Head of DWMP & Systems Planning South West Water · Exeter (Peninsula House)

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. Whether you’re starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career. Ready to make a splash? Join our team today.

Role Purpose

To provide strategic leadership and single-point accountability for the company's long-term wastewater systems planning and Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan (DWMP). The post holder is responsible for developing, maintaining and governing a robust, evidence-led planning framework that ensures wastewater investment strategies support regulatory compliance, customer outcomes, environmental obligations, resilience requirements and sustainable growth. Acting as the organisation's recognised authority on long-term wastewater systems planning, the role will integrate growth, climate adaptation, environmental performance, asset health and resilience considerations into a coherent long-term strategy. The post holder will ensure strategic options and adaptive pathways are translated into prioritised investment programmes that deliver value and maintain alignment between long-term planning objectives and AMP delivery.

Key Deliverables

• DWMP Ownership & Governance
  • Own and maintain the Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan, ensuring it remains compliant, current, robust and defensible.
  • Establish governance, assurance and change-control processes for the DWMP and supporting planning assumptions.
  • Coordinate all wastewater investment needs within the DWMP framework, ensuring alignment across asset health, growth, resilience, environmental and regulatory drivers.
  • Ensure planning methodologies, option appraisal frameworks and decision-making processes are consistent, transparent and aligned to regulatory expectations.
  • Lead the preparation, publication and statutory review of the DWMP.
• Long-Term Systems Planning & Strategy
  • Develop and maintain long-term planning strategies covering 25 to 50+ year time horizons.
  • Establish and manage planning scenarios relating to climate change, population growth, urban development, environmental requirements, regulatory change and emerging technologies.
  • Embed adaptive planning approaches that support flexible decision-making and future uncertainty management.
  • Ensure long-term planning evidence is directly connected to price review submissions, business plans and AMP investment programmes.
  • Provide strategic planning leadership across wastewater systems and infrastructure.
• Options Appraisal, Modelling & Evidence Development
  • Lead multi-criteria options appraisal processes considering resilience, affordability, carbon, environmental performance, customer outcomes and risk.
  • Define modelling, analytics and data requirements that support robust, transparent and auditable planning decisions.
  • Work closely with modelling and analytics teams to ensure planning assumptions remain valid, consistent and evidence-based.
  • Ensure planning outputs can withstand regulatory scrutiny and independent assurance reviews.
  • Promote innovation and evidence-based decision-making across long-term planning activities.
• Regulatory & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Lead engagement with regulators, including Ofwat, the Environment Agency, DWI and other statutory stakeholders.
  • Represent the organisation in regional and national planning forums.
  • Coordinate consultation responses, stakeholder engagement activities and formal regulatory submissions.
  • Build trusted and productive relationships with local authorities, environmental groups, consumer representatives and regional planning partners.
  • Act as the organisation's authoritative voice on wastewater systems planning and long-term resilience strategies.
• Governance, Assurance & Continuous Improvement
  • Establish planning standards, governance frameworks and assurance processes that support effective decision-making.
  • Drive continuous improvement in planning capability, methodologies and systems thinking.
  • Incorporate operational feedback, delivery performance and emerging regulatory requirements into future planning cycles.
  • Promote consistent planning approaches across Asset Management, Operations and Capital Delivery functions.
  • Ensure lessons learned are embedded within future planning and investment processes.
• Leadership & Capability Development
  • Lead and develop a high-performing systems planning team.
  • Build organisational capability in strategic planning, options appraisal and long-term systems thinking.
  • Create a culture of collaboration, innovation and evidence-led decision-making.
  • Act as a centre of excellence for wastewater systems planning within the organisation.
  • Mentor and develop future planning and asset management leaders.

What Previous Experience Is Required

Essential Experience

• Significant leadership experience in strategic planning, systems planning or long-term asset management within a regulated utility or infrastructure environment.
• Demonstrable experience leading the development of DWMPs or comparable statutory planning frameworks.
• Experience translating long-term planning outputs into prioritised investment strategies and delivery programmes.
• Strong understanding of climate adaptation, resilience planning, population growth forecasting and environmental planning requirements.
• Experience leading complex stakeholder and regulatory engagement programmes.
• Proven ability to develop and present planning evidence to Executive, Board and regulatory audiences.
• Experience working with modelling, analytics and technical specialists to develop planning evidence and investment strategies.
• Strong understanding of regulatory planning and assurance requirements.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within wastewater catchment planning, drainage strategy or environmental planning.
• Experience supporting water sector price reviews and regulatory submissions.
• Knowledge of regional planning frameworks and cross-sector infrastructure planning.
• Experience developing adaptive pathways and scenario-based planning approaches.
• Experience implementing planning governance frameworks and organisational planning capability programmes.

Key Qualifications Required

• Degree qualification in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Water Management, Geography, Environmental Science, Planning or a related discipline.
• Chartered status, or working towards professional accreditation through a recognised institution (e.g. ICE, CIWEM, IEMA, RICS or equivalent).
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of long-term planning within a regulated environment.

Closing Date: 14th Aug 2026. We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. 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.