At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a 24/7 operational management centre, ensuring safety and customer-focused responses.
- Company: Join Southern Water, a leader in the utility sector with a commitment to excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, monthly car allowance, bonus potential, and private medical insurance.
- Other info: Diverse workplace welcoming all backgrounds; excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in emergency management and operational efficiency.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in complex operational environments is essential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: Worthing, West Sussex (Hybrid, 3‑4 days per week)
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 37, Monday to Friday
Salary: Competitive salary commensurate with experience + £600 monthly car allowance, bonus up to 30% and PMI.
Closing Date: 2026-07-17
About the Role
Reporting into the COO, this senior leadership role leads Southern Water’s 24/7 integrated operational control and response capability, providing strategic and operational leadership across incident prevention, service recovery and emergency management.
What You Will Be Responsible For:
- Lead Southern Water’s 24/7 operational management centre to deliver safe, compliant and customer‑focused operational response.
- Ensure delivery of regulatory, pollution, interruption to supply and customer service targets through effective control, oversight and escalation.
- Provide strategic leadership for incident prevention, response and recovery, ensuring robust emergency management and service restoration arrangements.
- Shape and embed a target operating model that improves efficiency, strengthens cross‑functional working and supports shared services across Water and Waste.
- Champion the use of operational data, digital capability and smart systems to improve decision‑making, performance and customer experience.
- Act as a senior representative for Southern Water with regulators, partners, suppliers and other external stakeholders.
What You’ll Bring To The Role:
- Significant senior leadership experience in a large, complex operational environment, ideally within a regulated utility, infrastructure or customer service organisation.
- Proven ability to lead 24/7 operational teams and deliver strong performance across safety, service, compliance and incident response.
- Strong strategic capability with the ability to translate long‑term objectives into practical operating models, priorities and measurable outcomes.
- Demonstrable experience of leading transformation, continuous improvement and organisational change at scale.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience of managing budgets, performance and service delivery through internal teams and partners.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility and alignment across executive, operational and external stakeholder groups.
- A relevant business, operational or leadership qualification is desirable; IOSH or equivalent health and safety qualification would also be beneficial.
- Broad understanding of the regulatory, operational and customer environment in which Southern Water operates.
Please note that all our Senior Leaders are required to take part in a standby rota, typically 1 week in 8. More details can be provided at interview.
Our Commitment to Diversity
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.
Additional Information
In line with Southern Water’s security requirements, successful candidates must provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check (DBS) and verification of employment and/or education history for the past three years. Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all preemployment checks, including security vetting. If a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment. Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.
