Modelling Manager

Supporting the lives of people and places they love for generations to come is our purpose and providing water services to our communities in the most efficient and sustainable way possible is what we do. Our commitment is to always deliver available and sufficient resources, this is what drives the Drought and Resilience Team and in doing so we want to ensure that we enhance our reputation with our customers, regulators and stakeholders. So, if you want to be part of a diverse team where opportunities flow and fresh ideas are welcomed, #JustAddWater.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Water Resources Modelling Manager to join our Water Resources team and lead our modelling team in providing modelling as a service across the Water Resource Function covering the South West Water, Bristol Water, Bournemouth Water and Isles of Scilly regions. You will receive a competitive salary of up to £54,000 - £62,000 per annum.

About the role:

Modelling is at the heart of everything we do. From ensuring there’s enough water in our rivers to support the environment to managing our reservoirs during a drought. Our Water Resources team rely on our modellers to help solve some of the most difficult water resources challenges in the country. We’re look for a Water Modelling Manager to lead this team, ensuring their outputs meet our business requirements, our modellers have industry leading skills and that our models are fit for purpose in the long term.

As Modelling Manager you will collaborate with leaders across the Water Resource Function to scope modelling service requests, allocate resources, and deliver outputs within agreed timelines. The role entails managing the end-to-end modelling process, including identifying needs, constructing and calibrating models, running simulations, and producing quality-assured outputs with initial insights. Clear communication with requestors to ensure understanding of findings is vital. Additionally, the role involves delivering improvements outlined in our latest Water Resource Management Plan, such as enhancements to Water Resource Zone, regional, rainfall-runoff, and groundwater models.

You will have opportunity to oversee a portfolio of modelling projects, ensuring delivery aligns with the agreed scope and timeline while maintaining high-quality standards. This includes implementing a robust Quality Assurance framework to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of data outputs. Engaging with industry peers to adopt innovative data management practices and seeking feedback on services will also be essential to foster continuous improvement and evolve the modelling function. You will also help to develop & shape the modelling strategy for the water service function into AMP8, capturing and shaping the requirements for modelling tools and systems, aligning to the business needs.

As a technical expert and strong leader, you will design and execute a strategy for modernising the modelling service, aligning it with broader team improvement strategies. You will be confident in distilling complex modelling outputs into accessible insights for diverse audiences and empowering your team to do the same. Strong analytical and communication skills, combined with a vision for innovation in a regulated environment, will be critical to establishing and advancing a high-performing, future-ready modelling service.

• Providing clear direction and guidance to the team to deliver Modelling as a service to the Water Resources Function, working with requesters to define scope and handover a quality output. 
• Leading efforts to engage with modelling service requesters from across the Water Resources function to ensure clarity on scope, timescales and output expectations.
• Deliver and oversee the team to undertake all modelling activity in line with scope of works.
• Establish a regime of model maintenance and assurance to ensure models are available for timely use.
• Establish a suite of modelling methods and processes to support longer term efficient model service delivery.
• You are responsible for the time and quality delivery of a portfolio of modelling projects, managing resources appropriately to ensure all reports meet required timescales and quality standards. 
• Implement and oversee a suitable Quality Assurance approach in order to drive quality outputs.
• Lead the team to deliver all modelling based commitments within WRMP29.
• Provide insights to modelling outputs and will lead the team to do the same, utilising your experience to provide input and additional depth to team outputs.
• Setting performance targets, monitoring progress, and providing regular feedback to the team to ensure a continuous improvement environment is created.
• Identify and implement industry innovation and good practice in order to mature the modelling service offer.
• Develop, seek approval for and ultimately implement a modelling transformation strategy, aligned to user needs and requirements for AMP8 and beyond.
• Undertake regular reviews on team level performance, including stakeholder feedback, to identify and implement service improvement opportunities.
• We expect everyone who works for us at Pennon to have the right and ability to return Home Safe and Well each and every day. As a Manager in the business this is your principle responsibility before all others.
• Embodying our core values: Rock Solid, Be You and Be the Future.

• Geomorphology/hydrology/water management/environmental science/ related MSC. 
• Hold professional membership of a recognised body (e.g. CIWEM) 
• Experience in leading technical teams to deliver accessible and easily understandable outputs.
• Extensive experience in Water Resource modelling
• Experience of using modelling software packages commonly used in the Water Industry e.g. MISER, Aquator
• Experience managing a portfolio of technical projects, balancing resources and managing stakeholder expectations proactively.
• Strong analytical skills, statistical methods, data manipulation, and problem-solving.
• Knowledge of water resources industry and industry drivers is desirable.
• Ability to communicate complex information in an easy to access format – distilling key insights from vast inputs.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills and ability to adapt communication style to suit the audience. Some experience of Python programming and network analysis would be beneficial.

Closing Date: 20th January 2025

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.