Operational Efficiency Lead

We're looking for a commercially minded, driven, and proactive Operational Efficiency Lead to help deliver sustainable cost savings across Water Recycling operations.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in reducing hire expenditure, improving equipment utilisation and identifying smarter, long-term asset solutions. Working closely with operational teams, Finance, Commercial and Plant Fleet Solutions, you'll challenge existing practices, influence decision-making and help deliver significant financial efficiencies while maintaining safety, compliance and operational performance.

You'll be at the heart of driving value across a large and diverse operational business, ensuring equipment is used effectively, costs are controlled and investment decisions deliver the best long-term outcomes.

What You'll Do

As a Hire Operational Efficiency Lead, you will:

• review and challenge requests for hired equipment to ensure they are necessary, appropriate and cost-effective
• assess the ongoing need and utilisation of equipment already on hire, identifying opportunities to reduce costs through timely off-hire activity
• investigate the causes of repeat or long-term hire arrangements and work with operational teams to develop sustainable alternatives
• conduct buy-versus-hire assessments, considering operational requirements, whole-life costs, resilience, maintenance requirements and commercial value
• conduct regular, on-site reviews across our multiple operating sites
• develop business cases and support investment proposals where purchasing equipment represents better long-term value
• analyse and report on hire expenditure, trends, savings opportunities and delivered benefits
• track and evidence savings through robust reporting, clear baselines and auditable calculations
• work collaboratively with Operations, Finance, Commercial and Plant Fleet Solutions to improve decision-making and governance
• establish greater accountability and ownership for hired equipment across operational teams
• identify opportunities to improve resilience through effective critical spare equipment strategies
• ensure efficiency initiatives maintain high standards of health and safety, environmental compliance, operational performance and customer service
• provide constructive challenge and practical support to site-based and regional teams
• monitor performance against agreed objectives and communicate progress to key stakeholders
• share best practices and support the rollout of successful efficiency initiatives across WWSL.

What You'll Need

We're looking for someone who combines strong commercial awareness and operational knowledge with the ability to build relationships and influence positive change.

You'll ideally have:

• experience in asset management, plant, fleet, hire equipment, maintenance, operations or a related field
• strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends and develop practical recommendations
• experience managing costs, budgets, efficiency programmes or value improvement initiatives
• the ability to challenge constructively and influence operational decision-making
• experience developing business cases and evaluating investment opportunities
• good understanding of operational environments where equipment availability is critical
• strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
• excellent communication, reporting and presentation skills
• a proactive and self-motivated approach with the ability to work independently across multiple sites
• strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• good knowledge of health, safety and compliance requirements within operational environments
• a full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across the region.

What you'll receive

• A combined pension contribution of up to 20%.
• Career progression and professional development opportunities.
• 25 days' holiday rising to 28 with length of service.
• The opportunity to sell up to five days of holiday every year.
• The opportunity to buy up to ten days of holiday each year (subject to conditions).
• A healthcare package that allows you to claim back healthcare costs.
• Life assurance of up to eight times your salary.
• The opportunity to lease a new electric car through salary sacrifice (subject to conditions).
• Cashback and discounts from more than 3,000 retailers.
• One paid volunteering day each year.
• Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements.
• Access to an interactive health and wellbeing platform.
• Support from trained mental health first aiders.
• A £1,000 referral fee if you recommend someone who is successfully recruited by us. 

Who we are

YTL UK is part of the international YTL Group based in Kuala Lumpur. The UK companies include:

• Wessex Water – one of the top-performing water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, serving 2.9 million people across the South West.
• YTL Developments – a major UK developer currently redeveloping a 450-acre former airfield into an award winning, exciting mix of houses, apartments, schools, commercial space, restaurants and hotels, to make a truly sustainable new community.
• YTL Construction UK – a top 20 UK contractor providing fully integrated services to infrastructure, residential, commercial, industrial, energy and environmental sectors.
• YTL Live – the development and operation of an entertainment complex that includes a 20,000 capacity arena, conferencing and exhibition space.
• Plus a number of other retail, environmental and specialist businesses.

Our people tell us that YTL UK is a great place to work, which is why so many of them stay with us! You will have a unique opportunity to develop and progress your career within such a diverse group.

We are passionate about diversity and inclusion – with that in mind, all applicants are welcome. We are delighted to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a Disability Confident Employer.  

If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please inform a member of our Recruitment team.