Water Resources Optioneering Lead in Dartford

Summary: We're searching for a strategic and influential Water Resources Optioneering Lead to identify and appraise new solutions that will be vital in the development of our next Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP). You will spearhead the options appraisal process, managing consultants to identify, evaluate, and deliver future supply and demand options. This role requires you to use crucial "public value" metrics (like environmental and social acceptability) to find a preferred programme of solutions and build consensus between internal teams, key external stakeholders, and regulators at the regional planning level. If you have a technical mind along with a passion for strategic project management and securing the long-term sustainability of water resources, we want you on our team. Apply now and help us deliver a resilient water future!

Main responsibilities:

• To develop a detailed options appraisal process and delivery programme taking account of existing and future WRMP guidelines and South East Water’s WRMP programme.
• Manage the process (delivered by a consultant) to complete a full optioneering and appraisal programme required to identify and evaluate water resources supply and demand options for the future. This is likely to include technical development to produce specifications for costing, and the development of “public value” metrics such as environmental impacts and social acceptability.
• To report on a monthly basis to the Water Resources Strategy Manager and WRMP working group relating to cost, risk, progress, change control and resolution of issues based on auditable data and methodology.
• To supervise and ensure delivery outcomes of contractor activities such as investigation programmes and pilot studies.
• To lead discussions between individuals internal and external to SEW, where there may be differing priorities, to ensure consensus and an agreed way of delivering regulatory requirements i.e. options appraisal process and support decision making process for the WRMP preferred plan.
• To represent SEW at the regional planning forum for all workstreams relating to options and their development.
• To provide technical support and information on options development on an ad hoc basis to departments across the business who require it, also periodically to stakeholder groups.
• To maintain relationships, including liaison and negotiation of potential options with key external stakeholders, industry network groups, and industry regulators.
• Employees are required to be flexible and to be prepared to perform duties and other tasks within their capabilities. The nature of our business is such that the contents of any job profile are subject to change from time to time.

You'll need:

• An engineering (or other relevant) related degree.
• Experience of developing engineering solutions to a feasible design stage.
• Proven experience of successfully communicating with a wide range of internal and external audiences.
• Able to develop and lead programmes of work.
• Relevant technical experience – likely to be in engineering and/or scheme strategy and development.
• Water industry experience desirable.

We want to be the water company people want to be supplied by and want to work for. We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That’s why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package:

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

To apply for this position, please submit your CV on our career’s website. It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water. Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks.

If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been looking for, apply now!

South East Water kindly asks that recruitment agencies refrain from submitting CVs to our employees or associates without explicit invitation from our HR Resourcing team. CVs sent on a speculative basis will not be acknowledged and will not assume any responsibility for fees or commissions in the event that we hire a candidate who applied directly or subsequently introduced by an instructed agency.

Compensation package: up to £62,000 p.a. (dependent on experience)

Join our team: Be you, belong and valued. Grow a career with a meaningful purpose. Introduce yourself to our recruiters and we'll get in touch if there's a role that seems like a good match. Grow a career with a meaningful purpose.

• Come to work to be safe, valued, and trusted.
• We’ll encourage you to create and pursue new opportunities for personal growth.
• A place to be the real you, build deeper connections and enjoy a sense of belonging.
• Be invested in helping us to create a sustainable water supply for now, and in the future.