Head of Digital Management

Job title Head of Digital Management  Division Digital Location Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB
Contract type Fixed term/Secondment Full/Part-time Full-time Salary Competitive salary up to £115,000 per annum, depending on experience Job grade C Closing date 19/06/2026

Lead the Digital Management function, ensuring the design, effectiveness, and continuous improvement of Digital Management capabilities that enable successful delivery of Thames Water’s Digital Strategy and Digital Operating Model.

Drive the development and implementation of governance, risk, audit, licence management, performance management, digital processes, and operational control capabilities that ensure the Digital function operates efficiently, compliantly, and as an integrated enabler of strategic business outcomes.

Work closely with the CIO, Digital Leadership Team, Executive stakeholders, governance committees, and corporate functions to establish strong operational discipline, effective decision-making, and continuous improvement across Digital.

You must be able to build strong cross-functional relationships, influence senior stakeholders, and lead strategic transformation initiatives within a complex and highly regulated environment.

This is a 12-18 month fixed term contract

• Lead the Digital Management function, ensuring core management capabilities, frameworks, standards, and controls are defined, implemented, and continuously improved.
• Define and lead the strategy for Digital Management, maturing governance, risk, audit, licence management, performance management, and operational capabilities in line with Digital Strategy objectives.
• Establish and maintain strong operational control by implementing effective frameworks, methodologies, and standards across Digital.
• Develop and implement improvement plans for key Digital Management capabilities, including governance, risk management, audit management, licence compliance, and performance reporting.
• Provide leadership and oversight of the Digital Management team, ensuring effective business-as-usual delivery and accountability for outcomes.
• Deliver Digital Strategy work streams within the role’s accountability in collaboration with the CIO and Digital Leadership Team.
• Manage Digital risks in partnership with Digital Leadership, Enterprise Risk Management, Internal Audit, and external regulatory bodies as required.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with Executive leadership, governance committees, Digital teams, Finance, HR, Audit, Risk, and other corporate functions.
• Ensure robust operational reporting is in place to support Digital Leadership Team, Executive Committee, Board, and governance requirements.
• Drive simplification, standardisation, and automation of processes where appropriate to improve operational efficiency, quality, and consistency.
• Build and embed continuous improvement capabilities and structured problem‑solving approaches across the Digital function.
• Support the implementation and ongoing maintenance of the Digital Operating Model, ensuring sustainable operational accountability.
• Lead cross‑functional collaboration to ensure Digital priorities are aligned with wider organisational objectives and governance requirements.
• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight to ensure Digital delivers measurable business value and regulatory compliance.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and development to the Digital Management team.
• Stay current with emerging industry practices, governance approaches, operating models, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Hybrid – Clearwater Court, Reading.

36 hours Monday to Friday.

• Proven track record leading business functions within complex, multi‑stakeholder environments.
• Experience working within regulated industries, large infrastructure organisations, or technology‑led functions.
• Strong experience driving continuous improvement, including process design, simplification, standardisation, and operational integration.
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategic priorities into effective operational delivery.
• Ability to…