National Strategic Plan Manager (Wastewater)

Job Description

We are Uisce Éireann. Every day, we are responsible for the delivery of secure, safe, and sustainable water services for the people of Ireland. As Ireland’s national regulated water utility, our vision is a sustainable Ireland where water is respected and protected, for the planet and all the lives it supports.

Our purpose at Uisce Éireann is to rise to the challenge of delivering transformative water services that enable communities to thrive. That means we are proud to take on the responsibility of protecting our water supply and passing on a safe and secure water system to a rapidly growing population and empowering Ireland’s social and economic growth.

We are passionate about empowering our people, enabling them to make a positive impact on communities across Ireland. We are guided by a shared vision and purpose, grounded in values that define who we are and shape how we work, where we deliver for customers and communities, we work better together, we do the right thing, we aim high, and we keep each other safe. Our behaviours define how we interact, communicate, and succeed together. These values and behaviours apply to each one of us, across every role, location, and level.

Our goal is to attract and develop skilled and talented people from diverse backgrounds, who bring a dynamic range of expertise and insights to our work. With a strong, values-driven workforce, we ensure Uisce Éireann can continue advancing Ireland’s water services and meeting the needs of the communities we serve for generations to come.

The Role: 

The Asset Management and Sustainability area is responsible for the development of asset policies, strategies and plans to determine the significant investment required into Ireland’s infrastructure. The area drives investment and the Sustainability and Innovation agenda for the organisation and leads on Environmental Regulation and Compliance activities, ensuring the quality of water and wastewater is continuously monitored. The Asset Management function is responsible for strategic planning, prioritisation, and development of Uisce Éireann’s Capital Works pipeline. The function plays a key role in promoting collaboration and co-ordination of activities across the three asset functions as well as providing environmental assessment and management expertise across Uisce Éireann.

The Asset Strategy Team responsibility is to develop strategic plans for all water, wastewater and natural assets and to ensure the authorisation of the asset base. The scope of the team's responsibility covers 5 main areas: environmental strategy, water asset strategy, wastewater asset strategy, forward planning and planning strategy.

Reporting to the Wastewater Asset Strategy Manager, the National Strategic Plan Manager (Wastewater) is responsible for the development and management of wastewater strategies that enable the safe and sustainable collection and treatment of wastewater to meet planned needs and serviceability standards. The role holder shall also be responsible for developing Uisce Éireann’s requirements for integrated urban wastewater and drainage planning as required by government policy and European legislation. The role holder also supports the investment planning process. This includes the roll-out of asset policies, strategies and strategic plans and the use of common tools and shared data across the asset functions. The role will also support the development of asset standards and policies.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the development (in collaboration with the other asset functions) of Strategic Drainage and Wastewater Plans for large agglomerations and city regions including Dublin

• Assist with the development of (in collaboration with the other asset functions) the wastewater strategy framework and strategic investment plans for wastewater assets considering growth and change projections, and sustainability objectives.

• Assess and plan for future statutory obligations in relation to the recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, Water Framework Directive and other relevant legislation and government policy.

• Define the need for studies, surveys, and investigations to be undertaken in-house or using external resources to develop Integrated Urban Wastewater and Drainage Management Plans as required by government policy and European legislation

• Assist with the development of external agreements and relationships required to support urban drainage planning 

• Interpret and analyse wastewater data to see if the previously set goals are met and to inform Demand Management programmes impacting both Operations and Customer

• Liaise with the Technical Standards Specialist and Policies team to drive the development of new or revised standards and policies

• Liaise with Information and Reporting Solutions team to develop and receive required reporting to enable wastewater strategy development

• Identify critical data needs to support decision-making and strategic investment planning

• Oversee the design of risk control measures

• Support asset information including the development and management of the information strategy, including onboarding of data transfer and supporting asset strategy and information capabilities

• Ensure appropriate data governance and manage data provisions

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of Asset Strategy trends in Uisce Éireann, identify improvement projects to support continuous improvement and ensure our monitoring and reporting processes are efficient and effective

• Responsible for developing (in collaboration with the other asset functions) Strategic Asset Management Plans at agglomeration level which will capture the co-ordinated planned asset improvement activities

• Provide operational assistance to ensure the effective delivery and management of wastewater risk and contingency plans

• Actively research and seek industry best practice, providing feedback on latest industry developments via company-wide reports and presentations

• Perform other such duties in relation to work and asset management as Uisce Éireann may reasonably require

General Duties and Responsibilities 

• Collaboration with key internal stakeholders across the UÉ business

• Responsible for promoting and delivering health and safety commitments across UÉ and its supply chain, reinforcing positive behaviours and delivering health and safety objectives and requirements to the highest industry standards

• Support the delivery of the Uisce Éireann Transformation Programme, driving results required within the Directorate and supporting organisation-wide objectives

• Conducts duties and responsibilities in accordance with Uisce Éireann’s Information Security policies, standards, processes and controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of UÉ business information and delivery of critical services, in accordance with the NIS Directive and any other relevant cybersecurity regulation

• Other duties as required

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Relevant third level qualification and or accreditation is desirable and or relevant experience

• A minimum of 7 years’ Experience in the water, utilities or similar industries is desirable

• Considerable working experience of large-scale urban wastewater strategic planning

• Experience in leading teams to deliver customer strategies that enhance customer service 

• Highly motivated individual, working to the highest professional standards and with proven ability to deliver results at a senior level

• Proven track record in promoting and embracing differences of opinion and challenging poor practice

• Experience of developing and maintaining effective strategic partnerships with key stakeholders with the ability to enable positive teamwork across departments and encourage cooperation and open discussion to achieve common goals

• Proven track record with dealing with complex issues, proactively and in a timely fashion along with the ability to influence an environment of open, honest communication while upholding high ethical standards.

• Experience of supporting policies, systems and controls and driving the implementation of progressive policies.

• You will have a proven track record in leadership, change & transformation experience ideally in a similar utility, regulated industry or multi stakeholder environment

• Proven track record in leading continuous improvement initiatives in teams. Strong background in team motivation, and performance enhancement.

• Demonstrated experience in setting measurable safety and well-being goals for a team. 

Grade and Salary C (€84,029 -€126,044)*

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