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- Tasks: Lead a team ensuring safe drinking water supply to over 5 million people in North London.
- Company: Join a vital organisation dedicated to providing essential services to the capital.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, car allowance, and private medical care.
- Other info: Enjoy a supportive culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while leading a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 100000 £ per year.
Position Overview
What could be more professionally fulfilling than leading the team that provides a continuous supply of safe drinking water to our capital city? That’s the role that we are now seeking to fill. We’re looking for a strategic and dynamic person to lead the water network team in our London area north of the River Thames, responsible for providing drinking water to over 5 million people covering North London, West End, City, Enfield, Hampton and Ealing.
Responsibilities
- Developing, leading, and executing the business plan across your region, ensuring the efficient distribution of a continuous supply of safe, wholesome water to customers in North London.
- Continue the transformation in operational performance through your Field Operations team and external suppliers, helping us to reduce reactive incidents and improve leakage and customer service, ensuring all activities are delivered safely, efficiently, and on schedule.
- Lead the team providing exceptional service standards for our customers, undertaking and improving network performance, minimising disruption to customers and managing the repair of leaks whilst enabling our biggest ever capital investment programme – sustainably building for the future.
- Identify and respond proactively to current and emerging risks to our network.
- Report to the Water Director, collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders, overseeing planning and recommending improvements on critical regional issues.
Other high‑profile areas of focus include:
- Health and Safety: Champion a safety‑first culture, ensure all activities comply with Health and Safety regulations, and lead continuous improvement in safety behaviours and incident management.
- Operations: Oversee operational performance and its contributed transformation, resource allocation, and supplier management to deliver high-quality services. Drive continuous improvement initiatives and support long‑term asset management planning.
- People: Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing regional team. Foster a culture of excellence, customer focus, and two-way communication.
- Finance: Manage regional budgets, ensuring value for money and commercial accountability. Challenge suppliers on cost and performance, keeping spend aligned with capacity plans.
Location
Location: Lea Bridge Depot. Hours of work are Monday to Friday, 36 hours a week.
Qualifications
- Outstanding leadership experience with a track record of engaging, inspiring, and developing teams.
- Strong ability to influence, negotiate, and collaborate at all levels across a geographically diverse region.
- Experience managing contractor relationships and leading teams through change.
- Evidence of driving cultural change and continuous improvement within a regulated environment.
- Commercial acumen and previous responsibility for managing budgets.
- Exposure to LEAN, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies (desirable).
- NEBOSH qualification and knowledge of the Road and Streetworks Act (advantageous).
Benefits
- Competitive salary up to £100,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
- 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays).
- Car Allowance.
- Performance‑related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
- Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
- Private Medical Health Care.
- Access to a range of benefits to support health and wellbeing and finances, such as annual health MOTs, physiotherapy, counselling, Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers, and life assurance.
Head of Water Networks - North London employer: Thames Water
Contact Detail:
Thames Water Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Water Networks - North London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with professionals 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 the company and its values. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their mission, especially in providing safe drinking water. We want to see your passion for the role!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or family to build confidence. Focus on articulating your leadership experience and how you've driven change in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Water Networks - North London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of Water Networks role. Highlight your leadership experience and how it aligns with our mission to provide safe drinking water to North London. We want to see how you can make a difference!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead teams, manage budgets, and drive continuous improvement. We love seeing quantifiable results!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone dynamic and strategic, so don’t be afraid to show us who you are and what makes you passionate about this role. Authenticity goes a long way!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Thames Water
✨Know Your Water Networks
Before the interview, dive deep into understanding the water network systems in North London. Familiarise yourself with the challenges and innovations in the industry, especially those related to leakage management and customer service. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your strategic thinking and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, particularly in challenging environments. Highlight your experience in mentoring and developing high-performing teams, as well as any initiatives you've implemented that drove cultural change or continuous improvement. This will resonate well with the interviewers looking for a dynamic leader.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Financial Acumen
Since managing budgets is a key responsibility, come prepared to discuss your experience with financial management. Bring examples of how you've ensured value for money and challenged suppliers on cost and performance. This will showcase your commercial awareness and ability to align spending with capacity plans.
✨Emphasise Safety and Compliance
Given the importance of health and safety in this role, be ready to talk about your commitment to a safety-first culture. Share specific instances where you've championed safety initiatives or improved compliance within your teams. This will highlight your alignment with the company's values and your proactive approach to risk management.