Job Description
Closing Date
19/05/2026Job Title: Performance & Efficiency Lead
Location: Falmer or Durrington base (Hybrid: 2 days office / 3 days remote/ occasional site visits required) – a valid driving licence is essential.
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 37
Salary: Up to £54,000 per annum depending on experience
About the role
We’re looking for a Performance & Efficiency Lead to help drive operational, environmental and financial improvements across the Wastewater directorate. You’ll be part of the team responsible for delivering the Operational CAPEX Programme, working closely with Operational, Engineering, Finance, Commercial and Assurance teams to enhance performance, strengthen governance, and ensure compliant investment decisions.
What you will be responsible for:
Reporting to the Operational CAPEX Programme Manager, you will support operational and project teams through monthly forecasting, variance analysis, and performance reporting, providing accurate and timely inputs into performance reviews, managing risk and opportunity log for spend, forecasting and governance risks and update forward-looking financial forecasts.
You will analyse performance data, lead governance for investment approvals to ensure clarity, consistency, and full compliance across the organisation, support forecasting & reporting processes, and translate complex insights into clear, actionable recommendations that drive efficiency and compliance.
You’ll leverage your analytical and investigative skills to transform Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), root-cause analyses, and trend data into actionable insights—proactively identifying and logging emerging issues via a risk and opportunity log and escalating potential risks.
Key responsibilities
Governance
Own and lead the governance framework for investment in the asset base, ensuring clarity, consistency, and full compliance across the organisations various programmes.
Developed asset‑class‑specific replacement and preventative maintenance strategies.
Facilitating engagement across operational teams through meetings, workshops, site visits and performance updates.
Challenging and supporting decision‑makers across Operations, Engineering, Finance, Commercial and Assurance - able to challenge constructively and guide decision makers.
Auditing and Reporting
Retrospectively audit investments to ensure the decisions comply of relevant guidelines.
Capturing, analysing and interpreting data to identify trends relating to financial, forecasting or governance risks and efficiency opportunities across programmes of work. Use insights to pre‑empt governance risks, strengthen control frameworks, and reduce repeat financial and delivery issues.
Delivering regular performance reports for the Wastewater Leadership Team, highlighting risks, insights and mitigation plans.
Forecasting
Supporting monthly forecasting, variance analysis and performance reporting for operational and project teams.
What you’ll bring to the role:
Essential:
Strong understanding of governance processes, policy interpretation and compliance frameworks.
Experience in investment governance, rapid approvals and ensuring audit‑ready documentation.
Experience in retrospectively tracking and auditing investments post-approval.
Excellent numerical and analytical skills, with proficiency in MS Excel and data visualisation.
Strong communication skills with the ability to influence and collaborate at all levels.
Experience conducting root‑cause analysis and transforming data into actionable insights.
Adaptable, organised, solutions-focused approach to managing busy schedules; logical problem-solving; open to change/new ways of thinking.
Desirable:
Knowledge of wastewater assets and operational processes.
Field, operational or technical experience within utilities or engineering.
Programme or project management experience or qualification such as APM or MSP.
Experience using SAP products
Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025–30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in how water services are managed.
You’ll be joining us during an exciting period of change, working alongside dedicated colleagues with a strong sense of team spirit and shared purpose. At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation — if you’re passionate about making a positive impact, we’d love to hear from you, even if you don’t meet every criteria.
If this role isn’t quite right for you but you’d like to stay connected, you can register your details here:
Introduce Yourself – https://wd3.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/southernwater/SouthernWater/introduceYourself
Our Commitment to Diversity
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know.
Additional information
In line with Southern Water’s security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, a criminal record check (DBS), and verification of employment and/or education history for the past three years.
Appointment to this role is subject to satisfactory completion of all pre‑employment checks, including security vetting. Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw an offer if these checks are not successfully completed.