Operational Commercial and Efficiencies Technical Lead

Grade and Salary

D) €61,531 - €92,296

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 Operations function forms the cornerstone of service delivery to customers, protecting the environment and meeting regulatory standards as well as managing the majority of operational expenditure. The Asset Operations function has responsibility for operational and maintenance strategy, policies, planning and standard operating procedures for Water and Wastewater operations both nationally and regionally, ensuring that value for money and customer service is delivered. 

The Operations Support function provides essential capability to drive service delivery to customers, is accountable for efficiently managing the majority of operational expenditure and has responsibility for providing and managing effective business infrastructure and processes at a national level to support operational activities at site level. 

The main focus of the Operational Commercial and Contract Management team is to ensure Uisce Éireann Asset Operations is realising optimum effectiveness and efficiency from its commercial and contractual arrangements with its suppliers and contractors. The Operational Commercial & Efficiencies Technical Lead will report to the Operational Commercial & Efficiencies Manager.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordination of efficiency sub-groups involving a diverse range of stakeholders from technical, engineering, operational & financial backgrounds. Sub-groups will cover key focus areas e.g. Energy, Sludge, Chemicals, Jetting, Plant Hire, DBO and R&M.
• Compiling, updating, and reporting on an active ‘Register of Opportunities’ for efficiencies interventions generated by each sub-group. 
• Providing commercial support to efficiency sub-group members in relation to developing fully costed efficiency intervention proposals for consideration/approval. Commercial analysis of technical/engineering proposals made by sub-group members.
• Liaison with Asset Operations Commercial & Efficiencies & Finance teams in relation to the validation of efficiency intervention proposals developed by efficiency program sub-groups.
• On-going review of RACI, policies and process maps for the end-to-end efficiencies process.
• Responsible for leading work packages within the overall Uisce Éireann operational cost intelligent strategy, to help understand what things should cost and know the right price to pay to operate and maintain assets. 
• Deliver reporting and process improvements as part of the Uisce Éireann strategy to develop a better understanding of contract and material costs and developing the tools to be able to predict when and why cost changes occur and to understand the opex impact of the UÉ Capital Investment Plan, i.e. what influences them and how we can take action to reduce costs e.g. overheads, materials, inflation and delivering consistent and reliable cost predictions.
• Support the Commercial and Efficiencies Manager in overseeing and monitoring the financial performance of the Asset Operations function, including annual budget process P2P issues and reporting.
• Support the commercial analytical capability to be able to effectively utilise data insights and reporting to drive continuous improvement in the commercial aspects of Asset Operations activities.
• Proactively identify and drive improvements in the commercial and compliance areas across Asset Operations ensuring readiness for internal and external audits. Represent Asset Operations, as required, at relevant governance fora (e.g. EAC, Review Group).
• Take an active role in the monthly AO Governance process for Asset Operations approval papers going forward to Board, EAC or Sub-EAC Committees. 
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders as required to ensure goals and objectives of the Asset Operations Support are clearly understood, whilst driving the right behaviours that facilitate a collaborative relationship within UE.
• Raise risks and issues as appropriate to the Commercial and Efficiencies Manager

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.
• Provide visible leadership for your team, coaching and developing them to achieve their full potential and deliver business objectives, promoting collaboration and highlighting the behaviours that are expected from everyone in the team.
• Other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Relevant third level qualification or accreditation is desirable e.g. Degree in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Business/Finance Management, or related area, or relevant experience
• A minimum of 5 years’ relevant experience is required. Experience in the water, utilities or similar industries is desirable.
• We work better together - ability to develop and maintain effective strategic partnerships with key stakeholders internally and externally.
• Proven track record with dealing with complex issues, proactively and in a timely fashion along with the ability to communicate complex information to others.
• We do the right thing - highly motivated individual, working to the highest professional standards and with proven ability to deliver results.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to identify and analyse problems and potential improvements and propose and implement solutions.
• Demonstrate adaptability and the ability to change focus and direction in line with business strategy and requirements.
• We aim high - proactively identifying new areas of improvement and using newly gained knowledge and skill on the job.

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