Principal Water Supply Technical Specialist in Birmingham

Location: Birmingham or London
Salary: Up to £70,000
Contract: Fixed-term to 31 December 2027, with potential for extension or conversion to permanent
Working arrangement: Hybrid / flexible working

Advance TRS is supporting a public-sector organisation with the appointment of a Principal Water Supply Technical Specialist.

This is an opportunity for an experienced water sector professional to take a senior technical role within a team focused on water supply resilience, security, investment planning and regulatory delivery.

The role would suit someone with a background in water supply engineering, capital investment, asset or operational management, environmental programmes or business planning who is comfortable providing technical leadership across complex projects and programmes.

You will provide technical expertise and direction across a range of water supply and investment-related activities, including:

• Reviewing company delivery plans, investment programmes and performance information.
• Assessing major water supply schemes, including risks, uncertainty, costs and delivery considerations.
• Reviewing cost change submissions and supporting robust, evidence-based assessments and decisions.
• Developing and overseeing benchmarking models and associated governance.
• Contributing to the development of future regulatory and investment frameworks.
• Providing technical advice on water quality, treatment, resilience and security-related investment.
• Leading complex technical analysis and critically evaluating analysis undertaken by others.
• Developing and improving procedures and processes to support effective assessment and delivery.
• Producing and overseeing high-quality technical reports, documents and recommendations.
• Working closely with internal teams, water companies, regulators and other external stakeholders.
• Managing and coordinating internal and external resources, including senior colleagues and consultants.
• Sharing technical knowledge and supporting the development of colleagues.

You will have significant experience within the water sector and a track record of providing technical leadership on complex projects, programmes or investment decisions.

Your background could include:

• Water supply engineering, design or project delivery.
• Water resilience or strategic water supply investment.
• Water treatment or network investment.
• Water production or operational management.
• Asset management or investment planning.
• Emergency planning, resilience or security.
• Capital or environmental programmes.
• Business planning within the water sector.

You will also need:

• A degree-level qualification in engineering, science or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience working with a range of internal and external stakeholders and influencing decisions across organisational boundaries.
• Experience developing and implementing policies, procedures or processes.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills, with experience leading complex technical analysis.
• The ability to critically assess technical work and develop evidence-based recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical matters to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience providing technical leadership and direction on high-profile or complex programmes.

• Salary of up to £70,000 depending on relevant experience.
• Fixed-term appointment to December 2027, with potential for extension or conversion to permanent.
• Hybrid working from either Birmingham or London.
• Full-time, part-time, flexible working and job-share options considered.
• Civil Service pension, with employer contributions currently at 28.97%.
• 25 days' annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service, plus bank holidays and additional privilege leave.
• Professional membership fees covered where relevant.
• Development and training opportunities.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• A range of additional employee benefits and wellbeing initiatives.

The successful candidate will be required to obtain Security Check (SC) clearance within the first six months of employment. Candidates are normally expected to have been resident in the UK for the previous five years to meet the standard residency requirements.

The closing date for applications is 4 October 2026, with interviews expected to take place during the week commencing 19 October 2026.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.