Our purpose at Uisce Éireann is to rise to the challenge of delivering transformative water services that enable communities to thrive. That means we are proud to take on the responsibility of protecting our water supply and passing on a safe and secure water system to a rapidly growing population and empowering Ireland’s social and economic growth.

We are passionate about empowering our people, enabling them to make a positive impact on communities across Ireland. We are guided by a shared vision and purpose, grounded in values that define who we are and shape how we work, where we deliver for customers and communities, we work better together, we do the right thing, we aim high, and we keep each other safe. Our behaviours define how we interact, communicate, and succeed together. These values and behaviours apply to each one of us, across every role, location, and level.

Our goal is to attract and develop skilled and talented people from diverse backgrounds, who bring a dynamic range of expertise and insights to our work. With a strong, values-driven workforce, we ensure Uisce Éireann can continue advancing Ireland’s water services and meeting the needs of the communities we serve for generations to come.

The Role:
The Asset Operations function forms the cornerstone of service delivery to customers, protecting the environment and meeting regulatory standards as well as managing the majority of operational expenditure. The Asset Operations function has responsibility for operational and maintenance strategy, policies, planning and standard operating procedures for Water and Wastewater operations both nationally and regionally, ensuring that value for money and customer service is delivered.

The O&M team is responsible for the national delivery of water and wastewater operational services through the operation, inspection, maintenance & repair of the water and wastewater treatment and network assets. The Regional O&M Team has a regional remit and is responsible for the regional operational management of water or wastewater treatment and network assets and the associated delivery of water/wastewater services through operational, maintenance and repair activities, while managing health and safety. The team is also responsible for the implementation of the regional operations, maintenance and repair plan that forms part of the national operations, maintenance and repair plan, contributing to the development, management, implementation and approval of same. Managing change and transformation activities is a key aspect of this team's responsibility particularly in the initial phases as the regional operations team splits into separate water and wastewater teams and ways of working are standardised.

Reporting to the Water Network Operations Manager, the Water Network Operations Team Lead has a remit over a geographical area and is responsible for managing the operation of the water network to deliver a consistent customer service standards and managing routine maintenance activities on the network assets. The Water Network Operations Team Lead will be responsible for leading and managing the performance of a team of water network operators and to provide them with the necessary direction and skills to ensure the operation of the network and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, whilst operating within budgetary constraints.

Out of hours working will be required and appropriate standby rates will apply.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Operational Responsibilities:
•    Responsible for leading and managing the performance of a team of network operatives across the across the water infrastructure and to provide them with the necessary direction and skills to ensure the provision of services in a geographical area.
•    Responsible for managing operational activities on the network infrastructure within a geographical area including control of valve operations, treated water storage, trunk mains, pumping stations distribution networks and their associated fittings are carried out and completed. Raise follow on work requests as required and repair activities across the network infrastructure.
•    Manage and organise the maintenance and repair of newly commissioned / upgraded assets as required by undertaking appropriate site training and supporting adequate resourcing.
•    Develop the skills of team members through provision of coaching and training in all aspects of the operation of relevant works.
•    Ensure responses to SCADA / telemetry alarms are effective and in accordance with standards and procedures to deliver a consistent customer service. Responsible for requesting critical alarm level changes to the Telemetry Services team.
•    Responsible for interacting with Water Network Operations Operatives to understand the needs of the network and identify any potential water network operations intervention requests. Responsible for submitting these requests to Water Network & Conservation Planning, providing supplementary information as required.
•    Contribute to the development of task schedules and standard operating procedures for the provision of network services that maximise quality of output, efficiency and support the adoption of processes.
•    Responsible for monitoring and reporting KPIs for processes over which they have ownership.
•    Ensure data capture on issues that are relevant to contribute to the development of operational, maintenance and repair plans.
•    Participate in out of hours and standby working as required.

Budget Management:
•    Responsible for the management of costs associated with the Network Operations team.
•    Co-ordinate the effective and efficient use of budgetary resources including inventory management, through team meetings, productivity management, utilisation of vehicles and equipment (both fleet or hired), implementation of work tasks and monitoring of water network operations.

Customer Management & Incident Management:
•    Manage proactive and reactive activities to deliver consistent customer service.
•    Responsible for the investigation of complaints regarding water services including various internal and external stakeholder engagement.
•    Responsible for inputting updates into the Uisce Éireann outage management system including various internal and external stakeholder engagement as required..
•    Support in the coordination of incident and emergency response, ensuring all health and safety standards are met and pollution classifications are consistent, in conjunction with the Pollution Control Coordinator.

Health and Safety:
•    Ensure all health and safety inductions are completed and that all equipment is provided, appropriate to the job and necessary calibrations periodically.
•    Responsible for the implementation of the Construction Regulations including undertaking of duties assigned under the Regulations, as per Uisce Éireann policies, safety statements and plans. Oversee policy implementation and best practice standards including safe working practices.
•    Ensure all health and safety and procedures are adhered to including traffic management plans, risk assessments (Safe System of Work Plan), use of PPE etc.
•    Responsible for ensuring personnel have relevant safety skills, training, and associated documentation, including Safe Pass cards and, where relevant, Construction Skills Certificate cards.
•    Identify hazards and assess risks for Operational areas of responsibility.
•    Carry out any other duties deemed necessary and / or required which your line manager may reasonably request.

General Duties and Responsibilities:

•    Collaboration with key internal stakeholders across the UÉ business
•    Responsible for promoting and delivering health and safety commitments across UÉ and its supply chain, reinforcing positive behaviours and delivering health and safety objectives and requirements to the highest industry standards.
•    Support the delivery of the Uisce Éireann Transformation Programme, driving results required within the Directorate and supporting organisation-wide objectives.
•    Provide visible leadership for your team, coaching and developing them to achieve their full potential and deliver business objectives, promoting collaboration and highlighting the behaviours that are expected from everyone in the team.
•    Conducts duties and responsibilities in accordance with Uisce Éireann’s Information Security policies, standards, processes and controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of UÉ business information, and delivery of critical services, in accordance with the NIS Directive and any other relevant cybersecurity regulation.
•    Other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

•    Secondary education or equivalent work experience
•    Minimum of 3 years direct relevant experience of working in a similar role within water treatment and/or distribution services
•    QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate– Craft or equivalent, in apprenticeship such as:
•    Craft of Pipefitting or Plumbing is desirable.
•    We work better together- Team Leader skills including capability of building a high performing team and of developing people to realise their full potential and achieve results through effective coaching, delegation, and support.
•    Effective communication skills, to engage with a broad range of internal stakeholders and front-line employees.
•    In depth knowledge of operating the water/wastewater network
•    Computing skills i.e., ability to create and interpret spreadsheets and databases.
•    An understanding of key network infrastructure (e.g., Control Valves, Pumps etc.) is an advantage.
•    An understanding of Trunk Main operations, Network Management, DMA Operability etc is an advantage.
•    We keep each other safe- Experience / understanding of working within a strong health & safety culture.
•    We aim high- Specialist skills and in depth knowledge in water treatment and/or the maintaining and repairing of water abstraction and treatment assets an advantage.
•    Experience of managing and controlling costs is an advantage.
•    Knowledge of managing process compliance an advantage.
•    Full, clean and valid Irish category B driving licence is minimum requirement. Additional Driving License categories an advantage. A clean driving licence is defined as meaning that the applicant has not been convicted of an offence under the Road Traffic Acts (other than an offence for which the penalty is the imposition of penalty points).

The closing date for receipt of applications for this vacancy is 31/12/2025.
Please note that applications submitted after this closing date will not be accepted.

*Please be advised that if successful you will be placed on the salary range based on your skills and experience. Please note the Market reference point (midpoint) of the range is generally the upper end of the offer where someone is deemed to be fully competent to take on the duties of the role, and leaves room for the employee to progress through the pay range as their experience develops further.

Uisce Éireann is an equal opportunities employer.

We are committed to providing a diverse and inclusive place of work and have a robust strategy and framework called ibelong to enable this. We are an equal opportunity employer and through our recruitment process we welcome and encourage applications from interested and suitably qualified individuals regardless of gender, age, racial or ethnic origin, membership of the traveller community, religion or beliefs, family or civil status, sexual orientation/gender identity or disability.

Water Network Operations Team Lead - Wicklow

Job Description