Senior Asset Planning Sponsor in Leeds

About Water Utility Company based in Yorkshire region of England. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, serving over 5.4 million people and visitors. We work to protect the environment, support communities, and ensure clean and safe drinking water and wastewater services 365 days a year. This role supports the Catchment & Water Production Strategy team in delivering reliable and affordable water resources and treatment assets, optimized for Capex/Opex, operational performance and asset risk.

Location: Initially Bradford; future base at Leeds Valley Park with hybrid working (2–3 days in the office per week in Leeds/Bradford). Work type: Permanent, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

We have an exciting opportunity to join Yorkshire Water and help deliver the best service to our customers.

Responsibilities:

• Support Water non-Infra Asset Planning Strategy to manage asset risks and meet the needs of major project delivery (eg Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) and Strategic Resource Option schemes).
• Support the team in managing the Concept and Definition phases of major projects and programmes of work.
• Collaborate with consultants and capital delivery partners on strategy, concept, scope and development, stages of a major project or set of projects.
• Act as Senior Sponsor for such schemes.
• Drive high standards in health and safety, risk management and control of work; ensure compliance with the Yorkshire Water Safety Policy and deliver sustainable outperformance.
• Work with the DPC major project team to ensure consistent decision making on schemes.
• Explore and balance risks across whole life cost, carbon and other six capitals in the consideration of alternative technologies.
• Coordinate and lead communication between Asset Management and Operational Service Delivery Teams regarding the Clean Water capital programme, focusing on DPC and SRO schemes.
• Work with Service Delivery colleagues to identify and manage emerging risks that could impact PCs, ODIs and YWSBOs in the TOTEX environment.
• Ensure up-to-date information on costs, risks, carbon, etc., is communicated to the Operational Asset Manager with potential solutions to enable timely programme-level decisions.
• Oversee delivery of agreed benefits identified at approval, including sign-off of benefits realisation.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Knowledge and understanding of Asset Management principles and processes; experience in operational and/or strategic leadership in a commercially orientated or regulated environment.
• Knowledge of Clean Water treatment processes and Raw water assets.
• Financial awareness of the AMP plan and regulatory frameworks.
• Clear understanding of Clean Water Asset Planning role and how it delivers company risk management plans.
• Experience in investigations into performance shortfalls on Clean Water Treatment and Raw Water assets.
• Experience in developing and maintaining internal and external relationships.
• Experience in supporting and embedding change; ability to influence culture and behaviours.
• Experience managing relationships with consultants and contract partners.
• Demonstrates Yorkshire Water values and behaviours.
• Technical and asset management experience in Clean Water treatment and/or qualified to minimum HNC level or equivalent in engineering/science.
• Experience leading highly successful teams.

Extra Benefits:

• Knowledge of YW AMP8 obligations and how the business plan was developed and outperformance achieved.
• Knowledge of RAPID, DPC and SRO major projects funding and governance.
• Ability to communicate at different levels within an organisation.
• Project management experience.
• Hold or be working towards Chartership in Asset Management or related field.

Flexible Working & Inclusion:

We support flexible working patterns and job-share options where possible to help you balance work and home life. If you require adjustments to the recruitment process, please indicate this in your application. We are committed to accessibility and removing barriers in recruitment.

Closing & Contact:

Closing date: 20 February 2026. For further information on the role please contact Neil Whitehead. If successful, you will undergo pre-employment checks (Basic Disclosure) and possibly security vetting depending on the role. All roles are subject to a medical questionnaire and additional medicals when required. Kelda Group reserve the right to close the position early.