Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose

South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK’s most stunning landscapes.

We’re proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we’re working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.

Whether you’re starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.

Ready to make a splash? Join our team today.

Opportunity for a Work Planning Team Manager in Exeter, £36,933 pa plus benefits, within the Metering area of the Customer Services team. You will manage and drive the performance of the Work Planning team, overseeing the planning and scheduling of work for the Meter Reading and Meter Maintenance Field Teams, supporting non-household meter reading contracts, and maintaining strong relationships with non-household retailers. The role includes setting and managing Work Planning targets, resource management, and performance reporting to meet business needs.

You will lead the team to deliver well-planned, integrated solutions that drive effective change and improvements, supporting metering and meter reading services. The role requires a proactive, approachable leader with strong attention to detail, able to manage multiple projects and activities simultaneously. You will ensure all work meets regulatory obligations, internal policies, and service standards, while collaborating with colleagues, teams, and external stakeholders to deliver a high-quality service across the business.

What you’ll be doing

• Plan, schedule, and manage work for Meter Reading and Meter Maintenance teams to ensure efficient delivery and high productivity.

• Monitor team performance and produce reports on KPIs, ODIs, and other departmental metrics to inform business decisions.

• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks to performance, allocating resources effectively across depot areas.

• Liaise with internal teams, external stakeholders, and partners to resolve queries and ensure accurate data input across systems.

• Support meter-related projects, including AMI/Green recovery programs, ensuring work orders, diaries, and updates are completed accurately and on time.

• Analyse meter data, including skips, transfers, and tamper alerts, to prevent long unread meters and address anomalies proactively.

• Encourage and develop team members through mentoring, one-to-ones, and delegation aligned to individual skills and strengths.

• Ensure delivery of high-quality customer and technical service, embedding continuous improvement and adherence to policies and regulatory obligations.

• Coordinate resources and oversee recurring team activities (daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly) to maintain workflow efficiency.

• Participate in strategy meetings, system updates, and cross-department initiatives, ensuring accurate reporting, data integrity, and SLA compliance.

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience in team management, preferably in field operations, planning, or scheduling

• Strong understanding of meter reading, meter maintenance, or utility operations

• Experience in resource allocation, workflow planning, and performance management

• Ability to analyse data, identify anomalies, and implement corrective actions

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, both internal and external

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously

• Experience in process improvement, project delivery, and implementing operational efficiencies

• Proactive, problem-solving mindset with attention to detail

• Competent in IT systems and reporting tools, with ability to maintain accurate data and updates

• Ability to mentor, develop, and motivate a multi-skilled team while delegating effectively

What's in it for you

We know that the support and commitment of our staff is key to our success so you will receive the opportunity for ongoing development and training for a long-term career with us. We’re one of the largest companies in the South West and are proud to have been awarded Investors in People recognition.

In return, we offer an excellent range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday allowance plus bank holidays

• A discretionary Bonus

• Competitive Contributory Pension

• Share-save Scheme

• Various health benefits

• Wellbeing support programmes

• A range of Group Discounts

• Cycle to Work Scheme

• Financial support services

• And plenty more!

Closing Date: 31st March 2026

Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.

Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.

Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:

Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.

Be You - We want you to bring your best everyday. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.

Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.