River Quality Team Manager

Hello, we’re Severn Trent and we think water is wonderful. We serve 4.8 million households and businesses across the heart of the UK. Each cuppa drank and every toilet flushed is only possible because of the 6,500 brilliant team members working across our patch. We welcome people from all walks of life and celebrate individuality. We know diverse minds, experiences and backgrounds help us to learn and better serve our customers and the communities where they live. If you want to do more because you care, we’d love to talk to you.

Our Water Quality & Environment team have an opportunity for you to join as our new River Quality Team Manager. We can be flexible with the location of this role as long as it falls within the Severn Trent patch. For this position, a covering letter detailing your experience would be advisable.

In this role, you will serve as the designated Technical Manager, responsible for ensuring compliance with Section 82 of the Environment Act 2021, ISO 17025, DWTS, and the STW Quality Manual. You will oversee the production and interpretation of performance data to support the Analytical Services Quality Management System and maintain ISO 17025 / DWTS accreditation, ensuring impartiality throughout the process. You will also be accountable for effective resource management within a large team, managing an opex budget of approximately £3 million per annum and a capex budget of around £500K per annum. Your responsibilities will include overseeing river monitoring assets at over 500 sites, providing technical advice, and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to ensure best practices and regulatory compliance.

Some key accountabilities of the role are:

• Accountable for effective resource management to deliver the business analytical requirements.
• Develop and utilise capacity planning models to support business cases for resource.
• Cost control within budget limits and budgetary accountability for multiple cost centres (Opex £3 million/annum and capex of c.£500K/annum).
• Drive efficiency by identifying and tracking cost improvements and ensuring implementation into the team.
• Accountable for systems that ensure that staff are competent, methods, equipment and facilities are validated and fit for purpose, appropriate quality controls are in place and suitable service and maintenance contracts are implemented.
• Accountable for effective recruitment and training, ensuring the team are upskilled and compliant with Company policies and procedures.
• Accountable for ensuring that all Company HR, health & safety and environmental policy requirements are met within areas of responsibility.
• Promote and lead problem-solving activities and change within your team to ensure continuous improvement through technical and process changes, ensuring they are embedded and meet required standards.
• Accountable for risk management and appropriate escalation of key risks and issues to the business lead or strategic lead and other stakeholders as required.
• Develop and own the Business Continuity Plans for the team, ensuring fit for purpose and brought to life through regular communications and exercises.

In order to be successful in this role, you should possess a degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant scientific discipline or related life sciences. Extensive experience in the field can also be considered as a suitable substitute for formal qualifications. Your background should demonstrate a strong understanding of the technical and regulatory requirements associated with the role, including compliance with Section 82 of the Environment Act 2021, ISO 17025, and DWTS standards. Along with this, you need proven experience in managing large teams and resources, with a track record of effective budget management. Your ability to provide technical advice, manage health and safety requirements, and oversee the operability of river monitoring assets will be crucial to your success in this role. A full UK driving license is needed for this position.

Working here isn’t just a job. You can build a career at Severn Trent, and we’ll reward you for it too. We have a range of benefits that recognise great work, and award-winning training to help you reach your potential. And we’ll also help you play your part in looking after the environment and the communities where we live.

With that in mind, here are just some of our favourite perks that you’ll get being part of the Severn Trent family:

• 28 days holiday + bank holidays (and the ability to buy/sell up to 5 days per year)
• Car allowance £4800 per year
• Annual bonus scheme (up to £2,250 based on company performance and subject to eligibility)
• Leading pension scheme – we will double your contribution (up to 15% when you contribute 7.5%)
• Sharesave – the chance to buy Severn Trent Plc shares at a discounted rate
• 10% monthly discount with Busy Bees Nurseries and one-week free childcare
• Dedicated training and development with our Academy
• Electric vehicle scheme and retail offers
• Family friendly policies including a year off fully paid maternity and adoption leave
• Two paid volunteering days per year