Operation Management Centre Director in Worthing

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.

There has never been a more important time to join Southern Water. As we move through AMP8, we are delivering one of the most ambitious capital investment programmes in the industry, focused on improving environmental performance, service resilience and long‑term affordability for customers.

About the role

Reporting into our COO, this is a key senior leadership role with accountability for the performance, resilience and continuous development of Southern Water’s 24/7 operational control and response capability. The Operations Management Centre Director 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. The role is accountable for ensuring a consistent, high-quality response through a robust three lines of defence model, protecting customers, colleagues, the environment and the company’s reputation.

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.

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.

You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long-term value creation.

At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need.

If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here: Introduce Yourself.

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 will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years. Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all pre-employment checks, including security vetting. Please note that 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.