Operations Delivery Lead in Chatham

Overview

Location: 1 x Kent and 1 x Sussex. Salary depends on skills and experience. Monday to Friday – On call rota 1 in 8. Closing Date: 2026-05-20.

Responsibilities

• The Delivery Lead is responsible for managing the coordination and execution of reactive and planned works across a designated county.
• Act as the primary on-site contact for operational project delivery (reactive and planned); ensure activities are carried out efficiently, safely, and in alignment with project & operational requirements.
• Serve as a delivery subject matter expert between site operations and project teams; provide support during high-risk works, including SCOs (Safe Control of Operations); maintain operational continuity.
• Assist with technical work scoping and operate sites to provide safe operational isolation for projects, as well as helping undertake return to service activities (e.g., be a key holder and perform run-to-waste activities).
• Provide cover and support for the FEO Delivery Manager as required.

Key Competencies

• Problem Solving: Provides innovative solutions to water supply issues; technical expert for matters relating to water supply sites within the designated county; balances corporate risk against the best cost solution.
• Change and Innovation: Assess site performance and implement improvements; identify areas of risk and ineffective delivery, and develop innovative solutions; understand costs of delivery to balance resources against risk; drive collaborative working opportunities to deliver large capital programmes.
• Customer / Stakeholder Management: Defines and implements policies on Safe Working practices; acts as key contact for contractors and other departments; supports programme managers and project managers in effective risk management and delivery of projects.

Skills & Competencies

• Business Skills: Technical process knowledge, Project process awareness, Water Process Knowledge, Knowledge of CDM regulations 2015, Knowledge of Water Industry mechanical and electrical standards, Knowledge of the Commissioning process, Knowledge of DWI Regulations, Knowledge of EA Regulations, Hygiene level gold trained, Financial acumen, Knowledge of internal policy such as WSM, WQM, MED, Knowledge of internal systems such as EDM, PRISM, SCADA WQSD.
• Personal and Interpersonal Skills: Excellent technical and communication skills, Influencing and negotiating with internal / external stakeholders, Clear communication with operations to ensure compliance with statutory regulations and company policies, Promote business confidence in the delivery of plans, Clear communication with power suppliers and contractors, particularly with high voltage systems, Professional integrity, credibility and accountability, Take ownership of core issues to ensure business risk is controlled and mitigated, Confidence in making business and financial decisions, Act as senior staff on-site, Mentor junior staff (operators), Role model for others.
• Leadership and Management: Influence all levels within the business up to senior level to achieve effective delivery of Management plans, Support contract partners to improve on contract delivery, Coach site ops teams in career development to support succession planning, Act as successor and delegate for FEO Delivery Manager, Coach Administration and workflow controllers, Coach Junior staff (operators), Champion health and safety, Manage pre-construction activities for WR&P delivery team, Lead Asset integration planning with Project managers and Asset integration team.

Knowledge & Qualifications

• Technical: Water Process Knowledge, Knowledge of CDM regulations 201, Knowledge of Water Industry mechanical and electrical standards, Knowledge of the Commissioning process, Knowledge of DWI Regulations, Knowledge of EA Regulations, Hygiene level gold trained, Financial acumen, Knowledge of internal policy such as WSM, WQM, MED, Knowledge of internal systems such as EDM, PRISM, SCADA WQSD, Understand and influence the effective use of resources to deliver statutory duties, Provide innovative solutions to optimise resources and reduce risk, Ensure risk vs budget efficiency, Increase commercial effectiveness by providing technical input early to meet operational standards and minimise outsourcing of design services.
• Risk & Compliance: Core focus on avoiding risk of injury through effective risk management for MEICA tasks by in-house staff and contract partners, Statutory duties proactively managed with an effective Compliance Management Plan for areas of significant risk, Risk quantified to a common measure and recorded for all areas, Provide technical input to implement a formal risk management strategy for a consistent approach.

Essential: IoSH Managing Safely or equivalent H&S qualification, Competent operator training (will be provided), NEBOS Degree or equivalent experience.

Desirable: AMP fundamentals or PMQ Water Engineering level 3+.

Experience: Proven ability to deliver complex projects or proven water treatment process knowledge, Detailed knowledge of the Water industry, Commercially aware with an understanding of contract management, Water Process experience, Construction design management 2015, Degree or equivalent experience.