Partnerships Officer in Bradford, Yorkshire

Company description: Water Utility Company based in Yorkshire region of England.

We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience £40,352 - £50,440. This role has been classified as a Business Needs Users (BNU) and are eligible for a Company Car or Cash Allowance (£3000 per annum). Annual incentive related bonus (£1000 maximum bonus opportunity for the performance year). Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution). Development opportunities in line with the Partnerships Officer progression plan. 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays plus 2 extra wellness days! Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary. A great benefits package choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover. Retail savings scheme, online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Location: Bradford or Sheffield - This role will initially be based in Bradford but we are moving our office to Leeds Valley Park in summer 2026, so you’ll be based there in the future - Hybrid Working (2 - 3 office days a week Bradford/Leeds).

Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Partnerships Officer to join the Partnerships team at Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water to provide the best service to our customers.

What we do: Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it’s so much more than this. We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire’s water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region and play a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity. New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry.

Partnerships are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators. This role is to maintain, expand, and develop partnerships across Yorkshire including support for the Living with Water, Connected by Water, and Yorkshire FLIP partnerships. You will work collaboratively to influence wider partners and stakeholders, identifying and delivering additional funding opportunities that achieve beneficial outcomes for customers and the environment. The role involves supporting project delivery by engaging effectively with both internal and external stakeholders across the region, including facilitating data sharing agreements, contributing to community engagement, and participating in CPT initiatives. You will be self-motivated, working closely with portfolio managers, senior portfolio managers, and key partnership members to progress projects, schemes, and new opportunities, while also ensuring that key learnings and best practices from existing partnerships are captured, applied, and shared to maximise impact.

Where you fit in: As our Partnerships Officer you will:

• Provide engagement and technical support to key existing and emerging strategic partnerships and projects.
• Deliver partnership projects with internal and external stakeholders and ensure core team collaborative working on all projects.
• Identify, develop and support the administration of external funding sources and additional partnership opportunities to help YW achieve its corporate goals.
• Provide governance support including data sharing agreements, partnership KPI data management and partnership board/steering group meeting support.
• Utilise the Partnership Opportunities Platform (POP) to support partnership (inc. Yorkshire Water) investment during AMP8, championing nature first solutions and wider benefits as a key priority.
• Provide community engagement support to key existing and emerging strategic partnerships and projects.
• Support the documentation of key partnership working - principles, best practice document and strategies.

What skills & qualifications you will need:

• Strong knowledge of water and wastewater networks and treatment processes.
• Good understanding of rainwater management and flood resilience.
• Proven experience working with internal and external stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
• Ability to build, develop, and maintain strong relationships at all levels.
• Confident communication and engagement skills, both written and verbal.
• Self-motivated, resilient, and proactive approach to work.
• Experience analysing, interpreting, and presenting data in a clear and meaningful way.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to health and safety, proactively identifying risks, promoting wellbeing, and suggesting practical solutions.
• Degree in a relevant discipline and/or previous relevant experience.
• Working in a regulated environment.
• Experience in cost benefit analysis and funding applications and proposals.
• Progress funding for priority work through different funding routes.
• A sound understanding of hydraulic design and modelling.
• Effectively develop and maintain internal and external relationships.
• Experience in Blue/Green solutions and SuDS principles.
• Project management skills.
• Strong influencing and communication skills with proven ability to manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Although we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it’s important to us that we support flexible working patterns and job share options (when we can), to help you make the best of both your work and home life. We know that juggling childcare responsibilities or getting that ideal work/life balance isn’t always easy!

If you’ve got experience as a Partnerships Officer and want to help us deliver great service for our customers whilst looking after the environment, then be sure to apply today to find out what a career with Yorkshire Water can offer you.

Closing date: 22nd May 2025.

If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third-Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance. All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required. We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible. If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required. Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.