Developer Services Senior Technical Lead

Are you a seasoned technical expert looking for a role where your expertise actually shapes the strategy of a department? Do you want to lead a dedicated team in a role and directly impact large-scale infrastructure projects and regulatory success? As our Senior Technical Lead within Developer Services, you’ll step into a pivotal managerial role. You won’t just be overseeing the day-to-day; you’ll be the strategic lead for Self Lay, New Appointment and Variations (NAV), and requisition functions. This is an exciting opportunity to drive high-quality service delivery and ensure we stay ahead of industry averages for D-MEX.

You’ll manage a team of approximately eight direct reports, fostering an environment of continuous improvement and technical excellence. Whether you are an aspiring leader ready for your next big step or a technical specialist seeking complex, large-scale projects, this role offers the autonomy to implement sound engineering judgement and make a tangible impact on our water network. Water experience isn’t necessary; as long as you have some strong knowledge around utilities and technical hands-on experience, we can teach the rest. You’ll be based at our Snodland office, working Monday to Friday 8:30 - 17:00. This is a hybrid position, working 3 days in the office.

Main Responsibilities

• Strategic Oversight: Devise and implement strategies to meet regulatory and ODI targets, ensuring an overall "level playing field" across all work streams.
• Team Leadership: Manage and performance-manage the wider Developer Services team to ensure efficiency and high-quality delivery.
• Technical Expertise: Provide specialist technical advice to the department and represent the company at industry forums and strategy working groups (e.g., WIPSAPS).
• Operational Management: Oversee monthly reports, including Capex targets, work volumes, and financial forecasting.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Liaise with customers and internal/external stakeholders to maintain the company’s reputation and manage escalated complaints.
• Health & Safety: Ensure all technical designs and onsite standards adhere to health and safety regulations.
• Incident Support: During high-level incidents, you will be heavily involved with alternate water and network operations.

What you’ll need

• Technical Experience: A strong background in the technical and construction side of water networks, specifically in laying pipes and operating networks.
• Industry Knowledge: A solid understanding of industry standards, specifications, and the various NEC contracts.
• Leadership Skills: Experience in a managerial role with the ability to motivate a team and exercise sound judgement in pressurised situations.
• Safety Awareness: A strong understanding of CDM 2015 and its application to projects.
• Communication: Excellent report writing and oral communication skills, with the ability to influence at various levels.

Requirements: A valid UK Driving Licence is essential for this fluid role.

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.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

What can you expect from your recruitment?

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.