Major Project Sponsor

Matchtech; England; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Project Sponsor to lead major water projects with hybrid working options. This role involves strategic oversight, ensuring project alignment with business goals, and managing stakeholder relationships. You'll engage in significant infrastructure projects, including reservoirs and treatment plants, while advocating for project benefits and governance. With a focus on financial management and risk mitigation, this position offers long-term opportunities to network with senior leaders in the water industry. If you're passionate about driving impactful projects, this role is for you.

Benefits

Mileage and expenses covered

Water company pension scheme

Optional healthcare benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Hybrid working with travel to project sites

Qualifications

• Proven experience in project and programme sponsorship within water or infrastructure sectors.
• Strong understanding of project lifecycle and financial management.

Responsibilities

• Ensure project requirements align with strategic objectives and benefits realization.
• Oversee daily project progress and stakeholder engagement.

Skills

Decision-making skills

Effective communication

Problem-solving skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Stakeholder engagement

Understanding of project lifecycle

Familiarity with project management practices

Experience in asset management

Knowledge of financing models

Education

Degree in a technical or numerical discipline

Membership in a relevant professional body

Post-graduate experience in project sponsorship

Job description

Our water company client is seeking a Project Sponsor on a permanent basis to work on major AMP8 and legacy projects across their business, based out of Brighton with hybrid/remote working options.

The candidate will lead and support strategic programmes, ensuring alignment with business goals to deliver the intended benefits. Experience in project and/or programme sponsorship, project governance, benefits, and financial management within the infrastructure or utilities sector is essential.

Projects include Havant Thicket Reservoir, future pipelines, treatment plants, and pumping stations. Ongoing and future projects are located in Southampton (Testwood), Isle of Wight (Sandown), and Burham (Kent).

Reporting to the Strategic Programme Sponsor, the role involves translating programme vision and strategic objectives to a project level. The Project Sponsor advocates for their assigned project, ensuring governance, financial, and schedule performance, and assisting with risk management to ensure project benefits are realized.

Responsibilities

1. Project Outcome Alignment: Ensure project requirements align with strategic objectives and benefits realization timelines.
2. Viability: Develop and maintain project business cases, escalating risks to the Strategic Programme Sponsor.
3. Financial Management: Obtain financial approval through governance forums, focusing on value for money and risk allowances. Monitor project costs against the plan and address deviations.
4. Project Delivery Oversight: Oversee daily progress, ensuring milestones are met throughout the project lifecycle, including governance gates.
5. Stakeholder Management: Engage with stakeholders, including regulators, to meet their needs and keep them informed.
6. Risk & Opportunity Management: Identify benefits, risks, and opportunities, driving value and mitigating risks.
7. Regulatory Assurance: Ensure timely and quality submission of documentation for regulatory and external purposes.

Skills, Experience, and Qualifications

1. Strong decision-making skills, guided by evidence and experience.
2. Ability to focus on the bigger picture, prioritizing customer benefits.
3. Effective communication of complex information to stakeholders.
4. Problem-solving skills related to governance, financing, and project direction.
5. Interpersonal skills to build rapport with delivery teams, PMO, and external bodies.
6. Excellent organizational skills for managing varied workloads.
7. Initiative, stakeholder engagement, and evidence-based decision-making.
8. Deep understanding of project lifecycle, cost principles, and investment appraisals, either through direct sponsorship or delivery experience.
9. Familiarity with project management practices, gated reviews, benefits management, and value-for-money assessments.
10. Experience in asset management and strategic risk management.
11. Exposure to large infrastructure projects, ideally in water/utilities sector, with knowledge of regulated industries.
12. Understanding of financing models like DPC/PFI.
13. A degree or equivalent in a technical or numerical discipline.
14. Membership in a relevant professional body (e.g., AIM, APM, RICS).
15. Post-graduate experience in project or programme sponsorship within water or infrastructure sectors.
16. Knowledge of water/utilities sector, asset management, and infrastructure financing.

Benefits

1. Salary up to £58,000 depending on experience.
2. Mileage and expenses covered.
3. Water company pension scheme.
4. Optional healthcare benefits.
5. 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
6. Hybrid working, requiring weekly travel to Falmer (Brighton) offices and project sites in Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, or London.

Huge long-term opportunities to work on and network with senior leaders on major water industry projects.