Trunk Main Manager

Job Title: Trunk Main Manager

Location: Regional (Southern Water)

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week

Salary: From £43,000 depending on experience

About the Role

We are seeking a Trunk Main Manager to lead and manage all trunk main activities across Southern Water’s water network. This pivotal role ensures safe, efficient, and compliant delivery of inspection, maintenance, and incident response programmes. You will own the Trunk Main Plan, oversee a team of 10 field operatives, and apply a risk-based approach to optimise inspection frequency and resource deployment.

Your responsibilities will include managing valve and fitting inspections, maintaining a live asset risk database, and championing risk management practices. You will also coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure operational excellence and customer protection.

Key Accountabilities

• Own and deliver the Trunk Main Plan, aligning with operational and strategic priorities.
• Lead and manage a Trunk Main field team of 10, ensuring performance, safety, and development.
• Deliver a structured programme of planned and reactive maintenance across trunk mains and associated assets.
• Oversee valve and fitting inspections, ensuring operational integrity and timely escalation of issues.
• Apply a risk-based methodology to determine walkover inspection frequency and optimise resource deployment.
• Maintain and improve a live asset risk database to support prioritisation and investment planning.
• Champion risk management across trunk main assets, including deep excavation safety, confined space protocols, and CDM compliance.
• Lead or support incident response activities, including coordination with emergency planning teams.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations across all field activities.
• Engage with stakeholders including Asset Management, Engineering, Operations, Highways Authorities, Environment Agency, Drinking Water Inspectorate, landowners, and customers.
• Promote continuous improvement through Lean, SBF, and innovation in inspection and maintenance practices.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Strong understanding of trunk main infrastructure, maintenance practices, and operational risks.
• Knowledge of valves and fittings, inspection protocols, and failure modes.
• Experience applying risk-based approaches to asset management and maintenance planning.
• Familiarity with asset management systems, GIS tools, and mobile data capture.
• Proven ability in risk management, prioritisation, and escalation.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Understanding of incident response protocols and emergency coordination.

Qualifications

• HNC/HND or equivalent in Civil Engineering, Water Operations, or related discipline (desirable).
• IOSH/NEBOSH certification (preferred).
• NRSWA Supervisory, SMSTS, confined space entry, and underground cable detection training (advantageous).
• Full UK driving licence.

Eligibility & Privacy

All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. Evidence of eligibility (e.g., passport or birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months) will be required as part of the recruitment process.

If you are an existing Southern Water employee, please confirm within your application that your manager is aware of your application.

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