At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead OT construction and installation activities, ensuring safety and compliance.
- Company: Join Thames Water, the UK's largest water and wastewater company.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous annual leave, and a strong pension scheme.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on water infrastructure and support digital transformation.
- Qualifications: Experience in construction management and knowledge of OT systems required.
The predicted salary is between 44000 - 66000 £ per year.
As an OT Construction Lead, you will play a key role within the OT and digital transformation function at Thames Water, leading the organisation's approach to safe, compliant, and efficient delivery of Operational Technology (OT) construction and installation activities across a complex operational estate. Working closely with programme & project managers, engineering teams, contractors, and site operations, you will ensure that construction delivery is well-coordinated, standards-driven, and aligned to both regulatory and organisational requirements.
This role contributes to Thames Water's operational resilience by ensuring that OT assets are installed, commissioned, and handed over safely and effectively, supporting the transformation of the organisation's digital and operational infrastructure. You will collaborate across the business to enable consistent delivery practices, reduce risk exposure, and maintain strong governance, safety, and reporting standards.
What you'll be doing as an OT Construction Lead:
- Lead OT construction, installation, and site-based delivery activities, ensuring compliance with CDM 2015 regulations.
- Establish and manage construction delivery frameworks, ensuring consistency and adoption across all OT programmes.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to plan and coordinate construction readiness, ensuring alignment with project objectives.
- Develop, maintain & review documentation including PCI, RAMS, Construction Phase Plans, and supporting records.
- Coordinate the flow of construction information, ensuring contractors work from accurate and up-to-date documentation.
- Validate construction readiness, including permits, site data, access arrangements, and enabling works.
- Oversee contractor activities, ensuring compliance with safety, quality, and delivery expectations.
- Monitor construction quality and ensure adherence to OT technical standards, resolving non-conformances.
- Support commissioning, testing, and handover of OT assets, ensuring all documentation and risks are addressed.
- Maintain risk registers, RAID logs, and delivery trackers to support governance and reporting.
- Develop dashboards and reports to provide visibility of construction progress and performance.
- Coordinate across programme & project managers, engineers, operations teams, and suppliers to resolve issues and dependencies.
- Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, and organisational standards across all construction activities.
- Drive continuous improvement in OT construction processes, standards, and delivery models.
- Support safe integration of new OT assets into live operational environments.
What you should bring to the role:
- Proven experience managing construction-related activities within a regulated or operational environment.
- Strong knowledge of CDM 2015 regulations and construction safety practices.
- Experience working with OT, SCADA, telemetry, or similar operational technologies.
- Ability to coordinate principal contractors, contractors, stakeholders, and site activities effectively.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Experience managing technical documentation and construction records.
- Excellent communication skills, able to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Strong organisational and planning capabilities in complex delivery environments.
- Proactive and detail-oriented mindset with a focus on safety, quality, and compliance.
Technical experience and skills:
- Strong understanding of OT systems, including SCADA, telemetry, instrumentation, and automation.
- Experience supporting construction, installation, or commissioning in utilities or infrastructure environments.
- Ability to interpret and validate technical drawings, RAMS, CPP, and design documentation.
- Experience reviewing technical requirements, scopes, and supplier deliverables.
- Knowledge of construction assurance processes, including audits and compliance checks.
- Ability to monitor delivery progress, track performance metrics, and support programme reporting.
- Commercial awareness, including reviewing supplier quotations and supporting procurement processes.
Desirable experience:
- Experience working within utilities, critical infrastructure, or regulated industries.
- Experience coordinating multidisciplinary construction activities across multiple sites.
- Familiarity with legacy OT systems and complex operational environments.
- Experience supporting large-scale transformation or infrastructure programmes.
Desirable technical skills and qualifications:
- Qualification in a relevant engineering or construction discipline (e.g., HNC/HND, NVQ, or apprenticeship).
- SMSTS, NEBOSH, IOSH, or other construction safety qualifications.
- CSCS Manager/Supervisor card or equivalent.
- Knowledge of commissioning and handover processes for OT assets.
- Understanding of SharePoint or similar systems for document and information management.
- Familiarity with risk management tools such as RAID logs and construction tracking systems.
What's in it for you?
- Competitive salary between 44,000 and 66,000 per annum, depending on experience.
- Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays).
- Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
- Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
- Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of your and your family's health and wellbeing, and your finances.
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.
OT Construction Lead - Reading, Berkshire in Theale employer: Thames Water
Thames Water is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Reading where you can make a tangible impact on the lives of millions. With a competitive salary, generous benefits including a robust pension scheme and extensive annual leave, we prioritise employee wellbeing and professional growth. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion, alongside flexible working arrangements, ensures that every team member feels valued and supported as we work together towards a sustainable future.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land OT Construction Lead - Reading, Berkshire in Theale
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about letting people know you’re on the hunt for an OT Construction Lead role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Thames Water and their projects. Understand their approach to OT construction and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. This will help you stand out and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your answers to common interview questions, especially those related to safety and compliance in construction. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and highlight your achievements effectively.
✨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 serious about joining the Thames Water family and contributing to their mission.
We think you need these skills to ace OT Construction Lead - Reading, Berkshire in Theale
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the OT Construction Lead role. Highlight your experience with construction safety practices and compliance with CDM 2015 regulations, as these are key aspects of the job.
Showcase Relevant Experience:When detailing your work history, focus on your experience in managing construction-related activities within regulated environments. Mention any specific projects where you coordinated with contractors and stakeholders, as this will resonate well with us.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points to outline your skills and achievements, making it easy for us to see how you fit the role of OT Construction Lead at Thames Water.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. This ensures that your application is processed efficiently and allows us to keep track of all candidates easily. Plus, it’s super simple!
How to prepare for a job interview at Thames Water
✨Know Your Regulations
Make sure you brush up on CDM 2015 regulations and construction safety practices. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you understand the compliance aspects of the role, which is crucial for an OT Construction Lead.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work where you've managed construction-related activities in regulated environments. Highlight your experience with OT systems like SCADA or telemetry, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Communicate Effectively
Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. You'll need to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders, so demonstrating your communication skills during the interview can set you apart.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills
Be ready to discuss how you've tackled challenges in previous projects. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, focusing on how you resolved issues while maintaining safety and quality standards.
