Operations Planning Analyst

The Role

At United Utilities, our Strategic Planning team plays a vital role in balancing water production, customer demand and operational resilience. As a Strategic Planner, you’ll use data, modelling and technical expertise to support real-time operational decisions while driving continuous improvements to the systems and processes that underpin our water network.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys solving complex problems, working with large datasets and making informed decisions in a fast-paced environment. Whether your background is within utilities, engineering, consultancy, finance or another analytical discipline, if you thrive on turning data into meaningful operational insight, we’d love to hear from you.
What you’ll be doing
No two days are the same. You’ll combine operational planning with technical analysis to ensure our regional water production systems continue to operate efficiently and effectively.

You'll be

● Monitor and optimise regional water production to ensure customer demand is met safely and efficiently.
● Analyse operational data to support timely, evidence-based decision making.
● Act as a technical specialist for a range of planning and modelling systems, maintaining and continually improving their performance.
● Develop and enhance databases, models, spreadsheets and automated calculations used across the team.
● Lead and support improvement projects that increase efficiency, resilience and operational performance.
● Work closely with operational, engineering and technical teams to solve complex planning challenges.
● Contribute to the team’s standby rota, supporting operational decision making outside normal working hours when required

What We're Looking For

We’re looking for someone who enjoys analysing information, solving problems and making confident decisions. You don’t need experience of our specific systems—we’ll provide full training—but you’ll bring the curiosity and analytical capability to learn them quickly.

You’ll have the following essentials:

● Advanced Excel skills.
● Experience working with large datasets, modelling or analytical tools.
● The ability to interpret complex information and translate it into practical solutions.
● Excellent problem-solving skills and sound judgement under pressure.
● Strong communication skills, with the confidence to explain technical information to a range of stakeholders.
● A proactive approach to improving processes and identifying opportunities for innovation.

Experience within utilities, engineering, energy, consultancy, manufacturing or another data-driven environment would be beneficial, although transferable analytical experience is equally valued.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Advanced Excel skills.
• Experience working with large datasets, modelling or analytical tools.
• The ability to interpret complex information and translate it into practical solutions.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and sound judgement under pressure.
• Strong communication skills, with the confidence to explain technical information to a range of stakeholders.
• A proactive approach to improving processes and identifying opportunities for innovation.

Standby
Following a comprehensive training programme (typically 2–4 months), you’ll join the team’s standby rota (currently one week in five). Most standby support can be delivered remotely, although there may occasionally be a requirement to attend site if operational circumstances require it.

Your CV should demonstrate........

When applying, please ensure your CV clearly demonstrates:

● Experience using Excel to analyse, model or manipulate complex datasets.
● Examples of using data to influence operational or business decisions.
● Experience improving processes, systems or reporting.
● Evidence of making sound decisions in fast-paced or time-critical environments.
● Examples of working collaboratively across multiple teams or stakeholders.
● Experience with analytical, modelling or database systems, where applicable.
If you’re naturally curious, enjoy solving complex operational challenges and want to make a genuine impact supporting one of the UK’s largest water networks, we’d love to hear from you.

Experience within utilities, engineering, energy, consultancy, manufacturing or another data-driven environment would be beneficial, although transferable analytical experience is equally valued.