Southern Water
Assistant Manager
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Closing Date
2026-09-22
Job Title: Assistant Field Performance Manager (Wastewater)
Location: Weathlees, covering the Dover and Folkestone operational area
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 38 hours per week, full time
Salary: Up to £41,400 depending on skills, experience and qualifications, plus standby allowance
About the role
We're looking for an Assistant Manager to help lead the safe, compliant and efficient operation of wastewater treatment assets across the Dover and Folkestone area. This is a hands-on operational leadership role where you'll work closely with frontline operational teams to ensure our sites meet high standards of health, safety, environmental compliance and performance. Acting as deputy to the Field Performance Manager, you'll provide continuity of leadership, support day-to-day operational delivery and help drive improvements across a diverse portfolio of treatment works and assets.
You'll take ownership of health, safety and environmental audits, risk management activities and hazard resolution, ensuring Southern Water remains compliant with regulatory and legislative requirements while protecting our people, the environment and the communities we serve.
We're looking for someone with a strong wastewater operational background who is passionate about continuous improvement, enjoys coaching and developing others, and is ready to take the next step towards a broader operational leadership career.
As part of this role, you'll also participate in an operational standby rota, typically around one week in seven or eight, helping provide resilience and support during incidents and operational events.
What you'll be responsible for:
- Supporting the Field Performance Manager in the safe and effective operation of wastewater treatment assets across the area
- Acting as deputy for the Field Performance Manager during periods of leave or delegated absence, ensuring continuity of operational performance and line management support
- Completing statutory health, safety and environmental audits, including Site Safety Inspections, Fire Risk Assessments and Environmental Management System inspections
- Identifying, managing and driving the resolution of hazards and risks, maintaining accurate records and ensuring actions are completed within required timescales
- Monitoring operational compliance against health, safety, environmental and quality standards, including ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 requirements
- Working collaboratively with operational, maintenance, scientific and regulatory teams to resolve issues, improve performance and reduce risk
- Undertaking site audits to ensure operator rounds, housekeeping standards, asset performance and site compliance expectations are being achieved
- Coaching, mentoring and supporting colleagues to improve performance, capability and engagement across the team
- Delivering health, safety and environmental briefings, toolbox talks and improvement initiatives to promote best practice
- Supporting operational incident response and participating in the area standby rota as required
- Identifying opportunities for continuous improvement, optimisation and performance enhancement across wastewater treatment operations
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What you'll bring to the role:
Essential
- Several years' experience working within wastewater treatment operations, ideally in a process operator or similar operational role
- A strong understanding of wastewater treatment processes, assets and associated operational risks
- Experience working within health, safety and environmental frameworks, with a commitment to maintaining high standards of compliance
- Demonstrable experience investigating operational issues, identifying root causes and implementing effective solutions
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across multiple teams
- Ability to work independently, prioritise workloads and make sound decisions in a fast-paced operational environment
- Good IT skills and confidence using digital systems and operational reporting tools
- A proactive approach to continuous improvement and developing others through coaching and mentoring
- A full UK driving licence
Desirable
- Previous experience providing leadership, supervision or line management within an operational environment
- Experience completing health, safety or environmental audits
- NVQ Level 2 in Wastewater and Sludge Treatment Processes, or an equivalent qualification
- Knowledge of environmental regulation, permitting requirements and wastewater compliance standards
- Experience working within a regulated utility, infrastructure or industrial environment
- Ambition to progress into broader operational leadership and management roles
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About 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 opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.
You'll be joining at a time of significant change, working with skilled colleagues who share a clear focus on the future. We offer an environment where experienced professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence important decisions and create long-term value.
Our mission is to protect and enhance life through water, and we need passionate people to help us achieve it. If you're inspired by our purpose and believe you can contribute, apply today. You don't need to meet every criterion; what matters most is your drive to make a difference.
If this role isn't quite what you're looking for but you're keen to hear about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details through our careers site.
Our Commitment to Diversity
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.
Additional information
In line with Southern Water's security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, a criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years.
Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all pre-employment checks, including security vetting.
If a candidate does not meet the required security standards or does not pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment. Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting and additional documentation.
Participation in the operational standby rota forms part of this role and attracts an additional allowance.
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