At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic development and long-term planning for Welsh Water's corporate strategy.
- Company: Join a leading organisation shaping the future of water services in Wales.
- Benefits: Enjoy 34 days annual leave, flexible working, and a range of employee perks.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for professional growth and community engagement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on strategic decisions that affect communities and the environment.
- Qualifications: Degree in strategy, business, or related field; senior-level experience in strategy development required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 70000 £ per year.
Location: Cardiff, Wales, CF3 0LT
Job Requisition Number: 8638
Work Type: Permanent
Job Function: Human Resources & Comms
Salary Range: £70,000 Base: South East Hub
What you’ll be responsible for
Reporting to the Strategy Director, the Senior Strategy Manager plays a central role in shaping Welsh Water’s strategic direction by leading the development of strategic content, coordinating long‑term business planning, and liaising with stakeholders on strategic issues. The role is responsible for supporting the end-to-end strategy and business planning processes, ensuring that long‑term pathways, choices and trade‑offs are clearly articulated, credible and grounded in evidence. The postholder brings together horizon scanning, insight and organisational inputs to develop coherent strategic narratives that inform Executive and Board decision-making.
- Play a leading role in development and oversight of Dŵr Cymru’s long‑term corporate strategy.
- Develop and articulate long‑term planning pathways and directional choices, supporting clarity on options, dependencies and implications over 5, 10 and 25‑year horizons.
- Lead and coordinate horizon scanning activity across political, regulatory, environmental, technological and societal domains, translating emerging trends into strategic insights and implications.
- Manage strategic planning frameworks and governance, ensuring alignment between corporate strategy, business planning and asset investment.
- Prepare high‑quality written materials for Executive and Board consideration, including strategy papers, long‑term plans and options narratives.
- Work closely with Regulation, Finance, Asset Planning, Customer and Operations teams to ensure long‑term plans are informed by evidence.
- Contribute to the ongoing development of tools to promote a strong strategic culture across the organisation, encouraging long‑term thinking, collaboration and evidence‑based decision‑making.
- Support the development of policy positions on regulatory reform and national plans, and engage with external stakeholders to push forward and shape reforms to the regulatory framework in Wales, in line with the needs of our strategy and plans.
- Support government and policy engagement by producing policy analysis, insights and strategic positions to inform external consultations and national strategic plans.
About you
The following are essential requirements for the recruitment of the role:
Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent professional qualification in strategy, business, economics, public policy, social science or a related discipline.
- Postgraduate qualification in strategy, public policy or business (desirable).
Experience
- Significant senior‑level experience working in strategy development, regulatory policy or business planning within a complex, preferably regulated, organisation.
- Proven experience leading or supporting structured strategy development processes and multi‑year business planning, from early thinking through to Executive and Board sign‑off.
- Strong track record of authoring high‑quality strategy documents, long‑term plans or position papers for senior decision‑makers.
- Experience synthesising inputs from multiple disciplines (e.g. insight, regulation, finance, operations) into coherent long‑term narratives.
- Experience undertaking or coordinating horizon scanning and translating emerging trends into strategic implications.
- Experience operating in regulated, infrastructure companies desirable.
Knowledge & Skills
- Deep knowledge of the UK water sector, regulatory environment, government policy drivers and price reviews.
- Strong understanding of strategy development methodologies, including long‑term planning and pathway‑based approaches.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data and insight into strategic recommendations.
- Exceptional written communication and document authorship skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively across different parts of an organisation, forming strong networks.
- Strong critical thinking, synthesis and judgement.
- Ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders across organisational boundaries.
Benefits
As well as a market competitive salary and 34 days annual leave (pro rata, including public holidays), we offer a range of employee benefits and rewards including:
- Variable pay schemes
- Enhanced employer pension contributions – up to 11% employer contributions
- Several internal employee networks including Embrace, LGBT+, Neurodiverse, Disability, Women of Welsh Water, Parents, Wellbeing and many more
- Enhanced family friendly policies
- Progression opportunities, including the ability to apply for funded training and coaching and mentoring programmes
- Reduction on high street & online shopping
- Cycle to work scheme / Car‑leasing scheme
- Online GP service
- Voluntary private healthcare
- Free mortgage brokering service
- An employee assistance programme for employees and their immediate family
- Free Headspace App to support your wellbeing
- Colleague matched fundraising scheme up to the value of £500 per year for your chosen charity
- 20% off all Welsh Water visitor attraction centres and gift shops
- Flexible working patterns
Strategy Manager in Cardiff employer: Dwr Cymru Welsh Water
Welsh Water is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Cardiff that fosters collaboration and innovation. With a strong commitment to employee development, we provide numerous growth opportunities, including funded training and mentoring programmes, alongside a competitive salary and generous benefits package. Our inclusive culture, supported by various employee networks, ensures that every voice is heard, making it a rewarding place to build a meaningful career in the water sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategy Manager in Cardiff
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Welsh Water on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info and maybe even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the latest trends in the UK water sector. We want to show that we’re not just interested in the role, but also in the industry as a whole.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice articulating our strategic insights clearly. We need to demonstrate our ability to translate complex data into actionable strategies during the interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure our application gets noticed and shows we’re serious about joining the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategy Manager in Cardiff
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Strategy Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in strategy development and business planning, and don’t forget to mention any specific projects that align with Welsh Water’s goals.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:Since this role involves preparing high-quality written materials, it’s crucial to demonstrate your exceptional writing skills. Use clear, concise language and structure your application well to reflect your ability to communicate effectively.
Highlight Relevant Experience:Be sure to emphasise your senior-level experience in strategy development and regulatory policy. Share examples of how you’ve led strategic initiatives or contributed to long-term planning processes in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves, and you’ll find all the details you need to make your submission stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dwr Cymru Welsh Water
✨Know Your Strategy Inside Out
Make sure you thoroughly understand the strategic direction of the company and the water sector. Familiarise yourself with recent developments, regulatory changes, and how they impact long-term planning. This will help you articulate your insights during the interview.
✨Prepare High-Quality Written Materials
Since the role involves preparing documents for senior decision-makers, practice summarising complex information into clear, concise narratives. Bring examples of your previous work that demonstrate your ability to create high-quality strategy papers or position documents.
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Skills
This position requires working across various teams. Be ready to discuss your experience in collaborating with different departments like finance, operations, and regulation. Highlight specific instances where your teamwork led to successful outcomes.
✨Demonstrate Critical Thinking and Insight
Prepare to discuss how you've translated emerging trends into strategic implications in your past roles. Use examples to illustrate your analytical skills and how you've synthesised diverse inputs into coherent strategies that align with long-term goals.
