Groundwater Treatment Lead

We’re dedicated to protecting the environment and enhancing the communities we serve. Our mission goes beyond delivering one of life’s essentials; we’re committed to sustainability and making a positive difference across our region. Join us to be part of something meaningful and lasting that will leave a legacy for generations to come. 

If you want to do more, because you care, we want to talk to you.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

We’re looking for an experienced and inspiring Leader to take accountability for our Ground Water, Reservoir and Booster (GWRB) operations across the East Midlands. This is a high‑impact leadership role where you’ll ensure we consistently deliver safe, high‑quality drinking water for our customers – all day, every day.

You’ll lead a large and geographically dispersed workforce of approximately 100 colleagues, alongside contract partners, and hold full accountability for operational performance, safety, compliance and customer outcomes across your area.

This role is pivotal to the success of Water Treatment operations, with responsibility for an operating budget of £20–25m, oversight of a complex asset base, and strong engagement with both internal teams and external regulators.

Some of your key accountabilities include:

• Leading end‑to‑end Ground Water, Reservoir and Booster operations across the East region, ensuring safe and compliant water supply
  
  
• Setting and maintaining exceptional standards across Health & Safety, water quality, environmental compliance and asset reliability
  
  
• Providing visible, values‑led leadership to a large operational workforce, embedding a strong safety culture
  
  
• Owning full operational accountability for your area, including performance, risk and incident response
  
  
• Developing and delivering an Area Business Plan aligned to Customer Operations strategy, business plans and balanced scorecards
  
  
• Driving continuous improvement to exceed ODI targets and wider Water Treatment KPIs
  
  
• Managing a significant operational budget, ensuring strong financial control and value for money
  
  
• Acting as custodian of the asset base, ensuring assets are operated and maintained in line with policy and standards
  
  
• Identifying short, medium and long‑term operational and capital investment needs in collaboration with Asset Planning, Workforce Planning and Capital Delivery
  
  
• Building strong relationships with key external stakeholders, including regulators and local authorities
  
  
• Representing Water Treatment in cross‑business forums and challenging underperformance where required
  
  
• Participating in the operational standby rota and leading incident response teams during major events

This is a permanent role, based across East Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, with travel required as part of the role.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

You’ll be a confident and credible operational leader, comfortable taking accountability for complex environments while inspiring teams to deliver outstanding results With proven experience leading large, diverse and geographically dispersed operational teams and a strong track record of delivering sustained performance improvement.

Experience managing complex asset bases in an operational or maintenance environment and managing large operational budgets and driving financial discipline would be ideal.

If you have knowledge of water treatment operations and/or water quality and environmental regulatory frameworks that would be even better!

Key skills and capabilities

• Strong, authentic leadership style with the ability to inspire and empower others
  
  
• Excellent, influencing and negotiating skills
  
  
• Strong commercial and financial acumen
  
  
• Technical competence in water treatment processes with the ability to make high‑level operational decisions
  
  
• A continuous improvement mindset, always looking for smarter, safer and more efficient ways of working
  
  
• Ability to challenge constructively and address underperformance with pace and confidence
  
  
• Customer‑focused, with a clear drive towards zero complaints and exceptional service
  
  
• Resilient decision‑maker, comfortable leading through pressure and operational incidents
  
  
• A full UK driving license is required
  
  

Skills and experience are important, but character, positivity, and a caring attitude matter too. We welcome and celebrate diverse individuals, knowing they help us better serve our communities. We seek people who get involved, want to be part of something bigger, and make a difference because they care.

HOW WE’LL REWARD AND CARE FOR YOU

It's not just a job; it's a career. We offer benefits that reward great work and award-winning training to help you reach your potential. Plus, you'll contribute to the environment and community too.


Here are some of our favourites:

• 31 days holiday + bank holidays (and the ability to buy/ sell up to 5 days per year)
  
  
• Annual bonus scheme (of up to 20% of salary dependent on company performance)
  
  
• Leading pension scheme – we will double your contribution (up to 15% when you contribute 7.5%)
  
  
• Sharesave – the chance to buy Severn Trent Plc shares at a discounted rate
  
  
• Dedicated training and development with our ‘Academy’
  
  
• Car allowance of £5,208 pa (pro-rata where appropriate)
  
  
• Private medical cover, life assurance, income protection and personal accident cover
  
  
• Electric vehicle scheme and retail offers
  
  
• Family friendly policies (including, a year off paid for any maternity and adoption leave)
  
  
• Two volunteering days per year

LET’S GO

We can't wait to hear from you! Have an updated CV ready and spare five minutes to apply. We'll let you know the outcome after the closing date, so keep an eye on your phone and emails.