WCWE Regional Planning Manager in Exeter

The WCWE Regional Planning Manager is responsible for leading the development and delivery of the West Country Water and Environment (WCWE) regional plan. The role sits within the Strategic Planning function of the Water Resources and Environment directorate and coordinates collaboration between Pennon, Wessex Water, and wider WCWE stakeholders. This role plays a critical part in shaping the region’s long-term (25+ year) water resources strategy, ensuring a coordinated, sustainable, and compliant approach across organisational boundaries.

Key Accountabilities

• Strategic Planning & Programme Leadership: Lead the development and delivery of the WCWE Regional Plan, aligning with strategic objectives. Plan and coordinate multiple programmes, ensuring progress is monitored and corrective actions are implemented where required. Identify interdependencies across workstreams and actively manage risks and issues.
• Stakeholder & Partnership Management: Facilitate collaboration between member water companies, regulators, and partner organisations. Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, including Environment Agency, Natural England, and Ofwat. Ensure clear communication of plans, progress, and key messages to internal and external audiences.
• Governance, Risk & Assurance: Oversee programme governance, ensuring risks, dependencies, and gaps are identified and mitigated. Initiate interventions to address programme issues or delivery gaps. Ensure alignment with regulatory requirements and strategic policy frameworks.
• Financial & Resource Management: Manage budgets allocated to regional planning activities. Oversee funding for assurance groups and ensure effective use of resources.
• Communication & Reporting: Prepare and deliver regular progress reports to stakeholders, policymakers, and the public. Manage dissemination of communications from regulators, steering groups, and stakeholders to WCWE members.
• Cross-Regional Coordination: Engage with other regional groups and water companies to ensure alignment of plans. Promote a unified, collaborative approach to water resource management across organisational boundaries.

Skills & Experience

• Essential Experience: Strong background in water resources management, environmental planning, or a related field. Proven experience in programme/project management and budget oversight. Demonstrated leadership capability and experience managing teams or large-scale initiatives. Experience working within a water company or regulated utility environment. Strong understanding of environmental regulations and water resource policy frameworks.
• Core Skills: Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills. Strong organisational and prioritisation abilities, managing multiple competing demands. Analytical thinking with the ability to identify risks and develop mitigation strategies. High attention to detail and a proactive, solutions-focused mindset. Commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
• Qualifications: Essential: Degree in Science, Environmental Studies, Engineering, or a related discipline. Desirable: Professional membership (e.g., CIWEM or equivalent).

Leadership & Behaviour Expectations: Collaborative and inclusive leader who builds strong internal and external relationships. Self-starter with resilience and the ability to manage complex, long-term programmes. Strategic thinker with a focus on long-term outcomes rather than short-term fixes. Engages effectively with senior stakeholders and technical specialists.