Change Programme Manager

South East Water; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading utility provider in the UK seeks a Programme Manager to oversee critical initiatives, ensuring alignment with long-term strategic goals. Ideal candidates will have qualifications like PMP and PgMP, and substantial experience in leading complex programmes. This role demands strong financial stewardship, stakeholder engagement, and risk management skills. A competitive salary starting from £85,000 per annum is offered, alongside a robust benefits package including a pension scheme, flexible leave, and health-related benefits.

Benefits

Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution

5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays

Flexible annual leave policy

Paid volunteering days

Cycle to work scheme

Health cash plan

Life assurance

Wellbeing related benefits

Qualifications

• Professional project management qualifications like PMP and PgMP required.
• Experience leading complex programmes that deliver tangible business benefits.
• Ability to manage multi-million pound budgets with data-driven strategies.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate a portfolio of interdependent projects from initiation to closure.
• Develop overarching programme plans to meet strategic objectives.
• Oversee financial health and budget management for the programme.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder Engagement

Risk Management

Financial Management

Strategic Thinking

Education

PMP and PgMP or equivalent degree

Job description

Summary

Are you a seasoned leader who thrives on turning complex strategies into tangible reality? Do you want to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of a vital utility service while enjoying the balance and purpose that comes with working at South East Water? We are looking for a Programme Manager to join our Technology & Insights directorate. This is an exciting opportunity to act as the central hub for our most critical initiatives. You'll move beyond managing individual projects to overseeing a portfolio of interdependent work, ensuring every deliverable aligns with our long‑term strategic goals. Whether you are looking for a high‑impact role that values your expertise or you're a rising leader ready to steer multi‑million pound investments, this role offers the complexity and autonomy to make a real mark on our organisation.

Main Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Managing and coordinating a portfolio of interdependent projects from initiation to closure, providing high‑level leadership to project managers.


• Portfolio Oversight: Developing overarching programme plans and overseeing execution to ensure they collectively meet our strategic objectives.


• Financial Stewardship: Managing the overall financial health and multi‑million pound budgets for the programme, making strategic decisions to optimise spending and secure funding.


• Stakeholder Engagement: Acting as the main point of contact for the Executive team and senior stakeholders, articulating complex benefits and challenges clearly and persuasively.


• Risk & Dependency Management: Proactively identifying and mitigating programme‑level risks and managing the complex interdependencies between various projects.


• Driving Change: Leading large‑scale organisational change initiatives, securing buy‑in across the business, and ensuring smooth adoption of new ways of working.


• Team Mentorship: Matrix managing project teams and mentoring project managers to consistently exceed deadlines and deliver high‑quality results.

What you'll need

• Professional Qualifications: A professional project management qualification (such as PMP) AND a professional programme management qualification (such as PgMP) or an equivalent degree like an MBA.


• Proven Track Record: Experience leading complex programmes and managing multiple interdependent projects that deliver tangible business benefits.


• Financial Acumen: The skill to manage multi‑million pound budgets and use a data‑driven approach to optimise resource allocation.


• Change Expertise: Experience in building compelling business cases and leading large‑scale organisational change initiatives.


• Communication Skills: The ability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships, using negotiation and influencing skills to gain buy‑in from senior management.


• Strategic Thinking: The ability to align a portfolio of projects with long‑term business goals and understand how each piece contributes to overall value.

We want to be the water company people want to be supplied by and want to work for.

We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That's why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.


• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.


• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.


• Paid volunteering days.


• Cycle to work scheme.


• Health cash plan.


• Life assurance.


• Wellbeing related benefits.

What can you expect from your recruitment?

• To apply for this position, please submit your CV on our career's website.


• It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water.


• Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks.

If this sounds like the opportunity you've been looking for, apply now!

South East Water kindly asks that recruitment agencies refrain from submitting CVs to our employees or associates without explicit invitation from our HR Resourcing team. CVs sent on a speculative basis will not be acknowledged and will not assume any responsibility for fees or commissions in the event that we hire a candidate who applied directly or subsequently introduced by an instructed agency.

Compensation package

Salary From £85,000 p.a. (dependent on experience)