Head of Transformation - Enabling/Capital Projects

Southern Water; Worthing; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Water is seeking a Portfolio Transformation Lead/Head of Transformation to drive the design and delivery of large-scale transformation initiatives across capital investment. The role partners with senior leadership to shape programmes, governance and the realisation of benefits.

Based in the South East, the role requires delivering multi-billion-pound investment in critical infrastructure, improving resilience and customer outcomes while embedding change across people, processes and

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading enterprise-wide transformation programmes.
• Proven ability to influence executive and senior stakeholder groups.
• Strong understanding of governance, benefits realisation and organisational change.
• Experience in regulated, asset-intensive environments is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and delivery of large-scale transformation initiatives for capital programmes.
• Partner with executive stakeholders, programme leaders and operations teams to drive change.
• Influence strategic decision-making and build organisational capability for delivery.
• Ensure governance, benefits realisation and rapid alignment across the organisation.
• Drive clarity, pace and measurable improvements across major projects.

Skills

Enterprise transformation experience

Stakeholder influence

Governance & benefits realisation

Organisational change

Programme delivery leadership

Job description

Portfolio Transformation Lead

Closing Date

2026-11-09

Job Title: Head of Transformation - Enabling/Capital Projects

Location: Durrington

Transform one of the UK's most significant infrastructure investment programmes.

Few transformation opportunities offer the chance to influence the future of an essential public service at this scale.

Southern Water is embarking on an ambitious period of change and investment. As we continue to modernise our business and deliver a substantial capital programme, we are seeking an exceptional transformation leader who can help shape the future of how major projects are delivered across our organisation.

This is a career-defining opportunity to lead transformation within a business at the heart of environmental stewardship, customer service and infrastructure delivery. You will play a pivotal role in enabling the successful delivery of multi-billion-pound investment programmes that will improve resilience, enhance performance and support the communities we serve for generations to come.

The Opportunity

Reporting into senior leadership, the Head of Transformation - Enabling Capital Projects will lead the design and delivery of large-scale transformation initiatives that improve how our capital investment programmes are planned, governed and executed.

You will partner with executive stakeholders, programme leaders and operational teams to drive meaningful, sustainable change across people, process, technology and ways of working.

This is not simply a programme leadership role.

It is an opportunity to influence strategic decision-making, build organisational capability and create the conditions for successful delivery of one of the UK's most significant infrastructure investment portfolios.

Success in this role will be measured not only through project delivery but through the lasting improvements you embed across the organisation.

What You'll Bring

We're looking for an influential and commercially astute transformation leader with a track record of delivering complex business change within highly regulated, asset-intensive environments.

You May Currently Be Operating As a

• Head of Transformation
• Transformation Director
• Business Change Director
• Portfolio Transformation Lead
• Capital Delivery Transformation Leader
• Enterprise Change Leader

You Will Bring

• Significant experience leading enterprise-wide transformation programmes
• A proven ability to influence executive and senior stakeholder groups
• Expertise in operating model design, business change and programme deliveryExperience working within complex, regulated organisations
• A strong understanding of governance, benefits realisation and organisational change
• The ability to bring clarity, pace and alignment to large-scale transformation challenges

Experience within infrastructure, utilities, engineering, transportation or similarly complex environments will be highly valued.

Why Southern Water?

This is an opportunity to join an organisation with a clear sense of purpose and an ambitious vision for the future.

You’ll be part of a leadership team committed to driving meaningful change, delivering critical investment and creating a more resilient, sustainable future for customers and communities across the South East.

Shape transformation. Enable delivery. Create lasting impact.