Strategic Planner - Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans in Leeds

We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience £45,870 - £57,338. 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 Strategic Planner 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: This role will initially be based in Bradford but we’re moving our office to Leeds Valley Park in Spring 2026, so you’ll be based there in the future. Hybrid Working (notionally 2-3 days in the office per week. This could be more when collaborative efforts, training, or statutory deadlines as and when required). Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Strategic Planner to join the Drainage and Wastewater Management Planning (DWMP) team within our Asset Maintenance function 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. The Asset Maintenance function is a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.

Working within the DWMP Team, the Strategic Planner will work on our DWMP, our 25-year, long-term investment strategy for our wastewater infrastructure. They will support in developing an evidence base for future investment requirements linked to climate change, population growth, and urban creep. They will consider the asset health and resilience of our assets alongside overall potential environmental impacts. Within the team, you will support in assessing current and future performance of our wastewater infrastructure, including:

• Sewer flooding (internal and external)
• Storm overflow performance
• Impacts to good ecological and chemical status of our watercourses
• Impacts to bathing water quality

You will take a holistic view to these risks incorporating future climate change, population growth, and urban creep scenarios, as well as considering asset health and operational performance.

As our Strategic Planner you will:

• Develop detailed and assured DWMP methodologies and work on the technical delivery of these with partners.
• Generate, process, and analyse data from hydraulic network models, treatment models, asset deterioration, and performance models alongside being able to identify and manage the risks of model/data confidence.
• Utilise the outputs of such assessments to identify both tactical and strategic interventions, including catchment plans to address any deficiencies.
• Understand and integrate plans produced by external stakeholders/regulators into our DWMP production, including working with internal departments.
• Act as representative on national groups e.g. Task and Finish Groups to influence national methodologies for future planning.
• Be a subject matter expert on the DWMP and ensure the outputs of the DWMP are accessible and easy to understand for stakeholders and customers both internally and externally.

What skills & qualifications you will need:

• Be educated to at least degree level in a related discipline and working towards or be a member of either CIWEM, ICE or another professional body.
• Experience in wastewater modelling and/or treatment processes.
• An ability to manage, interrogate and visualise large complex datasets using appropriate software.
• Previous experience in undertaking complex risk analysis, verification and optioneering to design and quantify future strategic investment needs.
• Able to assess and audit data to ensure that the outputs are fit for the purpose.
• Strong communication skills, written and verbal and excellent influencing/networking skills.
• Able to plan, lead and manage projects with minimal supervision.
• Able to respond to technical scrutiny from wider stakeholders and where required technically challenge and influence others.

You will also benefit from having:

• A knowledge of the current regulatory and legislative environment around the water industry and wider drainage community.
• A knowledge of hydrology and/or river modelling.
• 2D flood routing analysis.

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 in Strategic Planning 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 for this role is 11th June 2026. 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.

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.