Development & Growth Manager

What you'll be responsible for

As the Development Growth Manager, you will be responsible for directing activity relating to all development plan consultations and early engagement with stakeholders such as Local Authorities, Developers and Customers, in line with statutory deadlines. You will also take the lead in managing the Company's response to any changes in guidance and legislation affecting the way we respond to new development and growth (i.e. changes to guidance on the protection of the environment), representing the Company internally and externally on the relevant Steering Groups. To enable you to do this, you will need to work collaboratively with colleagues across the business, particularly colleagues in our Wastewater and Water Assets teams, providing advice to our customers and keeping them informed of progress.

1. Ensuring Forward Planning activity such as pre-consultation site assessments, responses to formal development plans, land availability studies and any early engagement with developer's customers are responded to within the recognised regulatory and statutory deadlines.

2. Influence investment decisions with the Business and also the programme of development by LPA's so that the two align and ultimately protect the Company's corporate standing and service to customers.

3. Lead on the response to any changes in guidance (i.e from our regulators) which could impact the way we respond to new development and growth.

4. Through your direction you will manage the data from Strategy and Asset Capability and ensure the Local Authority is informed on the current & future Asset Management Plans and also updated on asset data currently available.

5. Manage expectations with external stakeholders engaged in planning activity i.e. LPA, government, regulatory bodies; promoting a more proactive and informed planning function.

6. Engage with Senior Officers in over 30 LPA's to ensure they understand the Company's approach to engagement at development plan stages and make certain they adhere to our advice.

7. Manage team responses when required to provide information for feasibility studies, hydraulic models & water cycle studies

8. When necessary provide support and input into any customer complaints as well as mentoring fellow members of the Development Management function

9. Compliance with current health and safety legislation and policies at all times during the execution of all activities.

10. Input into, and participate in, monthly reporting and reviews.

11. Compliance with processes and procedures at all times during the execution of all activities.

12. Working collaboratively with other team members and carry out other duties as required to meet business needs

About you

Essential Experience, Knowledge & Skills

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in Town and Country Planning Geography or other environmental related disciplines
• Extensive experience in water industry and comprehensive knowledge of planning function
• Good communication skills - both verbal and written
• Experience of stakeholder management
• Ability to work to tight regulatory and project deadlines

Good to know

This is a hybrid role and you will be required to visit the office around 2 days a week or more depending on the business needs/requirements.

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact: Miriam Wasik-Evans and enter the job ID in the subject title line.

Benefits

As well as a market competitive salary, 34 days annual leave (pro rata, including public holidays), we offer a range of employee benefits and rewards including:

• Variable pay schemes (your salary band will remain the same, but performance depending, you could receive an incremental within-band increase and a yearly incentive)
• Option to buy additional annual leave up to 5 days per year
• Enhanced employer pension contributions - Up to 11% employer contributions
• Free Mortgage Brokering Services
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Progression opportunities, including the ability to apply for funded training and coaching and mentoring programmes
• Gym and fitness discounts as well as high street shopping
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discount off all Welsh Water visitor attraction centres and gift shops
• Car-leasing scheme and free on-site parking at all sites
• Health CashBack scheme and access to an online GP service
• An employee assistance programme for employees and their immediate family

Many more can be found on our website.

Due to the nature of the industry, we require satisfactory references, post offer medical clearance, and a criminal records Basic Disclosure check on all new employees joining the business.

For some roles there may be additional checks and security clearance required, and this offer is subject to all checks being satisfied. You will receive further information on how to complete these checks via email once you have accepted this offer.

Who we are

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water keep 3 million people healthy each day with safe, reliable water, and take away wastewater to clean, before returning it safely to our beautiful rivers and seas.

To be able to deliver high quality, essential services which help to protect the health of our customers, colleagues and our environment, we need the right people to deliver on our vision. This is achieved by living our core values and demonstrating the core behaviours that underpin them. The security of our people, assets and information is key to us, so we are looking for people who understand and comply with the company's required security objectives.

We know that the most successful teams are the most diverse teams. Equality, diversity and inclusion provide the very foundation to our culture at Welsh Water. We want every individual to feel confident, proud and able to bring their whole selves to work.

To ensure an improved representation in our workforce, applications are particularly welcome from minority groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people, Females, LGBT+, Non-binary and people with disabilities. Together we continue to build a workplace that not only celebrates the diverse voices of our colleagues but also represents each customer we serve.

In essence, ours is a company based on trust, openness, respect, commitment and honesty. A company that our colleagues are proud to work for.