Director of Asset & Operations Strategy in England

About the Trust

We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.

Join Our Team: Director of Asset & Operations Strategy opportunity

This is a pivotal leadership role that will shape the long‑term future of the nation's historic waterways network, ensuring our infrastructure remains safe, resilient, sustainable, and fit for future generations. This role follows a 37‑hour working week and can be based from one of the Trust's key operational hubs, with regular travel across England and Wales as required. A valid UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential.

Role Overview

In this exciting opportunity, you will lead the development and delivery of the Trust's long‑term Asset & Operations Strategy, defining how we manage, invest in and operate one of the UK's largest heritage infrastructure networks. Reporting directly to the Chief Operations Officer, you will provide strategic leadership across asset management, investment planning, resilience, operational strategy, and infrastructure governance. Working closely with engineering, operations, finance and environmental teams, you will ensure our asset and operational decisions are evidence‑based, prioritised and financially sustainable. You will play a key role in helping the Trust respond to climate change, increasing infrastructure risks, evolving regulatory requirements and future funding challenges, championing innovation and continuous improvement, while maintaining high standards of safety, service and stewardship across our waterways.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of the Trust's long‑term Asset & Operations Strategy, ensuring the waterways network remains safe, resilient, sustainable and aligned to organisational priorities.
• Define the strategic framework for asset management, investment planning and operational delivery, enabling consistent, evidence‑based decision‑making across the Trust.
• Provide strategic leadership for infrastructure resilience, including critical assets, reservoir safety, climate adaptation and development of long‑term water resources and flood management strategies providing long‑term network sustainability.
• Establish and maintain a high‑performing asset information and operational insight capability, ensuring robust data governance, quality management systems, technology and analytics support effective planning, risk management and investment decision‑making.
• Drive continuous improvement in operational performance, efficiency and standardisation, creating clear alignment between asset condition, service levels and customer outcomes.
• Act as the Trust's strategic lead for asset and operational governance, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, regulatory requirements, the Strategic Asset Management Plan and ISO55001 principles.
• Build strong relationships with the Executive Team, Board, regulators, funding bodies and external partners, providing clear strategic advice on infrastructure investment, risk and long‑term stewardship of the network.
• Provide Gold Command cover as part of the Trust's incident management framework, delivering strategic leadership during major incidents and ensuring effective organisational response and continuity.
• Display the Trust values and behaviours at all times, ensuring that diversity and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of Trust life.

About You

You will be an experienced strategic leader with a proven ability to shape long‑term asset and operational strategies within complex, asset‑intensive organisations. Known for your collaborative approach and continuous improvement mindset, you'll excel at balancing competing priorities, influencing senior stakeholders and turning ambitious goals into practical, sustainable outcomes. You'll bring the curiosity to challenge current thinking, the credibility to build support for change, and the vision to help organisations prepare for the future.

Skills & Qualifications

• Degree qualified in a relevant discipline such as Engineering, Asset Management, Infrastructure Management, Environmental Management, with chartered status through a relevant professional institution.
• Significant experience in a senior leadership role within an asset‑intensive environment such as utilities, transport, infrastructure, engineering, water, or energy.
• Proven experience of developing and implementing long‑term asset, infrastructure, or operational strategies.
• Experience working within a regulated, publicly funded, charitable, or similarly governed environment, with an understanding of balancing operational, stakeholder, regulatory, and financial considerations.
• Strong understanding of asset management, investment planning, infrastructure risk, resilience, and performance improvement.
• Ability to use data, insight, and evidence to inform decision‑making and drive continuous improvement.
• Strong commercial and strategic awareness, with the ability to balance risk, service, sustainability, and affordability.

General:

• Demonstrable experience of influencing senior stakeholders and leading through complexity to deliver strategic outcomes.
• A collaborative and inclusive leadership style, creating clarity of purpose, empowering others to succeed, building trust‑based relationships, and leading organisational change through collaboration and influence.
• Full UK driving licence.

Contact & Application

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.

What We Offer

We offer a salary of £100,000 - £110,000 plus £6,240 car cash allowance per annum. Enjoy private medical insurance, a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive.