Change & Innovation Partner – Operational Transformation

About the role

Affinity Water is looking for a Change & Innovation Partner to join its Transformation & Change team in Hatfield. The role sits in the Transformation & Change Centre of Excellence and leads the flagship Operational Excellence transformation programme, partnering with teams responsible for field service delivery, workload planning, resource scheduling and operational performance. It is a 12-month fixed-term contract with a strong intention for the position to become permanent, subject to business requirements.

Key responsibilities

• Partner with operational leaders and teams to identify, challenge, prioritise and deliver strategic business change.
• Translate operational challenges into deliverable programmes and projects.
• Lead the Operational Excellence programme, defining the business case, investment requirements, delivery approach and measurable benefits.
• Develop and maintain a change roadmap for the directorate aligned to business objectives.
• Support leaders to define problems, opportunities and desired outcomes, and facilitate prioritisation based on strategic value, customer impact, operational benefit and affordability.
• Lead projects and transformation initiatives from planning to delivery, managing governance, budgets, risks, dependencies and benefits realisation.
• Support innovative solutions in Customer Delivery and Ofwat innovation initiatives where appropriate.
• Share best practice and support continuous improvement within the Centre of Excellence.

Required profile

• Experienced transformation, programme or business change professional with a track record of shaping, prioritising and delivering complex change in operational environments.
• Confident working with senior stakeholders and influencing decisions.
• Experience delivering business change and transformation projects, developing business cases, investment proposals and benefits realisation plans, and shaping programmes from concept through approval and mobilisation.
• Proven ability to challenge senior stakeholders constructively and influence decision-making.
• Experience defining future-state operating models and turning them into practical transformation programmes.

Required skills

• Strong project management skills, with experience of Agile and/or Waterfall delivery.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and use data to support decision-making.
• A recognised Project Management or Change Management qualification (PRINCE2, APM, Lean, Six Sigma or PROSCI) is advantageous.

What we offer

• Salary of £70,000 depending on skills and experience.
• Office-based in Hatfield, 2 days per week (non-negotiable).
• Learning and development, mentoring and formal courses.
• Entry to the annual bonus scheme and annual leave from 26 days rising with service.
• Pension with a double-match employer contribution (capped at 12%), family leave enhancements, carers leave, wellbeing centre access and discounts through Tap4Perks.