Performance Partner in Kidlington

We are seeking a focused and proactive Performance Partner for Thames Valley Water Networks to join our Operational Excellence team at Thames Water. You will play a pivotal role in tracking operational performance, identifying root causes of underperformance, and driving improvements in outcomes. You will act as a trusted advisor to the Head of Region for Thames Valley Water Networks, supporting them to analyse performance within their area and drive performance management through regional and area meetings.

Day-to-day tasks will vary based on business needs and will require someone proactive and tenacious at solving problems. You will be required to attend the office three days per week, including travel to other site locations as required.

What you will be doing as a business Performance Partner:

• The business partnering model promotes strong relationships between Water Operations leaders and Performance Partners to drive improvement in outcomes, whilst maintaining the standardisation benefits of a centralised team.
• Be a trusted advisor to the partnered Head of Region on all performance data, responding to business needs in an agile way.
• Support Operational Teams to understand performance drivers and deliver improvements in their areas.
• Providing clear performance insights, highlighting risks and opportunities, and informing regional decision-making.
• Monitor and report on regional KPIs – including productivity, H&S, compliance, performance commitments, and financial performance.
• Support preparation of materials for Performance meetings, driving continuous improvement and standardisation across regions.
• Proactively investigate underperformance – diagnose root causes using data and operational insight, and recommend actions to address.
• Support prioritisation across different improvement initiatives by working with subject matter experts to assess trade-offs between competing demands.
• Deliver quick wins or identify opportunities for longer-term projects to be delivered by the Continuous Improvement team.

To thrive in this role, the essential criteria you’ll need are:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills: Proficient in Excel, with the ability to analyse and interpret complex data to present clear insights.
• Structured communication: Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and persuasively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Confident stakeholder engagement: Strong relationship builder, with the ability to challenge and influence at all levels.
• Highly proactive and tenacious: Good prioritisation skills and able to balance competing demands.

What’s in it for you?

• Offering a salary between £55,000 and £65,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays).
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.
• Generous Paternity Leave, including 4 weeks paid and an optional 2 weeks unpaid.
• Enhanced Maternity Leave, 26 weeks full pay and 13 weeks half pay.
• Ongoing performance development reviews to help you be your best and identify growth opportunities.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else, just let us know. We’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience.

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.