Central team leader

Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK’s most stunning landscapes. We’re proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we’re working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife. Whether you’re starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career. Ready to make a splash? Join our team today. We’re seeking a proactive Central Team Leader to lead and develop our Regional Controllers, driving high standards of performance, compliance, and operational consistency. Working closely with the Central Operations Manager, you’ll provide day-to-day leadership, support continuous improvement, and act as a key link between local teams, planners, and controllers to ensure aligned ways of working. You’ll also collaborate with the Alarm Team and Central Support Technician to ensure effective triage and management of contacts and alarms through the Service Support Centre. What we are looking for: Provide full line management responsibility for WWS Regional Controllers, including recruitment, onboarding, training, coaching, and ongoing development. Drive strong performance management through regular 1:1s, objective setting, capability tracking, and annual appraisals. Ensure appropriate resourcing and cover is in place during absence, peak demand, or heightened operational risk periods. Own, maintain, and continuously improve operational documentation, standards, processes, and compliance requirements for the WWS Central team. Monitor adherence to agreed standards and ways of working, escalating risks or instances of non-compliance where required. Lead continuous improvement initiatives to increase efficiency, resilience, and regulatory assurance across Central operations. Act as deputy to the WWS Central Operations Manager, providing leadership, decision-making, and direction during periods of absence. Support the Central Ops Manager in managing effective working relationships with WWS local area managers, planning and scheduling teams, and other operational stakeholders. Act as a key interface between central and regional operations to ensure alignment, clarity, and consistency of practices. Work closely with the Alarm Team and Central Support Technician to ensure effective triage, prioritisation, and resolution of alarms, contacts, and proactive initiatives received through the SSC. Provide operational support during major incidents, compliance events, or periods of increased operational pressure, ensuring timely escalation and coordination. What we are looking for: Strong leadership capability with a track record of managing performance, coaching, and developing teams Proven experience in an operational leadership or team management role, ideally within a regulated or compliance-driven environment Solid understanding of operational risk and compliance requirements Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels Ability to remain calm under pressure, balancing competing priorities and making sound decisions A proactive mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and leading change Strong problem-solving skills and confident decision-making ability Experience within centralised operations, control rooms, or service support environments Qualifications & Experience: Required: Minimum of 5 GCSEs (or equivalent), including Maths, English, and a Science subject Desirable: A-levels or recognised Water Industry qualifications Control room experience Management experience Waste Water Services operational experience What's in it for you: Generous holiday allowance with the ability to buy and sell annual leave for added flexibility. Competitive company pension scheme. Training and development within the role. Access to thousands of discounts and vouchers through Pennon Perks. 24/7 support with our Employee Assistance Programme. Discretionary bonus. Cycle to work scheme. And more! Closing Date: 1st July 2026 We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process. Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness. Our core values, which are essential to our success, are: Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on. Be You - We want you to bring your best everyday. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way. Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.