Waterlink Smart Metering Field Team Leader

Summary

As Waterlink Smart Metering Field Team Leader, you will be responsible for the performance and effective operation of multiple field teams responsible for the installation of Smart meters. Your role is to provide strong, organised leadership, ensuring that daily site activities—including traffic management and machinery use—are carried out efficiently, ensure strict adherence to health and safety best practice, and deliver high levels of customer service. By sharing your extensive industry knowledge, you will develop and motivate your teams to deliver the highest levels of quality and customer satisfaction, acting as a crucial link between office functions and onsite delivery.

Main Responsibilities

• Supervise Waterlink Smart Metering Field Teams throughout the project lifecycle, from initiation to completion, ensuring high-standard performance.
• Lead, motivate, develop, and appraise team members to ensure they achieve peak performance and meet departmental needs.
• Ensure all work is carried out in accordance with best practice and complies with all relevant regulations.
• Monitor workloads to manage backlogs and contribute to decisions regarding the allocation of contract labour.
• Identify new opportunities and implement improved processes and systems where applicable.
• Communicate with the Health and Safety team to ensure field teams follow correct policies and procedures.
• Monitor and assess the condition of field vehicles and plant equipment, reporting issues as required.
• Liaise with the scheduling team to optimise work planning, minimise downtime, and ensure accurate project time recording.
• Manage customer contacts and complaints sensitively and effectively to resolve issues and prevent recurrence.
• Produce detailed, accurate records for cost, measurement, quality, and as-built details for completed schemes.
• Conduct routine audits to maintain quality, environmental, and Health and Safety standards on every project.
• Effectively lead and develop the team in an inclusive manner, in line with HR, H&S, and business guidelines.
• Assist both office and field functions to support the wider Waterlink team as required.

Qualifications and Experience

• Educated to GCSE/O-Level Grade A–C standard or equivalent, or demonstrable experience in a similar role that evidences equivalent literacy and numeracy skills.
• Knowledge of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.
• New Roads and Street Works Act (NRASWA) Supervisor Qualification.
• Clean driving licence.
• Good general IT skills, including proficiency in Word/Google Docs and Excel/Google Sheets.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
• Extensive operational and industry knowledge and experience.
• Essential knowledge of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.
• Experience in supervising field teams and third‑party contractors onsite.
• Experience within the water industry is highly desirable, though candidates with transferable knowledge from related utility sectors (e.g., gas, electricity, or telecommunications) will be strongly considered.
• Proven ability to coordinate third‑party contractors or site gangs to deliver work safely and to specification.
• Effectively manage people, with a focus on coaching, development, and the professional resolution of team concerns in line with company policy and procedures.
• Employees are required to be flexible and to be prepared to perform duties and other tasks within their capabilities.

Company Culture and Commitment to Diversity

Grow a career with a meaningful purpose. We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. We’ll encourage you to create and pursue new opportunities for personal growth. 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. We want you to feel at home with us. The nature of our business is such that the contents of any job profile are subject to change from time to time.

Benefits

• 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.

Employment Terms

Compensation package: £44,000 to £48,000 p.a.

Enjoy flexible working arrangements.

Additional Information

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.

It is necessary 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.

We supply top-quality drinking water to 2.3 million customers in the southeast of England. Through a network of 9,000 miles of pipe, we deliver 544 million litres of water every day. It's the skill and expertise of our employees that ensures our water meets the highest standards.

Our Promise

• 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.

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