Senior Manager, Below Ground Data, Capacity & Insight in Reading

This is a great opportunity to play a central role leading people, shaping services and helping set the direction for the Operations Data, Capacity & Insight team. You’ll work closely with senior leaders across the business and have real influence over how the function grows and develops. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities in this fast-moving and interesting environment. The team’s success depends on strong ideas, collaboration, and engagement, and in this role, you’ll help shape how that happens. You’ll also play an important part in supporting key strategic activity across our Asset and Operations teams within Thames Water.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead, manage and coach a team of around 20 people, managers and analysts including performance management, task leadership and talent/career progression.
• Steering appropriate prioritisation of work and aligning strategic direction with the needs of the business.
• Continue to embed the team and its ways of working into the business as usual environment.
• Continue to drive the demand & capacity planning and data insight teams as a central hub / centre of excellence.
• Shape and drive the functional strategy, directly influencing any changes required to achieve this.
• Coordinate and communicate the forecasting and capacity planning model.
• Be a leading contributor into the financial annual budget cycles.
• Liaise with field and office teams to ensure data is accurate, we are resourced and in control of our expected volumes to achieve business targets.
• Accountability for data integrity across the centralised service centre.

This role is hybrid based at Kemble Court, Reading, RG2 6AD. Expectation will be to spend each Tuesday in the office, with other days on an as required basis (typically, at least twice a week). 36 hours a week, Monday to Friday.

What you should bring to the role:

• You will have significant team leadership and people management skills and experience.
• You’ve worked in a data-heavy environment, familiar with data terminology and have experience in problem solving with logical thinking.
• Experience working in a similar asset and operations driven environment such as utilities or large-scale engineering.
• Experience in operational or customer planning, capacity planning, or data and insight would be a big plus.
• You can manage your own workload and take a proactive approach.
• You’re highly analytical and confident using data to spot options, make recommendations, and develop others.
• You’re resilient and able to build credibility quickly.
• You’re comfortable working with senior leaders and influencing decisions.
• Water industry experience would be great, but we’d also welcome people from similar sectors like utilities, telecoms, or manufacturing.

First interviews will be scheduled between 10th and 12th June and will take place in-person in Reading.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary between £68,060 & £75,000 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).
• Car Allowance of £5,800pa.
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Private Medical Health Care.
• 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.

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive.

Working at Thames Water:

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.

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.