Operational Planning Manager - @One Alliance - #151171

Mott MacDonald Bentley are recruiting for an Operational Planning Manager to join the Anglian Water @One Alliance.

As part of Anglian Water’s @one Alliance, we are on a mission to create a sustainable and resilient future for water. With an ambitious £2.3 billion capital investment in AMP8, we are revolutionising infrastructure, sustainability, and digital transformation to protect the environment and support growing communities.

As an Operational Planning Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth, safe, and efficient operation of our water and water recycling assets. This is a new role and a great opportunity to be involved in the first collaborative position within this department, with the chance to develop and shape it going forward. You’ll have the unique opportunity to work closely with diverse teams—Network, Supply, @one, and Restoration—to proactively identify and approve planned work that upholds system integrity and quality. Your decisions will directly impact the prevention of incidents, pollution, and operational disruptions, helping us deliver exceptional service to our customers. Supported by the dynamic @one Alliance and embedded within Tactical Operations, this role offers variety and the chance to influence operational excellence across multiple facets of our water networks. If you’re passionate about making a difference through smart, strategic planning and collaborative problem-solving, this is the role for you.

What will you be doing as our new Operational Planning Manager?

• Collaborate closely with Network, Supply, @one, and Restoration teams to identify, approve, and challenge operational work and solutions across water networks and sites.
• Proactively monitor workloads and operational systems to optimize asset performance and resource management, ensuring excellent customer service.
• Provide clear, accurate operational decision-making to support the achievement of company performance targets.
• Participate in lessons learned, post-event analysis, and near-miss evaluations to implement corrective and preventative actions.
• Manage operational risk via robust governance, including approval of Major Impact plans and promoting awareness of the Planned Work Approval system.
• Chair planned work panels/meetings for high-risk Major Impact Plan approvals and ensure consistency and compliance with operational standards (POSWSH/POSWASTE).
• Support team development by coaching, mentoring, and promoting a culture aligned with the Love Every Drop strategy.
• Lead system exploitation initiatives, challenge stakeholders, monitor key sites for trends, and demonstrate benefits from proactive operational improvements.
  
  

A Little Bit About Your Skills, Experience And Behaviours

• Qualifications & Experience: Hold a degree or equivalent (NVQ 6/HND), SMSTS certified, with extensive networks/supply experience and regulatory knowledge in the water sector.
• Leadership & Influence: Skilled in managing, leading, and influencing stakeholders across business and industry levels; initiates and drives technical discussions and change.
• Technical Mentoring & Coaching: Proven track record in mentoring and training technical colleagues with successful outcomes; provides constructive feedback and supports development.
• Strong Personal & Professional Skills: Demonstrates responsibility, resilience, adaptability, creative problem-solving, excellent communication, and effective time/priorities management.
• Industry Knowledge & Continuous Development: Maintain wide business networks, understands industry policies and initiatives, keeps excellent records, and commits to ongoing personal and team development.
  
  

At @one Alliance, you’ll be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team that is shaping the future of the UK’s water infrastructure. We offer a collaborative and innovative working environment, where your expertise will be valued and your ideas will drive meaningful change.

JN Bentley Benefits can be found in the booklet attached.