DWR Cymru Cyfyngedig Welsh Water Plc
Strategic Planning Manager
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Job Requisition Number: 8638
Work Type
Permanent
Job Function
Strategy
Salary Range
£70,000
Location
South East Hub - Hybrid 3+ days office-based (Linea/Cardiff St Mellons office)
About the Role: Senior Strategy Manager
Reporting to the Strategy Director, the Senior Strategy Manager plays a central role in shaping Dŵr Cymru’s strategic direction by:
- Leading the development of strategic content
- Coordinating long-term business planning
- Liaising with stakeholders on strategic issues
The role ensures that long-term pathways, choices, and trade-offs are:
- Clearly articulated
- Credible
- Grounded in evidence
The postholder synthesises horizon scanning, insight, and organisational inputs to develop coherent strategic narratives that inform Executive and Board decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
- Play a leading role in development and oversight of Dŵr Cymru’s long-term corporate strategy.
- Develop and articulate long-term planning pathways and directional choices, supporting clarity on options, dependencies, and implications over 5-year, 10-year, and 25-year horizons.
- Lead and coordinate horizon scanning across political, regulatory, environmental, technological, and societal domains, translating emerging trends into strategic insights and implications.
- Manage strategic planning frameworks and governance, ensuring alignment between:
- Corporate strategy
- Business planning
- Asset investment
- Prepare high-quality, written materials for Executive and Board consideration, including:
- Strategy papers
- Long-term plans
- Options narratives
- Collaborate closely with Regulation, Finance, Asset Planning, Customer, and Operations teams to ensure long-term plans are evidence-based.
- Contribute to the development of tools promoting a strong strategic culture, including:
- Long-term thinking
- Collaboration
- Evidence-based decision-making
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About You – Essential Requirements
Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent professional qualification in:
- Strategy
- Business
- Economics
- Public policy
- Social science
- Related discipline
Experience
- Experience operating in regulated infrastructure companies.
- Proven expertise in:
- Leading or supporting structured strategy development processes
- Multi-year business planning (from conceptualisation to sign-off by Executive/Board)
- Strong track record of authoring high-quality strategy documents, long-term plans, or position papers for senior leaders.
- Ability to synthesise inputs from multiple disciplines (e.g., insight, regulation, finance, operations) into coherent long-term narratives.
- Experience in horizon scanning and translating emerging trends into strategic implications.
- Significant senior-level experience in strategy development, regulatory policy, or business planning within a complex, regulated organisation.
Knowledge & Skills
- Deep understanding of:
- The UK water sector
- Regulatory environment
- Government policy drivers
- Price review processes
- Strong grasp of strategy development methodologies, including:
- Long-term planning
- Pathway-based decision-making
- Exceptional analytical skills, with the ability to:
- Translate complex data into strategic recommendations
- Exceptional written communication and document authorship proficiency.
- Ability to:
- Collaborate effectively across the organisation
- Build strong networks
- Strong critical thinking, synthesis, and judgment.
- Capability to work with senior stakeholders across organisational boundaries.
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Desirables
Hybrid working policy: Minimum of three days office-based at Linea/Cardiff St Mellons office.
The role will close upon finding a suitable candidate. Apply ASAP.
Benefits
Competitive Remuneration & Support
- Salary commensurate with the role’s responsibilities (£70,000 base).
- 34 days annual leave (pro-rata, including public holidays).
Financial & Retirement Benefits
- Variable pay schemes
- Enhanced pension contributions (up to 11% employer match).
Wellbeing & Work-Life Balance
- Access to online GP service and voluntary private healthcare
- Employer-assisted mental health support (e.g., free Headspace App)
- Employee assistance programme, including support for employees and their immediate families
- Free mortgage brokering service
- Cycle to work and car-leasing scheme
Learning & Development
- Progression opportunities, including:
- Access to funded training
- Coaching and mentoring programmes
Employee Networks & Inclusion
- Diverse employee networks supporting:
- Embrace (ED&I)
- LGBT+
- Neurodiverse & Disability
- Women of Welsh Water
- Parents & Wellbeing
- Many more
Policies & Discounts
- Enhanced family-friendly policies
- 20% discount on all Dŵr Cymru visitor attractions and gift shops
- Flexible working patterns encouraged
CSR Orientation
- Commitment to a not-for-profit, customer-focused approach while caring for:
- Trust-building with stakeholders
- Environmental sustainability
Colleague-matched fundraising up to £500 per year for a charity of the employee’s choice.
© Dŵr Cymru Cyf 2019. Company Details:
- Registered office: Linea, Fortran Road, St. Mellons, Cardiff CF3 0LT
- Registered in Wales No. 2366777
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