Project Manager

Southern Water; Brighton; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Water is seeking experienced Project Managers to join their Major Projects directorate. This role involves leading significant infrastructure projects and requires strong project management skills, stakeholder engagement, and the ability to navigate complex challenges. The position offers a competitive salary and a hybrid working model, allowing for a blend of office and home-based work.

Benefits

Company and performance-related bonus

Generous pension up to 11% company contribution

25 days annual leave

Life assurance equal to 4x salary

Salary sacrifice electric car scheme

Health Cash Plan

Full funded eye tests

Two paid volunteering days a year

Occupational health service

Discounts with over 800 popular retailers

Digital GP service

Study support for job-related qualifications

Competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Strong project management experience in large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments managing multiple workstreams.
• Experience in regulated settings or multi-stakeholder organisations.

Responsibilities

• Leading the delivery of your workstream package through planning and risk management.
• Supporting the development of commercial models and procurement strategy.
• Coordinating cross-functional teams including engineering, finance, and legal.

Skills

Project Management

Stakeholder Management

Risk Management

Problem Solving

Education

Degree in Science, Engineering, or Project/Programme Management

Tools

P6 (Primavera)

Job description

Closing Date

2025-05-30

Job Title: Project Manager

Location: Falmer (Hybrid Working)

Salary: from £55k

Southern Water is embarking on one of the most ambitious infrastructure programmes in the water industry. Our newly established Major Projects directorate is responsible for the delivery of several Strategic Resource Option (SRO) projects, with a combined value of over £5bn. These large-scale, nationally significant infrastructure projects are central to future-proofing water supply across the region.

We’re now looking for three experienced Project Managers to join this exciting programme and help shape the delivery of one of the UK’s most ground-breaking water infrastructure initiatives.

Why this role?

You will be a part of a nationally significant, £1bn+ infrastructure project, working with cutting-edge technologies and innovative funding models (including PPP/PFI). This is your chance to join a newly formed directorate where you can make a real impact.

Job Overview

We’re recruiting for several roles, each responsible for delivering a specific package of work within a wider project workstream, reporting into a Senior Project Manager.

These roles will support major infrastructure programmes including our Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) initiative — a pioneering model using third-party finance to fund future assets — and our Development Consent Order (DCO) workstream, which enables the delivery of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).

You’ll lead on scoping, budgeting, scheduling, and procurement to meet critical project milestones. Success will require navigating complex challenges, driving innovation beyond business-as-usual approaches, and collaborating with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities Will Include

• Leading the delivery of your workstream package through planning, risk management, and governance
• Supporting the development of commercial models and procurement strategy (including £1bn+ tender design)
• Coordinating cross-functional teams including engineering, finance, procurement and legal
• Managing stakeholder relationships across internal teams, suppliers, regulators and other industry bodies
• Ensuring the delivery of high-quality project information, performance reporting and financial forecasting
  
  

About You

The ideal candidate will bring strong project management experience, ideally gained within complex or large-scale infrastructure projects. They will demonstrate the ability to thrive in fast-paced environments, managing multiple workstreams and shifting priorities with confidence. Experience working within regulated settings or large, multi-stakeholder organisations is essential, along with commercial awareness and an understanding of third-party finance models such as PFI or PPP (desirable but not essential). A background in tender development and contract drafting is beneficial, supported by excellent problem-solving skills, high attention to detail, and strong written and verbal communication.

Candidates should be degree-qualified in a relevant discipline such as Science, Engineering, or Project/Programme Management, and either chartered or working towards membership of a professional body. The role also requires someone who is proactive, organised, and able to manage ambiguity, with the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders. Experience using P6 (Primavera) planning tools would be an advantage.

Package

This role will be full time Monday to Friday 37 hours a week.

Southern Water operate a hybrid approach to working between our Falmer office and home.

We are offering a salary from £55,000 per annum depending on skills and experience as well as other benefits including:

• Company and performance-related bonus
• Generous pension up to 11% company contribution
• 25 days annual leave
• Life assurance equal to 4x salary
• Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months service)
• Health Cash Plan
• Full funded eye tests
• Two paid volunteering days a year
• Occupational health service
• Discounts with over 800 popular retailers
• Digital GP service
• Study support may be available for job-related qualifications
• Competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options
• Cycle to work scheme
  
  

Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?

Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose. To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support – because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority. That’s why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve. Joining the Southern Water family means you’ll become part of our incident support team. During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that apply to your position.

Privacy Statement

Please note: If you are an existing Southern Water employee, you will need to confirm within your application that your Manager is aware of your application.

All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility (e.g. a passport or long birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months), will be required as part of the recruitment process. If you do not meet these criteria, your application will not be considered.