DBO Technical Lead

We are Uisce Éireann. Every day, we are responsible for the delivery of secure, safe, and sustainable water services for the people of Ireland. As Ireland’s national regulated water utility, our vision is a sustainable Ireland where water is respected and protected, for the planet and all the lives it supports.

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 Operations Support Team has responsibility for providing and managing effective business infrastructure and processes at a national level to support operational activities at site level. The key aim of the DBO team is to ensure that Uisce Éireann are achieving maximum value for money from the DBO Portfolio, all the while ensuring that the contractors maintain operational stability and efficacy in accordance with the provisions of the operations contract.

Reporting to the DBO Technical Manager, the DBO Technical Lead will be responsible for on-site management and inspection of water and wastewater assets in the Region to ensure that the Uisce Éireann assets are being operated in accordance with the provisions and conditions of the Contract between Uisce Éireann and the Contractors. The role holder will be expected to support lead on each of the contracts in their Region. To this end, they will be required to manage their time so as to allow them to carry out regular site visits and inspections, while also allowing sufficient time to fulfil an administrative and management role at the same time.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct regular inspections of water and waste water facilities operated by contractors on behalf of Uisce Éireann in the Region to ensure they comply with the provisions of the operations contracts
• Attend and chair monthly or quarterly Liaison Management Committee meetings with the Contractors and stakeholders on behalf of the Technical Manager
• Review monthly or quarterly payment applications for each of the contracts within the Region and provide payment recommendations to the Technical Manager
• Provide regular accurate and complete information to the Technical Manager on the management and operation of the sites within the Region by the contractors
• Work closely with the wider Regional Operational teams to ensure that any network, catchment or treatment plant issues are managed on a holistic basis
• Driving to and from water and wastewater treatment plants for the purpose of carrying out inspections and other duties as may be directed
• Contribute to achieving the objectives and targets of the Asset Operations Business Plans, and the development of any Asset Operations policies and standards
• Work closely with the HSQE and Compliance functions to support audit of work where required
• Identify and develop efficiency initiatives in operations contracts within the Region
• Perform other such duties in relation to the management of Contracts as may be directed from time to time by a Technical Manager

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.
• 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:

• We aim high- Previous experience in the management of or reporting on FIDIC or NEC contracts (DBO) in a water and wastewater role is required.
• Relevant third level qualification or accreditation is desirable
• Minimum 5 years post qualification experience in a technical, inspection, operations or design role of water and wastewater infrastructure
• Full, clean and valid Irish category B driving licence is minimum requirement. 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)
• Deep technical knowledge of water and wastewater infrastructure is essential
• We deliver for customer and communities - Experience of setting targets and focusing on the achievement of measurable and sustainable results in wastewater service delivery
• A clear understanding and knowledge of the treatment processes for water and wastewater
• We work better together - An ability to develop and maintain effective strategic relationships and key stakeholder management in essential, given the long-term nature of the operations contracts
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and proficiency in Microsoft Office suite
• Ability to develop and maintain effective partnerships with key stakeholders internally and externally
• Proven track record with dealing with complex issues, proactively and in a timely fashion along with the ability to communicate information to others
• Highly motivated individual, working to the highest professional standards and with proven ability to deliver results within a team.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to identify and analyse problems and potential improvements, and propose and implement solutions
• Demonstrate adaptability and the ability to change focus and direction in line with business strategy and requirements
• Proactively identifying new areas of improvement and using newly gained knowledge and skill on the job

The closing date for receipt of applications for this vacancy is 23/11/26

Please note that applications submitted after this closing date will not be accepted.

*Successful external candidates will be offered a salary within the advertised range based on an assessment of their relevant skills, qualifications, experience and readiness to undertake the responsibilities of the role.

Internal candidates will be considered in line with the application of Uisce Éireann's Pay Model and associated pay policies.

The salary range is designed to recognise that successful candidates may join the organisation at different stages in their career, while also providing scope for future salary progression as capability and experience develop.

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.