Development Manager

Job Description

As a Performance Development Manager
, you’ll be at the heart of how our people learn, grow, and perform. You’ll design and deliver high‑impact training that supports operational excellence, safety, and compliance across our field and office‑based teams. This hands‑on, influential role is for someone who knows the utilities world inside out and enjoys combining strategic thinking with real operational engagement. You’ll mentor our people, support our projects, and help embed a culture of continuous improvement across the business.

• Design and deliver a tailored, future‑ready training framework using classroom, practical, and digital learning methods.
• Identify skills gaps and lead initiatives that improve efficiency, quality, and reliability across the business.
• Partner with Project Managers to demonstrate workforce capability during bids and proposals.
• Develop presentations, manuals, e‑learning modules, workshops, simulations, and hands‑on exercises.
• Implement assessments, track impact and ROI, and continuously refine training programmes.
• Mentor and coach employees at all levels, supporting personalised development and career progression.
• Collaborate closely with Operations, HR, HSEQ, Project Managers, and service owners to align training with business needs and compliance.
• Play a key role in recruitment, inductions, onboarding, appraisals, and performance improvement plans.
• Drive organisational improvement and quality enhancement as a change leader.
• Maintain a hands‑on presence, supporting field operations when required.

• Strong knowledge of the utilities sector, ideally within clean water networks including valve operations, flushing, sampling, and CALM networks.
• Proven experience working across both field‑based and desktop operations.
• Demonstrated expertise in training design, development, and delivery.
• Confident and empathetic leader with the ability to motivate, mentor, and influence diverse teams.
• Highly organised with strong project management and planning skills.
• Adaptable to change in a fast‑paced, growing business environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience developing e‑learning and digital training solutions.
• Understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements within the water industry.
• Familiarity with performance management and talent development frameworks.

• Pension: 4% employer contribution (+1% above auto‑enrolment minimum).
• Holiday: 26 days + bank holidays, rising to 30 days with long service.
• Location:
  
  Head office with flexible hybrid working.
• Equipment:
  Company phone, laptop, monitors, uniform, PPE and required tools.
• Benefits:
  Benenden Health & Lifestyle Rewards (24/7 GP, private healthcare options, retail discounts).
• Development:
  Funded professional qualifications and memberships.
• Culture:
  Company wide summer and winter events, annual appraisal and salary review, refer‑a‑friend scheme.