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.

As the Regional Operational Leakage Manager you will lead the delivery of leakage and technical performance across South West Water and the Isles of Scilly.

This is a high-impact role responsible for translating strategy into operational delivery, ensuring leakage targets are met safely, efficiently, and in line with regulatory, customer, and environmental expectations.

You’ll take ownership of tactical plans, lead large multi-disciplinary teams, and drive continuous improvement across all aspects of leakage management.

What you'll be doing:

• Develop and deliver tactical Leakage & Technical (L&T) plans from concept through to execution, ensuring alignment to wider Water Service Network strategies.

• Drive and manage operational leakage performance across the region, ensuring delivery against daily, weekly, monthly, and annual targets.

• Oversee c.200 direct and supply chain staff through a leadership structure of 4 direct reports, ensuring safe, effective and efficient delivery.

• Own leakage performance reporting, including forecasting, risk identification and gap recovery planning.

• Ensure optimisation of performance across cost, risk, customer outcomes, and water quality standards.

• Define and embed operating models covering network leakage detection, repair prioritisation, customer leakage, metering, and pressure management.

• Develop robust data, reporting and assurance frameworks to support performance transparency and decision-making.

• Collaborate with central and regional teams to support regulatory submissions, audits, and continuous strategy improvement.

• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and adoption of industry best practice across leakage operations.

• Act as the regional subject matter expert for operational leakage and contribute to annual business planning and budgeting.

What we're looking for:

• Significant experience in leakage, water networks, or operational performance within a regulated utility environment.

• Proven track record of leading large, multi-disciplinary operational teams and supply chains.

• Strong experience developing and delivering tactical plans and driving operational performance improvement.

• Excellent leadership and influencing skills, particularly within matrixed or complex organisational structures.

• Advanced analytical capability, using data and insight to drive decision-making and performance outcomes.

• Strong stakeholder management skills, including engagement with senior leadership and cross-functional teams.

• Commercial and financial acumen, including experience managing and delivering against operational budgets.

• Ability to drive accountability, performance culture, and continuous improvement within teams.

Qualifications

• Required: Relevant leadership experience in leakage, water utilities, or a comparable operational environment.

• Desirable:

  • Knowledge of water balance methodology and assurance frameworks

  • Experience in other utilities or operational sectors (e.g. manufacturing)

  • Strategic planning and influencing experience

What Success Looks Like

• Consistent achievement of leakage and operational performance targets

• High-performing, engaged teams delivering safely and efficiently

• Strong governance, reporting accuracy, and data-led decision making

• Continuous improvement across cost, performance, and customer outcomes

• Acting as a trusted subject matter expert and leader within the Operational Leadership Team

What's in it for you:

We know our people drive our success — so we’re committed to offering an excellent range of benefits, including:

• 30 days annual leave + bank holidays

• Bonus Plan

• Private Healthcare

• Company car or cash for car allowance

• Competitive contributory pension

• Share-save scheme

• Health benefits & wellbeing support programmes

• Group discounts

• Cycle to Work scheme

• Financial support services

• Development and training opportunities
  … and much more!

If you’re motivated by delivering outstanding outcomes for customers and communities, prioritising safety so everyone goes HomeSafe every day, and driving innovation and continuous improvement, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a real impact. You’ll play a key role in building high-performing, collaborative teams while leading meaningful change and transformation across our operations.

Closing Date: 26th June 2026

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

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.