Join to apply for the Director of Wastewater Operations role at Southern Water

Join to apply for the Director of Wastewater Operations role at Southern Water

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Hiring the next generation of Senior Leaders at Southern Water!

Job Title: Director of Wastewater Operations

Location: Hybrid working with base location at one of our core regional offices: Chatham, Otterbourne, Worthing or Falmer. Site visits across the region will be required.

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday

Salary: Competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus £600 monthly car allowance, up to 30% bonus, and family cover private medical insurance

Job Overview

Southern Water is entering a bold new era of transformation and investment, with AMP8 (2025–2030) marking a pivotal chapter in our journey. As part of this growth, we are seeking a visionary and operationally astute Director of Wastewater Operations to lead one of the most critical functions in our business.

This is a high-impact leadership role, accountable for the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of our entire wastewater network and treatment infrastructure. From overseeing 367 treatment works and 3,500 pumping stations to driving environmental performance and customer satisfaction, this role is central to our mission of delivering sustainable, high-quality wastewater services to over 4.6 million customers.

You’ll lead a team of over 780 FTEs and manage a £221m annual Totex budget, ensuring operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement across all wastewater operations.

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to

• Lead the safe and compliant operation of wastewater treatment centres, networks, and sludge recycling, embedding a strong health and safety culture.
• Drive operational efficiency and deliver sustained cost savings, targeting £12m in annual improvements.
• Oversee the generation of over 80GWh of renewable energy as part of our net zero ambitions.
• Manage a £221m Totex budget and generate £14m in annual income from wastewater-related services.
• Ensure environmental compliance and performance through the Pollution Incident Reduction Plan (PIRP) and Environment Plus programmes.
• Deliver improved customer outcomes through the Customer Improvement Plan and storm overflow task force initiatives.
• Champion transparency and responsiveness in stakeholder engagement.

About You

We’re looking for a strategic leader with extensive operational expertise in wastewater or complex infrastructure environments.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Proven experience leading large-scale operations with significant budget and people responsibilities.
• A strong track record of delivering regulatory compliance, environmental performance, and customer satisfaction.
• Commercial acumen and the ability to drive efficiency and innovation across complex systems.
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to inspire and empower diverse teams.
• A passion for sustainability, safety, and continuous improvement.

Package

This role will be full time Monday to Friday with a hybrid approach to working. Our region covers East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight so travel across these areas will be required.

We are offering a competitive salary commensurate to skills and experience as well as other benefits including:

• Company and performance-related bonus

• Generous pension with up to 11% company contribution

• Life assurance payment equal to four times your annual salary

• Health benefits through a Cash Plan

• Two paid community volunteering days a year

• 25 days annual holiday

• Perkbox benefits offering discounts and savings on several products and experiences

• Study support may be available for job-related qualifications

• We offer competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options

Join Southern Water and see how far your career could progress with a company committed to career progression, training and development opportunities, our customers and the environment.

Why Southern Water?

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.

You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long-term value creation.

At Southern Water, diversity and inclusion are core values. We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an environment where every individual is empowered to succeed.

This is more than a role; it’s an opportunity to lead, innovate, and make a lasting impact. Apply now to be part of our transformational journey.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Industries

  Utilities and Air, Water, and Waste Program Management

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