Change Programme Manager (Fixed Term Contract)

South East Water; England; On-site; GBP 78,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading utility company in the UK is seeking a Programme Manager to oversee critical initiatives across its Technology & Insights directorate. This 12-month fixed-term role involves coordinating a portfolio of interdependent projects, ensuring alignment with strategic goals while managing substantial budgets. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in project and financial management, alongside strong stakeholder engagement and strategic thinking skills. The position offers an attractive salary starting from £85,000 p.a.

Benefits

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

5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service.

Flexible annual leave policy.

Paid volunteering days.

Cycle to work scheme.

Health cash plan.

Life assurance.

Wellbeing related benefits.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in leading complex programmes.
• Experience in managing multiple interdependent projects.
• Ability to manage multi-million pound budgets.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate a portfolio of interdependent projects.
• Develop and oversee programme plans to meet strategic objectives.
• Act as main point of contact for Executive team and stakeholders.
• Identify and mitigate programme-level risks.

Skills

Project management

Financial management

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Change management

Education

Professional project management qualification (e.g., PMP)

Professional programme management qualification (e.g., PgMP) or equivalent degree (e.g., MBA)

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 on a 12 month fixed term contract, 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)