Water sustains communities, ecosystems, and life itself. At Thames Water, we supply over 10 million customers with around 2.6 billion litres of water every day — much of it drawn from the ground beneath our feet. To protect this essential source, we’re looking for a Groundwater Resources Manager to lead our talented team and shape the long-term direction of groundwater management across our region.
As the Groundwater Resources Manager, you will set the vision for how Thames Water manages, protects, and optimises its groundwater resources. Leading a team of four specialists, you’ll guide technical priorities, empower your team to deliver high-quality work, and ensure alignment with organisational, environmental, and regulatory goals. Your leadership will drive the sustainable use of our aquifers, the protection of groundwater quality, and the safeguarding of the chalk rivers that are central to our environment and heritage.
Key responsibilities include:
- Shape and deliver the long-term vision for groundwater resource management at Thames Water, ensuring it aligns with wider business, regulatory, and environmental priorities.
- Lead and develop a high-performing team, providing direction, coaching, and support to enable them to excel in technical and strategic groundwater work.
- Provide senior technical input into strategic documents such as the Water Resources Management Plan, Drought Management Plan, and regulatory submissions that influence regional water security.
- Oversee analysis of key datasets (e.g., pumping tests, CCTV surveys, monitoring networks), ensuring insights are robust and inform operational decisions and investment planning.
- Identify optimisation opportunities across sources and assets, helping reduce environmental risks, strengthen drought resilience, and improve performance.
- Champion cross-functional collaboration, working with colleagues in Operations, Engineering, Asset Management, and Environment to translate groundwater insights into practical actions.
- Maintain a strong connection to the field, supporting team members in site visits to groundwater sources, treatment sites, and monitoring locations to deepen understanding of assets and local conditions.
Base Location: Hybrid working from our Clearwater Court, Reading, 2 days a week.
Working Pattern: Full-time, Monday–Friday (36 hours per week)
This position is paying a salary of between £60,000 and £70,000 per annum based on experience.
What you’ll bring to the role:
- A solid technical background in hydrogeology, including familiarity with groundwater modelling tools and data interpretation.
- Experience managing or mentoring technical staff, with the ability to set clear priorities and foster a supportive, collaborative team culture.
- Strong analytical and communication skills, with the confidence to interpret incomplete datasets and present insights clearly to non-technical audiences.
- A degree in Geology, Environmental Science, Engineering, or a related field, ideally supported by a postgraduate qualification in Hydrogeology (or equivalent experience).
Extra qualities that would be a great fit for our team:
- Experience in the water industry or groundwater resources management, or transferable experience from a related environmental or engineering field.
- A full UK driving licence and enthusiasm for field engagement, including occasional visits across our region — from urban boreholes to the iconic chalk rivers that help define our landscape
What’s in it for you?
Joining Thames Water means becoming part of a supportive, innovative team where your strategic vision makes a tangible difference. You'll play a vital role in creating sustainable water management strategies. Alongside career growth and professional recognition, you’ll receive:
- Competitive salary from £60,000 to £65,000 per annum, depending on experience.
- 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus, bank holidays)
- Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
- Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.
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