Abstraction Operations Manager

At Thames Water, every drop matters.
As our Abstraction Operations Manager, you’ll play a vital role in keeping London’s water flowing by leading the operation and maintenance of our West London abstraction assets. This is a role where your decisions directly support resilient water supplies for millions of customers, while protecting the environment and meeting our regulatory commitments.

You’ll lead a skilled team of technicians, balance day‑to‑day operational priorities with long‑term asset health, and work closely with colleagues across water treatment, water resources, system operations and external regulators. If you enjoy leading people, making informed operational decisions, and taking ownership of complex assets, this is an opportunity to make a real and visible impact.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading and supporting a team of technicians, creating a positive, safe and high‑performing working environment
• Planning and coordinating maintenance and statutory inspections, working closely with planning teams to deliver week‑by‑week activity
• Acting as a key decision maker for the operation of the West London raw water system, ensuring a reliable supply to water treatment works
• Managing relationships with internal teams and external regulators to ensure compliance with abstraction licences and regulations
• Owning health and safety across sites, proactively identifying and addressing risks to protect people and assets
• Acting as Controller of Premises for abstraction sites, ensuring they are safe, secure and resilient
• Managing operational budgets and contributing to investment decisions that support long‑term system performance

What we’re looking for
Essential skills and experience

• Experience leading and motivating teams in an operational or field‑based environment
• A good understanding of health and safety responsibilities and safe working practices
• Confidence managing stakeholders and maintaining effective working relationships
• A full, valid UK driving licence, with the ability to travel between sites

Technical skills

• Good IT skills, with the confidence to work with digital systems (training will be provided)

Desirable

• Experience in the water industry or a regulated, asset‑intensive environment
• Experience managing operational or capital budgets
• Familiarity with complex physical assets and how they are maintained

We know no candidate meets every requirement. If you feel this role is right for you, we’d love to hear from you.

What’s in it for you

• Competitive salary of £40,000–£50,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience
• The opportunity to lead work that protects essential water supplies for London
• Ongoing training and development to support your career progression
• A supportive team culture focused on safety, respect and continuous improvement
• A competitive benefits package

Find out more about our benefits and perks (Please note different T&Cs apply if on secondment)

Who are we?
We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water
Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else, just let us know, we’re here to help and support.

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 and meet colleagues.

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.