Head of Programme Construction - Peterborough/Hybrid

Balfour Beatty; Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction firm in Peterborough seeks a Head of Programme Construction to oversee strategic leadership, programme delivery, and ensure exceptional quality across major construction projects. This role requires a degree-level qualification in a construction-related discipline and significant experience in managing complex programmes. The ideal candidate will have outstanding leadership skills, commercial awareness, and a strong technical background in health and safety standards. Join us to make a meaningful impact in water infrastructure.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

25 days paid annual leave

Family friendly policies including maternity and paternity leave

Pension and share incentive plan

Volunteering leave and recognition schemes

Qualifications

• Significant experience delivering complex, multi-disciplinary construction programmes, ideally in water/wastewater or major infrastructure.
• Proven ability to lead large teams and drive high performance.
• Excellent commercial awareness and programme management capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional construction delivery through a team of Heads of Construction.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, to budget and to exceptional quality standards.
• Build strong relationships across Anglian Water and Alliance partners.

Skills

Leadership

Technical Knowledge of CDM

Risk Management

Stakeholder Management

Innovative Thinking

Education

Degree-level qualification in a construction-related discipline

Job description

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About the role

Head of Programme Construction - Balfour Beatty (@one Alliance)

Location: Peterborough

Balfour Beatty play a key role as part of the (6) Anglian Water's @one Alliance: Overview | LinkedIn @Anglian Water's one Alliance. The Alliance is a ground‑breaking collaboration between Anglian Water and eight industry‑leading partners: Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, MMB, MWH Treatment, Skanska and SWECO. And together, we deliver around 40% of Anglian Water's capital investment programme.

Now working in AMP8, our most ambitious Asset Management Period yet, we're taking on nature‑based, sustainable solutions like wetlands and urban drainage schemes. We're setting global benchmarks in environmental infrastructure and empowering our people with exceptional career growth opportunities.

We are now seeking an exceptional Head of Programme Construction to help lead this mission.

As our new Head of Programme Construction, you will take a strategic and influential leadership position, overseeing major and minor construction projects across the region. You'll ensure our work is delivered safely, efficiently and to the highest standards of quality – driving excellence from early solution development through to operational handover.

This is a role for a proven leader who can inspire multidisciplinary teams, nurture collaboration, manage complex programmes and embed innovation and safety at every stage.

What you’ll be doing

What You'll Lead

Strategic Leadership

• Lead regional construction delivery through a team of Heads of Construction.
• Maintain oversight of end‑to‑end construction performance across a major investment programme.
• Champion a positive, open, and inclusive culture where safety and continuous improvement thrive.

Programme Delivery

• Provide governance and consistency across all construction programmes.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, to budget and to exceptional quality standards.
• Represent construction at senior Alliance forums and influence key delivery decisions.
• Monitor and manage supplier and subcontractor performance.

Commercial & Contractual Excellence

• Maintain strong cost control, forecasting and commercial governance.
• Support supplier selection, contract management and value‑driven negotiations.
• Ensure all contractual and compliance obligations are met.

Stakeholder Leadership

• Build strong relationships across Anglian Water, Alliance partners and key external stakeholders.
• Support resource planning and capability development across all construction functions.

Innovation & Sustainability

• Drive improvements in productivity, waste reduction and embodied carbon.
• Lead constructability reviews and fit‑for‑assembly processes to enhance safety and buildability.
• Embed digital and innovative approaches into project delivery.

Safety First - Every Day

• Lead compliance with CDM, HSWA and all relevant SHEQ standards.
• Promote a zero‑accident ethos and ensure consistent safety performance across all sites.

Who we're looking for

You’ll bring:

• Degree‑level qualification in a construction‑related discipline
• Significant experience delivering complex, multi‑disciplinary construction programmes (ideally in water/wastewater or major infrastructure)
• Strong technical knowledge of CDM, Health & Safety and environmental standards
• Proven ability to lead large teams and drive high performance
• Excellent commercial awareness and programme management capability
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder influence
• A mindset focused on innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement

Ready to Make a Meaningful Impact?

If you're a visionary construction leader who wants to help shape the future of water infrastructure in the East of England, we'd love to hear from you.

#oneAlliance #BalfourBeatty

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK's most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn't rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You'll have the freedom to shape the package that's right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more...

About us

Balfour Beatty's Highways business delivers major schemes including motorway upgrade programmes, complex national infrastructure projects and regional investment programme works for National Highways. We have a strong orderbook and a positive pipeline of opportunities, we put the road user, at the heart of everything we do. We work safely, reduce carbon emissions and added social value to the communities within which we work.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long‑term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at [e-mail]