We are looking for a Production Manager to join Thames Water permanently.
You will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Fobney WTW ( Water Treatment Works) to ensure it's robust and safe operation 24/7 and also influence the future, by identifying risk and investment needs and working with internal teams to deliver solutions within the right timescales.
Our overarching plan is to provide our customers with a continuous supply of safe, clean and palatable drinking water – by focusing on our five key priorities – our people, health & safety, water quality, risk & resilience, and efficiency.
This is a diverse and fast-paced role where no two days will be the same.
It provides a fantastic opportunity to think differently about how we ensure the reliability and resilience of our assets, whilst developing our people and driving a sustainable operating model.
Key to the role is collaboration and stakeholder engagement, both within and outside of Water Production.
- Once fully trained you will take part in an out-of-hours rota covering emergencies in the Reading area– every 1 in 6 weeks, for which you will receive additional payment.
- Reading, Fobney WTW.
- 36 hours per week, Monday – Friday.
- Offering a salary up to £60,000 per annum depending on your level of experience.
What you will be doing as a Production Manager?
- Meet the production plan for the area by ensuring asset availability and collaborating with systems optimisation, water quality and the production technical team.
- Monitor, report and act against key performance indicators (KPIs) for the reliability and resilience of our asset base, the capability of our people and the sustainable operation of our sites and network.
- Lead a collaborative and capable team that inherently drives performance, enhancing employee engagement and promoting a strong health and safety culture.
- Ensure your team have the capacity, capability, competence and confidence to undertake their tasks and activities. Ensure robust performance management is in place but actively supports development; ensuring appropriate succession plans are in place to maintain a continuity of operational support.
- Deliver to budget and meet efficiency targets.
- Identify risks and ensure resilience across your sites and team. You’ll also liaise with senior stakeholders and operational teams to address any asset failures, water quality failures and demand and supply issues that arise.
- Contribute and deliver water production continuous improvement projects and efficiency projects in conjunction with wider project teams.
- Ensure we maintain a harmonious relationship with our customers.
- You will guide your team to ensure that we consistently meet our internal KPIs as well as regulatory performance measures and performance commitments.
- You will be responsible for the performance management of your team of shift Process Controllers and Site Technicians, ensuring the competence of individuals through coaching and training to maximise their potential.
- Health and safety is at the centre of everything we do and as such you will be responsible for implementing this within your site and your teams as well as being Controller of Premises.
- Maintain legal compliance about people, assets and processes at your sites and be Controller of Premises for Fobney WTW.
What you should bring to the role?
- Demonstrable operational process management experience.
- Knowledge and/or experience of water or waste treatment processes.
- Strong leadership, people and performance management skills.
- You will have a passion for driving positive behaviours within your team and across the site.
- Experience with managing H&S in a site-based or industrial environment. NEBOSH or IOSH qualification, or equivalent is desirable.
- Excellent organisational and time management skills, a keen eye for detail and ability to prioritise.
- You will be able to deliver against stretching operational targets and must be commercially astute.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills - both written and verbal are essential for the role.
- You will demonstrate confidence to present to and influence Leaders in the organisation at all levels and engage with internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong computer skills are also desirable.
- Due to the nature of the role A valid UK driving licence is required to travel to different sites.
What’s in it for you?
- Offering a salary up to £60,000 per annum depending on your level of experience.
- Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 days with the length of service. (Plus bank holidays)
- Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution.
- Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year.
- GymPass, a free fitness plan and access to several well-being apps for you and up to three family members as well as discounted plans nationwide.
- Cycle to work scheme, always on and up to £3,000 , save money, get fit and help protect the environment.
- WeCare, a variety of health and wellbeing services for you and your family including up to 10 specialist counselling sessions, 24/7 access to a virtual GP, get fit programmes and access to a nutritionist.
- Benefits on Tap, access to discounts, cashback and instant vouchers.
- Generous Paternity Leave, including 4 weeks paid and an optional 2 weeks unpaid.
- Enhanced Maternity Leave, 26 weeks full pay and 13 weeks half pay!
- Ongoing performance development reviews to help you be your best and identify growth opportunities.
- Wider benefits scheme including our benefits hub, which is packed full of offers and information to save you money and support your wellbeing.
Who are we?
At Thames Water, our purpose is crystal clear - to deliver life’s essential service so our customers, communities and planet can thrive.
Water is life’s great leveller. Every living thing needs it, every single day. From people to plants, birds to bees, farms to factories, we all need it to thrive, and we’re committed to taking care of it for us all.
But keeping water flowing is becoming harder. From scorching summers to wetter winters, extreme weather affects everything from our pipes to our local rivers. We need to keep millions more kettles boiling, public services operating, washing machines spinning, showers running and more, so every drop is more precious than ever. Are you ready to play your part?
Working at Thames Water
At Thames Water, we recognise that people are at the heart of our business. To help us succeed in providing life's essential service, we need a range of skills and capabilities, representative of society throughout our business.
We seek to attract and retain a cultural mix of people who can offer different but complementary attitudes, values, talents, and knowledge. We understand the importance of appreciating and harnessing the unique skills, experiences, backgrounds, and differences that each individual brings.
Our over-arching diversity and inclusion aim is to ensure Thames Water is a diverse and inclusive great place to work. We encourage applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process.
Find out more about working at Thames Water.
When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business, meet colleagues and earn some extra money along the way.
Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment
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About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to
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