Area Operations Manager

We are looking to recruit an Area Operations Manager at Thames Water, to oversee the day-to-day water production across multiple sites in Guildford & South West Surrey area.

In this exciting and high-profile position, you will have the opportunity to play a key role in creating and delivering the strategic direction of Water Production for the UK’s largest water company.

What you will be doing as an Area Operations Manager

• Overall accountability to efficiently deliver wholesome drinking water to our customers whilst ensuring regulatory compliance.
• You will be responsible for the effective operation and maintenance of water treatment, storage and transmission assets, managing a team of up to 30 people.
• Effective stakeholder management, including customers and customer groups, regulators, emergency services and political groups.
• You will focus on delivering internal performance targets across the business areas of Health & Safety, customer service, financial controls and efficiencies, regulatory compliance, and people development whilst developing and steering continuous performance improvements, including consistent reductions in operational costs.
• High-priority responsibilities will be to make sure operational strategies and plans are in place to meet regulatory arguments and operational capacity is provided through the implementation of operations and maintenance strategy, management of directly managed capital works and coordination with Thames Water’s capital works programme.

What should you bring to the role?

• Have excellent leadership experience in a performance-driven environment.
• Ability to think strategically with effective commercial acumen.
• You have an uncompromising approach to Health, Safety and Wellbeing.
• Ability to promote customer service as the number one priority.
• Possess strong communication skills and be resilient and tenacious in a challenging environment.
• Can deliver against stretching operational targets.
• Extensive experience in the day-to-day management of operational sites.
• Strong Water Production Process knowledge and experience.
• Due to the nature of the role a Full UK Driving Licence is required. 

What’s in it for you?

• Offering a salary between £65,000 - £75,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
• 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (Plus bank holidays)
• Car Allowance.
• Annual Bonus.
• Private Medical Health Care.
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution.
• Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year.
• Wider benefits scheme including our benefits hub, which is packed full of offers and information to save you money and support your wellbeing.

Find out more about our benefits and perks

Who are we?
We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water
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 fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

Whether you’re interested in a role in one of our call centres or science labs, we’re looking for people like you with real passion and a burning desire to make things better.

So, 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.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process. Our aim is to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.