Principal Operations and Asset Management Consultant

The Company

This international Consultancy specializes in the planning, design, and construction management of safe drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. They help communities and utilities manage water resources, upgrade treatment facilities, and protect public health and the environment. 

As a recent entrant to the UK, the business offers excellent career progression for the successful candidate who will be a key appointment in the strategic growth of the organisation.

The Position

The Principal Operations and Asset Management Consultant will provide strategic advisory services to water and wastewater utilities. This role will focus on improving operational performance, asset reliability, maintenance effectiveness, and long-term lifecycle value through the development of asset management strategies, operational improvement programs, and digital-enabled solutions.

The successful candidate will work closely with utility executives, asset management leaders, operations teams, and engineering stakeholders to identify improvement opportunities, develop practical roadmaps, and deliver measurable improvements in reliability, efficiency, resilience, and regulatory performance.

Key Responsibilities will include;

Strategic Operations & Asset Management Advisory
• Lead complex consulting engagements focused on operational excellence, asset management improvement, and utility transformation.
• Develop asset management strategies, operational improvement plans, and transformation roadmaps aligned with business objectives.
• Assess organizational maturity, operational processes, asset performance, and maintenance practices.

Asset Performance & Maintenance Excellence
• Advise clients on improving asset reliability, availability, and lifecycle performance.
• Develop and implement maintenance optimization strategies, including:
• Reliability-centered maintenance (RCM)
• Condition-based maintenance
• Predictive maintenance approaches
• Failure Mode Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA)
• Root cause analysis (RCA)

Operational Excellence & Digital Enablement
• Assess utility operational processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, resilience, and service performance.
• Support clients in leveraging operational data, analytics, and digital technologies to improve asset management and operational decision-making.
• Evaluate SCADA, telemetry, PLC, and industrial control system environments where required to support operational improvement initiatives.

Infrastructure Reliability & Risk Management
• Conduct operational risk assessments of critical water and wastewater infrastructure.
• Evaluate electrical, instrumentation, control, and automation systems supporting treatment facilities and networks.
• Identify risks impacting operational resilience, reliability, and regulatory compliance.

Regulatory & Industry Alignment
• Ensure asset management and operational improvement strategies align with UK water sector regulatory expectations.
• Support clients with AMP planning, business plan development, and performance commitments.

The Candidate

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in water utility operations, maintenance optimization, asset management, reliability engineering, and the application of technology and data to improve decision-making. Ideal experience should include;

• 15+ years supporting water and wastewater utilities through consulting, operations, engineering, or asset management roles.
• Extensive understanding of water and wastewater operations, maintenance practices, and asset management principles.
• Proven experience leading operational improvement, asset performance, or transformation programs.
• Strong knowledge of reliability engineering, maintenance optimization, and lifecycle asset management.
• Experience developing asset management strategies, frameworks, and improvement roadmaps.
• Experience applying data, analytics, and digital solutions to improve operational performance.
• Understanding of operational technology environments, including SCADA, telemetry, PLCs, and industrial control systems.
• Experience with operational technology modernization or digital transformation programs is desirable.
• Strong understanding of UK water sector regulatory frameworks, AMP cycles, and utility investment planning.
• Experience with:
• Reliability-centered maintenance (RCM)
• FMECA
• Root cause analysis
• Asset criticality assessments
• Program and project management
• Executive stakeholder engagement

Preferred Qualifications
• Chartered Engineer (CEng), Certified Asset Management Professional (CAMP), IAM Certificate/Diploma, or equivalent preferred.
• Experience advising senior leaders within regulated infrastructure sectors.
• Ability to translate technical challenges into business value and investment decisions.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and consulting skills.