At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operational support, drive improvements, and coordinate with teams for excellence.
- Company: Join the UK's largest water and wastewater company, making a real difference.
- Benefits: Up to £50,000 salary, generous leave, pension scheme, and health perks.
- Other info: Flexible working, diverse culture, and meaningful career opportunities await you.
- Why this job: Be part of a transformative team impacting millions and the planet.
- Qualifications: Experience in project delivery, team leadership, and problem-solving skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 50000 £ per year.
We are currently looking for a full-time, permanent Operational Support Lead for our Repair & Maintenance and Networks function within Operations. Your role will be to drive the continuous improvement of R&M and Networks operations performance through the creation and delivery of new processes, alongside providing robust governance, performance reporting, and stakeholder coordination to support operational excellence. This role is central to the successful embedding and the future transformation of the function. You will work closely with senior leaders, operational teams and contract partners to deliver meaningful and sustainable change, ensuring alignment with performance, regulatory, health & safety and commercial objectives.
Base Location: Hybrid – Clearwater Court – RG1 8DB, with occasional travel to various depots and offices
Hours: Monday – Friday, 36 hours per week
What you’ll be doing as an Operational Support Lead:
- Regional point of contact for supplier relationships, making sure these partnerships work well and helping solve any problems
- Leading and developing a small team within operational support
- Providing insight and forecasts to help deliver year-end goals
- Owning and delivering tactical projects to continuously improve performance and customer experience by identifying trends, analysing data, and recommending operational and process enhancements
- Working closely with the Transformation team to deliver projects
- Understanding operational requirements and commercial agreements to make sure our resources are based at the right locations against the correct working patterns
- Working with the commercial team to facilitate supplier terms and conditions where required
- Engaging with suppliers to control and coordinate onboarding; ensuring front line teams have the necessary kit and equipment, ensuring accurate documentation, and compliance with internal processes
- Managing and coordinating mandatory training for the front-line teams, supporting new initiatives, and helping keep the remote field teams updated with the latest news and briefings
- Facilitating effective supervisor working patterns to manage standby, weekend, Christmas, and bank holidays
- Managing contractors and direct employees to ensure data integrity and security
- Supporting the data and insight teams with routine and ad hoc performance reports/presentations
- Delivering safety and wellbeing improvement plans in partnership with the lead team
What should you bring to the role?
- A full UK driving licence
- Be fully competent at using IT systems and Office software
- Ability to identify problems before they arise, as well as being a practical and intuitive thinker.
- A track record in project delivery, with the ability to demonstrate delivery against commercial and operational objectives
- Experience in leading a small team and influencing other teams to achieve our goals
- Be a tenacious and resilient individual with the ability to work with confidence in a challenging and reactive environment.
- Taking responsibility for the preparation of documentation for the risk review session as required
- A confident speaker who can present to a frontline workforce the needs of the business and vision
- Comfort level adapting your communication style to delivery teams as well as more corporate senior stakeholders, and to display demonstrable experience of this
- The ability to articulate clearly business cases linked to benefits and risk; this is crucial to the success of this role.
What’s in it for you?
- Offering a salary up to £50,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience, plus £4,500 car allowance
- Annual Leave – 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays)
- Performance-related pay plan is directly linked to company performance measures and targets
- Generous Pension Scheme through AON
- Generous Paternity Leave, including 4 weeks paid and an optional 2 weeks unpaid
- Enhanced Maternity Leave, 26 weeks full pay and 13 weeks half pay!
- Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of yourself and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance
Who are we? We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job, and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.
Learn more about our purpose and values Working at Thames Water Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits. If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet. Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family.
Why choose us?
We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else, just let us know; we’re here to help and support.
When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.
Disclaimer
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Operational Support Lead employer: idibu
Thames Water is an exceptional employer, offering a unique and rewarding work environment where you can make a tangible difference in the lives of millions. With a strong commitment to employee growth, flexible working arrangements, and a comprehensive benefits package, including generous leave policies and health support, we foster a culture of inclusivity and collaboration. Join us at our Clearwater Court location, where you'll be part of a dedicated team driving meaningful change in water and wastewater services while enjoying a fulfilling career path.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operational Support Lead
✨Get Involved in Industry Events
Logistics and supply chain are all about networking, so hit up those trade shows and local meetups. Places like the UK's Logistics and Supply Chain conference can be goldmines for connecting with potential employers like idibu and learning about the latest trends in the industry.
✨Leverage Online Communities
Join forums and LinkedIn groups specifically for logistics professionals. Share your insights and ask questions to get noticed. Being active in these spaces can help you establish credibility and might just lead to an opportunity at idibu!
✨Showcase Your Skills with a Portfolio
Even if it’s a full-time gig, having a portfolio can really set you apart. Include case studies or projects that demonstrate your understanding of supply chain management, logistics software, or solving operational challenges. You’d be surprised at how much this can impress hiring managers.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don't forget the power of applying directly through our website! A lot of companies like idibu keep job postings exclusive to their sites. This way, you can easily keep track of your applications and ensure your profile is in front of the right people.
We think you need these skills to ace Operational Support Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Supply Chain Savvy:In your CV and cover letter, make sure to highlight your understanding of logistics and supply chain management principles. Mention any relevant courses you've taken or tools you've used, like inventory management software or data analysis platforms, to showcase your skills and keep up with best practices in the industry.
Quantify Your Achievements:When detailing your previous work experience, remember to use numbers wherever possible. Did you improve delivery times by a specific percentage? Did you help reduce costs? These kinds of quantified achievements not only catch the eye but also demonstrate your capability in the logistics sector.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to idibu:This is your chance to really connect with the team at idibu. In your cover letter, express why you're passionate about supply chain logistics and how your goals align with the company’s mission. A little personalisation goes a long way!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you've got any certifications related to logistics or supply chain management—like APICS or Six Sigma—make sure you flaunt them! These show that you're committed to your professional development and can set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at idibu
✨Know Your Logistics Tools
Make sure you're familiar with key logistics software and tools like SAP or Oracle ERP. These are often used in the industry, and being able to demonstrate your knowledge or experience with them can really set you apart during your interview with idibu.
✨Perfect Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect to tackle scenarios that showcase your problem-solving skills. Think about past experiences where you've had to optimise supply chains or handle logistics challenges. Have a few examples ready to discuss how you made decisions that led to improvements.
✨Show Your Team Spirit
Supply chain roles heavily rely on teamwork and communication. Be prepared to discuss how you've collaborated with others in previous roles. Maybe share a time when you coordinated with a team to resolve a logistical hiccup. This can show idibu that you're a team player!
✨Understand the Big Picture
Be ready to talk about the broader logistics and supply chain trends. Having insights into current challenges in the industry, like sustainability or lead times, can impress the interviewers at idibu. Show them you’re not just focused on the day-to-day but also have a strategic mindset!
