Closing Date
12/05/2025
Job Title: Asset Strategy Lead
Location: Falmer office (Hybrid Working)
Salary: Salary and package are to be discussed at the screening stage.
We’re looking to recruit a key hire in our Water Asset Strategy Team. This is a brilliant opportunity for someone who understands the challenges of the water or utilities sectors and is passionate about long-term planning, influencing change, and embedding future-thinking into day-to-day business.
Job Overview
This role is all about developing smart, sustainable asset strategies that help Southern Water deliver on its commitments safely, legally, and efficiently – both now and for the long term. You’ll be leading on strategic thinking around asset health, performance, criticality, and resilience – all of which are top priorities. The role is solely focussed on clean water assets.
You’ll be expected to challenge existing ways of working, spot opportunities, and work across teams to embed asset strategies into the wider business. It’s a visible, forward-thinking role, ideal for someone confident working with senior stakeholders, turning analysis into action, and helping drive cultural change.
Responsibilities will include:
1. Developing and embedding water asset strategies that consider full asset lifecycles
2. Focussing on the key areas of asset health, criticality and resilience
3. Using a systems-thinking approach to understand interdependencies across the business and wider society
4. Drawing insight from data and modelling tools to guide decisions and investment planning
5. Recommending interventions that balance long-term value, cost, and risk
6. Building strong relationships across teams to embed asset strategies into business-as-usual
7. Supporting regulatory submissions and long-term business planning
About You
The ideal candidate will have solid experience in asset management, preferably within the water sector, although those with a utilities background or other regulated industries will also be considered. They’ll bring strong planning and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to develop and embed new approaches across the business. This person should be confident working cross-functionally, comfortable breaking down silos, and capable of engaging and influencing a range of stakeholders. A data-led mindset is essential – they should be able to draw meaningful insights from models and analysis, such as deterioration or whole-life cost models. A qualification in asset or risk management (such as ISO 55000) or a relevant degree would be highly desirable.
Package
This role will be full time Monday to Friday 37 hours a week.
Southern Water operate a hybrid approach to working between our Falmer office (minimum 1 day a week) and home.
We are offering a salary of up to £55,000 per annum depending on skills and experience as well as other benefits including:
• Company and performance-related bonus
• Generous pension up to 11% company contribution
• 25 days annual leave
• Life assurance equal to 4x salary
• Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months service)
• Health Cash Plan
• Full funded eye tests
• Two paid volunteering days a year
• Occupational health service
• Discounts with over 800 popular retailers
• Digital GP service
• Study support may be available for job-related qualifications
• Competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options
• Cycle to work scheme
Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose. To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support – because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority. That’s why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve. Joining the Southern Water family means you’ll become part of our incident support team. During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that apply to your position.
Privacy Statement:
Please note: If you are an existing Southern Water employee, you will need to confirm within your application that your Manager is aware of your application.
All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility (e.g. a passport or long birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months), will be required as part of the recruitment process. If you do not meet these criteria, your application will not be considered.
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