At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to develop strategic water system plans and drive investment prioritisation.
- Company: Thames Water, the UK's largest water and wastewater company.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £75,000, 26 days holiday, private medical care, and a generous pension scheme.
- Other info: Join a diverse team with flexible working arrangements and excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainable water management for over 16 million people.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership skills and a solid understanding of asset management required.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 75000 £ per year.
At Thames Water, every decision we make helps to shape the future of water for over 16 million people. Supplying billions of litres daily, we’re committed to delivering vital services while protecting our environment and communities. Right now, we’re looking for a strategic-thinking System Planning Lead to help us build resilient water systems for generations to come.
What you’ll be doing
In this influential role, you’ll lead a team to develop dynamic, system-wide in-AMP Asset Plans and Capital Maintenance plans to feed into our business plan for PR29. You’ll champion the in-AMP work required to enable targeted investment prioritisation with Operations and wider stakeholders, ensuring decisions are driven by risk and outcome-based thinking.
Key responsibilities
- Leading the development and delivery of strategic and in-AMP Asset Plans at catchment, site, and system levels.
- Developing a bottom-up investment plan for PR29.
- Overseeing the planning and justification of Capital Maintenance interventions and risk mitigation options to prioritise spend effectively.
- Ensuring your team maintains a deep understanding of asset risk positions and supports mitigation strategies across the lifecycle, from identifying needs to supporting delivery and handover.
- Driving long-term planning that underpins future price reviews by surfacing critical asset risks.
- Influencing strategic investment and cultural transformation towards a proactive, lifecycle-focused approach to asset planning.
What you’ll bring to the role
- Strong leadership and management experience, with the ability to inspire teams and drive meaningful cultural change.
- Solid understanding of asset management, engineering, or related best practices.
- Exceptional communication skills, able to convey complex information and influence senior stakeholders.
- Proven ability to identify opportunities for improvement and proactively drive solutions.
- Good grasp of regulatory frameworks and external factors impacting water and wastewater management.
Extra qualities that would be a great fit
- Ideally, degree-qualified or significant equivalent experience, with professional membership being an advantage.
- Driving License and access to a car.
What’s in it for you?
Joining Thames Water means becoming part of a supportive, innovative team where your strategic vision makes a tangible difference. You’ll play a vital role in creating sustainable water management strategies. Alongside career growth and professional recognition, you’ll receive:
- Competitive salary up to £75,000 per annum, depending on experience.
- 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays).
- Annual Bonus.
- Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
- Private Medical Health Care.
- Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
- Access to benefits supporting health, wellbeing, and finances (e.g., health MOTs, physiotherapy, counselling, Cycle to Work, vouchers, life assurance).
We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, serving more than 16 million customers daily. We aim to build a better future for all, helping customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. Thames Water is a diverse place to work, offering 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 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. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.
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.
Clean Water System Planning Lead in Reading employer: Thames Water Utilities Limited
Thames Water is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and innovative work environment where your strategic vision can make a real impact on sustainable water management. With competitive salaries, generous benefits including a robust pension scheme and private healthcare, and a commitment to employee growth and inclusivity, you will thrive in a culture that values your contributions while helping to protect vital resources for future generations.
Contact Details:
Thames Water Utilities Limited Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Clean Water System Planning Lead in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Thames Water and understanding their values and projects. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their mission of building resilient water systems.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or use online resources to refine your responses. Focus on showcasing your leadership skills and strategic thinking, as these are key for the Clean Water System Planning Lead role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of Team Thames and making a difference.
We think you need these skills to ace Clean Water System Planning Lead in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Clean Water System Planning Lead role. Highlight your leadership experience and understanding of asset management, as these are key to what we’re looking for.
Showcase Your Communication Skills:Since exceptional communication is crucial for this role, use your application to demonstrate how you can convey complex information clearly. Share examples of how you've influenced stakeholders in the past.
Highlight Relevant Experience:Don’t forget to mention any relevant qualifications or experiences that align with the job description. If you have a degree or professional membership, make it stand out!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Thames Water Utilities Limited
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of asset management and engineering principles. Brush up on the latest best practices in water system planning, as well as any relevant regulatory frameworks. This will help you answer technical questions confidently.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience and how you've inspired teams in the past. Think about specific situations where you drove cultural change or improved processes, as this role requires strong management capabilities.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice explaining complex information in simple terms. You’ll need to convey your ideas effectively to senior stakeholders, so focus on clarity and conciseness during your interview prep. Consider doing mock interviews with a friend to refine your communication style.
✨Be Solution-Oriented
Think about challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you proactively found solutions. Be ready to discuss these scenarios during the interview, as demonstrating your problem-solving skills will show that you're a great fit for the strategic nature of this position.
