Head of Programme Controls

Anglian Water Services Ltd; Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 86,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Flexible working options

Private health care

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Annual bonus

Car allowance

Medical assessments

Virtual GP service

Lifestyle savings

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Anglian Water Services Ltd is seeking a Head of Programme Controls to lead the MID function, delivering strategic oversight across a £2bn infrastructure portfolio. You will set standards, governance and reporting, partnering with Engineering, Commercial, Finance and Delivery to drive evidence-based decisions.

This senior role requires extensive controls experience, executive reporting capability, and the ability to shape the operating model while developing capabilities across internal teams and

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading programme or project controls within major infrastructure.
• Advanced expertise in earned value, forecasting, critical path and scenario planning.
• Proven ability to provide assurance and executive reporting to leaders and boards.
• Strong communications translating complex data into clear insights.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Programme Controls function across MID, setting strategy and ways of working.
• Provide strategic advice and executive insight on schedule, cost, risk and delivery.
• Own governance, assurance and decision-support across the portfolio.
• Lead portfolio health checks, independent reviews and assurance activities.
• Define performance reporting, forecasting, EV analysis and dashboards.
• Develop controls data architecture ensuring data quality and traceability.
• Drive continuous improvement and capability development in controls practices.
• Lead strategic risk and opportunity management across major programmes.
• Ensure NEC contract management, change control and performance evidence.
• Represent Programme Controls at senior governance forums and reviews.

Skills

Programme controls leadership

Governance & reporting

Cost & schedule oversight

Earned value management

Strategic insight & decision support

Stakeholder management

Change control and delivery governance

Leadership in matrix organisations

Executive briefing & boards reporting

Risk & opportunity management

Education

Professional qualifications in Programme Controls / Project Management

Job description

Circa £95,000 (Depending on Skills & Experience)

Permanent

Full Time / 37 Hours (Flexible working opportunities available)

Peterborough & Anglian Water sites, flexibility for hybrid working

Double Matched Pension Scheme (up to 21% combined)

Bonus up to 25% (dependent on personal and company performance)

Private Healthcare

Car Allowance

Lead the controls. Shape the outcomes. Deliver infrastructure that matters.

We're looking for a Head of Programme Controls to join Anglian Water's Major Infrastructure Delivery (MID) team, providing strategic leadership across some of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects in our investment programme. The team is responsible for delivering circa £2bn of major capital investment during AMP8, requiring a best-in-class programme controls function that provides clear oversight of cost, schedule, risk, change and performance.

As Head of Programme Controls, you'll act as the functional authority for programme controls across MID, working closely with senior leaders across Engineering, Commercial, Finance and Delivery to establish robust governance, assurance and reporting frameworks. You'll provide executive-level insight, enabling evidence-based decision-making and ensuring a single version of the truth across the portfolio.

This is a high‑profile leadership role where you'll define the strategy, standards and operating model for programme controls, while leading capability development and embedding consistent methodologies across a circa £2bn infrastructure portfolio. You'll also play a key role in supporting Anglian Water's delivery of major Design and Build programmes operating within NEC contracting environments.

What you’ll be doing:

• - Lead and develop the Programme Controls function across Major Infrastructure Delivery, setting strategy, standards and ways of working across planning, cost, risk, reporting, change and performance management.
• - Provide strategic advice and executive insight to the MID Managing Director and leadership team on schedule, cost, risk and delivery performance.
• - Own programme controls governance, assurance and decision‑support processes across the portfolio.
• - Lead portfolio‑wide health checks, independent reviews and assurance activities, identifying areas for improvement and escalation.
• - Define and oversee performance reporting frameworks, forecasting, earned value analysis, trend reporting and executive dashboards.
• - Develop the programme controls data and information architecture, ensuring data quality, consistency and traceability.
• - Drive continuous improvement, capability development and adoption of programme controls best practice across internal teams and delivery partners.
• - Lead strategic risk and opportunity management activities across major programmes, ensuring risks inform governance and investment decisions.
• - Ensure programme controls capability supports NEC contract management, change control, forecasting and performance evidence requirements.
• - Represent Programme Controls at senior governance forums, boards and executive-level reviews.

What we’re looking for

• - Significant experience leading programme or project controls functions within major infrastructure environments.
• - Strong understanding of planning, cost control, risk management, governance and performance reporting across complex programmes.
• - Proven experience building high‑performing teams and leading through matrix organisations and delivery partners.
• - Extensive experience providing assurance, governance and executive reporting to senior leadership teams and boards.
• - Advanced programme controls expertise including earned value management, critical path analysis, forecasting and scenario planning.
• - Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex information into clear and actionable insights.
• - Experience leading organisational change, capability development and continuous improvement initiatives.
• - Relevant professional qualifications in Programme Controls, Project Management, Engineering, Commercial or related disciplines.
• - Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at all levels of the organisation.

Why join Anglian Water?

At Anglian Water, we're delivering some of the most ambitious infrastructure programmes in the UK, helping to protect the environment, support regional growth and build resilience for future generations. As Head of Programme Controls, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping how we govern, measure and manage performance across a portfolio worth up to £2bn.

You’ll have the opportunity to establish the programme controls capability that underpins major investment decisions, influence executive stakeholders and drive meaningful improvements in delivery confidence, governance and transparency. This role offers significant scope to shape the future of programme delivery within a business committed to safety, innovation, collaboration and long‑term value.

Benefits

• - 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• - Flexible working options
• - Private health care
• - Competitive pension scheme - Anglian Water double-matches contributions up to 7%
• - Life assurance at eight times your salary
• - Annual bonus
• - Potential funded car allowance depending on evidenced business mileage
• - Personal medical assessments
• - Virtual GP service
• - Lifestyle savings including discounts on retail, travel and utilities
• - Employee Assistance Programme

Inclusion at Anglian Water

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We are proud signatories of the Social Mobility Pledge, Race at Work Charter and Armed Forces Covenant, and we are a Disability Confident employer.

Closing Date: 20th September 2026

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