Head of Emerging Talent and Skills

The Head of Emerging Talent and Skills will lead the skills strategy, ensuring that the benefits of growth are felt by all communities and colleagues across the business. You will lead a team focused on driving change within the provision of education, employment and skills across all Thames Water geographical reach, forming strategic partnerships and collaborative approaches with stakeholders including education, community, supply chain and skill providers. You will be responsible for the leadership of the delivery team, ensuring targeted support for priority groups that drive economic prosperity, support social value and positively impact social mobility.

What you’ll be doing as a Head of Emerging Talent and Skills

• Establish Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with stakeholders across education (FE/HE), community, skills providers, and local organisations to ensure the successful delivery of the skills strategy.
• Identify and secure government funding, lead business cases for internal financial support, and effectively utilise the growth and skills levy.
• Design and implement tailored educational programs, including traineeships, internships, T-levels, work experience, and pre-apprenticeships.
• Create and deliver apprenticeships across the business for both internal and external colleagues, developing provision across multiple sectors and levels.
• Ensure the successful delivery of the first water industry shared apprenticeship scheme to bridge the skills gap across our supply chain.
• Work closely with the Director of Resourcing, Skills, and Learning and Development to ensure the successful delivery of the infrastructure strategic skills forum.
• Identify appropriate pledges and covenants, and set clear delivery plans to support these through both the business and supply chain.
• Work with leaders across the business to ensure barriers to opportunities are removed, aligning inclusion across all areas and levels.
• Keep abreast of government policy on education, skills and employment.

Base Location: Reading - Hybrid

Working Pattern or hours: 36 Hours

What you should bring to the role

• Expertise and experience in policy issues related to industrial strategy, jobs, skills, education and apprenticeship policy and wider economic development impacts.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and respond to public policy.
• Experience of operating at a senior strategic management level, engaging with colleagues, directors and exec.
• Good knowledge of equity, diversity, inclusion, social mobility and social value.
• Experience in leading high-performing teams in complex/challenging environments.
• High-level interpersonal skills, emotional empathy and commitment to candidate experience and colleague impact.
• Ability to manage and meet deadlines with a high level of problem-solving skills.
• Experience in leading successful government contracts and funding.
• Experience of Ofsted and end point assessment including leadership of education, community and apprenticeships programmes.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary between £77,000 to £90,000 per annum.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays)
• Car Allowance.
• Annual Bonus.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Private Medical Health Care.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Find out more about our benefits and perks

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job, and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.
Whether you’re interested in a role in one of our call centres or science labs, we’re looking for people like you with real passion and a burning desire to make things better.

So, if you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference in millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is a great, diverse and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process. We aim to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business, meet colleagues and earn some extra money along the way.

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.