Technical Optimiser in Sheffield, Yorkshire

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

Job description: Technical Optimiser - Based across our South West areas covering Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley.

We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience £41,668 to £52,085. 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 Technical Optimiser progression plan. 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays plus an extra two 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: Based across our South West areas covering Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley and based out of our Smithy Wood, Chapeltown and Sheffield depots.

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

We have an exciting opportunity for a Technical Optimiser to join the Field Operations 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. Field Operations are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.

To drive improvements in performance against challenging targets (Customer Minutes Lost, Water Quality and CMEX) by improving technical expertise, providing internal coaching and development support and quality control auditing for the field teams. You will organise and coordinate resources to deliver complex jobs (Field, leakage, Service Partners, ER etc.). This includes proactive network operation and maintenance activity; completion of operational risk assessments and the supervision of all network intervention; and responding quickly and effectively to network failure to minimise the impact upon key performance targets, including but not limited to those relating to Water Supply Interruptions and Water Quality.

As our Technical Optimiser you will:

• The Technical Optimiser should be fully aware and trained in H&S requirements which relate to the operation of the water network including working on the highway, confined spaces, lone working.
• The TO will be able to challenge other colleagues, partners and organisations where H&S is compromised.
• To coach and train team members within the team to deliver excellent performance - understanding how individual and team performance links to achieving the company’s strategic objectives and performance commitments related to Network Services.
• Understand the financial implications of promoting Repair and Maintenance work on the Water Services Agreement, balancing risk and cost to ensure the right decisions are made to deliver solutions for the customer in a cost effective and efficient manner, prioritising as appropriate.
• Work with R&M partners to support the efficient delivery of RM activity promoted by Field teams and other YW departments, seeking to deliver solutions right first time and reduce the cost of failure wherever possible.
• Consistent delivery of excellent face to face customer service, providing a first-class doorstep experience and demonstrating personal leadership and ownership to help YW deliver on our Customer Promise.
• To own customer problems including difficult and complex ones to resolution; where possible resolving customer issues on first visit, but where necessary promoting follow on work to either Contract partners or YW staff to drive resolution in a timely and efficient manner.
• Understand Retail competition, the Water Act, and the obligations of YW and its staff to deliver service in such a way that responds to the needs of customers appropriately, but that is also compliant with Market Codes set out in Water Act in relation to Retail Competition.
• Operate and optimise the distribution network to ensure a continuous flow of supplies to our customers.
• Understanding risk in the context of Supply/Demand, Service and Supply Interruptions and make decisions based upon those risks to deliver the best outcome for customers and the business.
• Participation in a regional standby rota will be required once trained.

What skills & qualifications you will need:

• In-depth technical knowledge of the network and complex jobs such as trunk mains repairs requiring systems changes.
• Advanced hydraulics trained.
• Strong coaching skills to develop and mentor junior team members.
• Understanding where the role fits within the business plan and then developing ways to deliver the outputs.
• Experience of delivering against challenging upper quartile business targets and performance commitments.
• Build and always maintain effective internal and external relationships to high standard acts as a role model.
• A positive approach to handling changes, embracing all nature of change including technology, process, behavioural and organisational change.
• Demonstrate excellent customer service both internally and externally.

You will also benefit from having:

• Coaching skills ideally has attended course.
• Previous experience in a commercially orientated and/or regulated environment.
• Previous experience gained within the water or wastewater sectors or within the broader utilities, process or manufacturing industry sectors.
• Technical understanding of water network and assets.
• HNC in an engineering or related qualification.
• Project Management Experience.
• Knowledge of Water Regulations and Plumbing.

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 Technical Optimiser 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 Monday 25th May. 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. No agencies please.