and discounts on supermarkets, high street shops, online retailers, travel, eating out, cinemas, gyms and much more through Perkbox.
• A range of group discounts: The Dell Advantage Programme, Virgin Media Affinity Scheme, Vodafone Advantage and more.
• A discretionary Bonus.
• Competitive Contributory Pension.
• And plenty more!

Closing Date: 18th February 2026. Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.

Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.

Our core values which are essential to our success are:

• Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.
• Be You - We want you to bring your best every day. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.
• Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.