Water Quality Strategy Manager

Hello! Thanks for stopping by. Let us tell you about all the great reasons to join us here at Yorkshire Water:

• We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience, up to £62,000
• Car Allowance
• Annual incentive related bonus (up to 10% of annual salary)
• Private health care (self only)
• Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution)
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays – plus an extra wellness day!
• A great benefits package – choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover. 
• Retail savings scheme 
• Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Location: Buttershaw (until Summer 2026), Leeds or Sheffield (remote working option, but with physical presence in Yorkshire at least 2 days a week)

Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Water Quality Strategy Manager to join the Customer, Distribution and Collection team at Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water to provide the best service to our customers. Could this be you?

What we do:

Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year, can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it’s so much more than this.

We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire’s water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, and play a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity.

New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. Customer, Distribution and Collection  team are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators. 

The Water Quality Strategy role sits within Yorkshire Water’s Drinking Water Services department, a team dedicated to delivering wholesome, safe drinking water to customers across the region. With over 99.997% of water samples meeting stringent quality standards, the department has demonstrated strong compliance performance. However, challenges remain in achieving regulatory targets under the Compliance Risk Index (CRI) and further reducing customer Drinking Water Contacts (DWC). This strategic role will lead the development and implementation of a long-term Water Quality Strategy, shaping the vision for catchment, production, storage, and distribution over the next 25 years. It will also guide investment planning for AMP9 and beyond, supporting Yorkshire Water’s ambition to become a sector leader in CRI and DWC performance.

Where you fit in:

As our Water Quality Strategy Manager you will

• Lead the development of a Source to Tap Water Quality Risk framework, translating risks into prioritised investment options.
• Drive tactical and strategic solutions to reduce water quality risks, integrating new operational strategies into business-as-usual.
• Develop and implement a long-term Source to Tap strategy to improve CRI and DWC performance.
• Establish and mature policies, procedures, and asset standards that underpin water quality improvements.
• Create a multi-AMP roadmap of investments and interventions to minimise water quality risks.
• Lead the development of DWI enhancement cases and author the PR29 submission for CRI and DWC improvements.
• Conduct system-wide assessments to identify compliance gaps and define investment needs.
• Collaborate across teams and with regulators to align strategies, optimise interventions, and influence national water quality standards.

What skills & qualifications you will need:

• Experience in water strategy development, asset management, and problem solving
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks, including DWI and WRMP, and their integration into strategic planning.
• Proven ability to align deliver strategic goals within defined AMP cycles (AMP 8, AMP 9) and PR29 definition.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and influencing skills to engage with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Technical expertise in raw water systems, treatment processes, disinfection technologies and treated water storage and distribution.
• Management experience with a track record of delivering complex, multi-faceted outcomes, collaborating and influencing at multiple levels.
• Understanding of CRI improvement methodologies and ability to address emerging water quality risk
• Degree level qualification or equivalent experience.

You will also benefit from having:

• Knowledge and understanding of asset management principles and investment processes.
• Previous experience in an operational and / or strategic leadership role in a commercially orientated and / or regulated environment.
• Previous experience gained within the water or waste water sectors or within the broader utilities, process or manufacturing industry sectors.
• An established and strong external network of WQ, stakeholder and Regulatory relationships.
• Ability to create structured analytical approaches to assets, systems and data and translate into actionable insight

Although we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it’s important to us that we support flexible working patterns and job share options (when we can), to help you make the best of both your work and home life. We know that juggling childcare responsibilities or getting that ideal work/life balance isn’t always easy!

Do we sound like your cup of tea?  

If you’ve got experience as a Water Quality Strategy Manager and want to help us deliver great service for our customers whilst looking after the environment, then be sure to apply today to find out what a career with Yorkshire Water can offer you.  

Closing date – 19th November

If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third-Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance.

 All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required.

We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.

Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

No agencies please.