Head of Digital Process Excellence - Reading, Berkshire
1 day ago
Reading
Contract: PermanentSalary: Competitive salary up to £86,000 per annumThe Head of Process Excellence is a senior leadership role within Thames Water’s Digital function, responsible for driving operational efficiency, consistency, and continuous improvement across digital processes. This role will lead the optimisation of workflows, champion improvement methodologies, and build the capability needed to embed a culture of operational excellence across Digital. Joining early in Digital’s improvement journey, this role presents a rare opportunity to shape and define the process excellence capability from the ground up. The successful candidate will help establish the standards, frameworks, and strategic direction that will underpin how Digital continuously improves its performance and delivers value to the wider business. The role works closely with stakeholders across the Digital function and the broader Thames Water Senior Leadership Team. The position holds a direct revenue budget of under £1m and manages a small team of fewer than five people, while contributing to the delivery of wider Digital financial efficiencies. What you’ll be doing as Head of Process Excellence • Lead the design, deployment, and continuous improvement of process excellence initiatives across Thames Water’s Digital function., • Develop and implement frameworks and methodologies for continuous improvement, using data-driven insights and industry best practices., • Identify opportunities to simplify, streamline, and transform digital processes through close collaboration with cross-functional teams., • Establish and monitor process performance metrics and KPIs to track improvements, performance trends, and operational impact., • Drive the adoption of improvement methodologies., • Investigate and embed process workflow automation and AI as governed, scalable capabilities that standardise execution, improve performance, and ensure control, transparency, and regulatory compliance., • Champion a culture of innovation, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across the Digital organisation., • Mentor team members and stakeholders in process improvement approaches, building organisational capability and confidence., • Engage with senior leadership to align process excellence initiatives with Thames Water’s strategic objectives and digital roadmap., • Provide clear reporting and insight on process performance and improvement outcomes to senior stakeholders., • Support the identification and delivery of operational efficiencies across the Digital function., • Proven experience leading process excellence or operational improvement initiatives in large, complex organisations., • Strong background in digital transformation, operational improvement, or service optimisation environments., • Demonstrated experience applying structured process improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, or Agile., • Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to interpret data, diagnose operational issues, and implement effective solutions., • Excellent leadership and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at senior levels across business and technology teams., • Outstanding communication and presentation skills, able to engage and inspire diverse audiences., • Experience driving organisational change and embedding a continuous improvement culture., • Strong knowledge of process improvement frameworks, including Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, or similar methodologies., • Experience in defining and implementing operational performance metrics, KPIs, and reporting frameworks., • Experience in analysing operational and service performance data to identify improvement opportunities., • Understanding of digital operating models, service management processes, and workflow optimisation., • Professional certification in process improvement methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent., • Experience working within regulated or asset-intensive industries such as utilities, energy, infrastructure, or transport., • Experience in building or establishing a process excellence or continuous improvement function., • Competitive salary up to £86,000 per annum, depending on experience., • Car allowance - £5,800, • Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays)., • Performance-related pay plan directly linked to both company and individual performance measures and targets., • Generous Pension Scheme through AON.