Minor Works Project Manager

South East Water UK; Snodland; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme

5 weeks holiday + bank holidays

Flexible annual leave policy

Cycle to work scheme

Health cash plan

Life assurance

Wellbeing related benefits

Job summary

South East Water UK is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead a portfolio of minor works projects across water infrastructure, ensuring delivery to time, cost and quality benchmarks.

The role requires NEC3/NEC4 contract management, multi-disciplinary team leadership, rigorous HSE compliance, and active stakeholder engagement with operations, contractors and local authorities.

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management) or equivalent experience.
• Full Driving Licence is required.
• NEC3/NEC4 ECC knowledge and contract management experience are essential.
• Proven track record delivering infrastructure projects on time and within budget.
• Strong understanding of HSE, CDM regulations and environmental considerations.

Responsibilities

• Lead full project lifecycle from initiation to closure for water infrastructure projects.
• Oversee NEC contract administration including awards, compensation events, and payments.
• Define scope, develop detailed schedules, monitor progress and implement corrective actions.
• Manage budgets, forecast costs and track financial performance.
• Identify and mitigate project risks and opportunities.
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams and engage stakeholders across operations, regulators and authorities.
• Ensure compliance with CDM and health, safety and environmental regulations.
• Foster a collaborative, performance-driven project delivery culture.

Skills

Project management

NEC expertise

Planning & scheduling

Budget & cost control

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Leadership

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering / Construction Management / Project Management

Full Driving Licence

Job description

Do you want a role where your expertise in project delivery and contract management truly matters?

We're looking for an experienced and proactive Project Manager to join our team and drive the successful delivery of a diverse portfolio of essential minor works projects. This is a brilliant opportunity to apply your skills across vital infrastructure, from treatment works upgrades and pipeline installations to reservoir maintenance and pumping station improvements.

If you're a seasoned professional looking for meaningful work and ready for your next big challenge, this exciting role offers autonomy, complexity, and clear purpose.

Main Responsibilities:

You will be responsible for the safe and successful delivery of your project portfolio to Time, Cost, and Quality. Key responsibilities include:

Project Delivery: Managing the full project lifecycle - initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, control, and closure for assigned clean water infrastructure projects.

Contract Management (NEC Focus): Leading the administration of contracts, primarily under the NEC3/NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) framework. This includes managing contract award, proactively handling communication, compensation events, early warnings, programme submissions, payments, and dispute resolution in line with NEC procedures.

Scope & Schedule Management: Defining project scope and deliverables, developing detailed project schedules, tracking progress, and implementing corrective actions.

Budget & Cost Control: Developing project budgets, monitoring expenditure, forecasting costs, and managing financial performance.

Risk & Opportunity Management: Identifying, assessing, and mitigating project risks, proactively managing the early warning process, and identifying opportunities for project enhancement.

Stakeholder Engagement: Liaising effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including operations teams, consultants, contractors, regulatory bodies, customers, and local authorities.

Health, Safety & Environment (HSE): Championing a strong HSE culture, ensuring project activities comply with company policies, CDM regulations, and relevant environmental legislation.

Team Leadership & Coordination: Coordinating multi-disciplinary teams (internal staff, consultants, contractors) to foster a collaborative and performance-driven environment.

What you'll need:

Qualifications & Accreditation:

A Degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management) or equivalent demonstrable experience.

A full Driving Licence is required.

Skills & Experience:

Contract Management (NEC Expertise): Demonstrable, in-depth understanding and practical application of the NEC3/NEC4 ECC suite is essential. You must have the ability to interpret contractual requirements and manage contractual processes effectively and fairly.

Project Management: Proven ability to manage complex infrastructure projects through the entire lifecycle, with strong planning, organisational, and time management skills.

Significant, proven experience managing infrastructure projects, preferably within the utilities, civil engineering, or construction sectors of the water industry.

A proven track record of successfully delivering projects on time and within budget.

Technical Acumen: Good understanding of civil engineering, M&E, or process principles.

Financial Management: Strong budget management, cost control, and financial forecasting skills.

HSE Awareness: Strong understanding and commitment to health, safety, and environmental regulations and best practices, including CDM regulations.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to build strong relationships, effectively influence, and negotiate with diverse stakeholders.

Employees are required to be flexible and to be prepared to perform duties and other tasks within their capabilities. The nature of our business is such that the contents of any job profile are subject to change from time to time.

Grow a career with a meaningful purpose.

We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That’s why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package:

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water.

Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks.

Compensation package:

Up to £73,000 p.a. dependent on experience, plus car allowance.

South East Water UK

Our aim is to be the water company people want to be supplied by and want to work for.

South East Water UK provides high-quality drinking water to 2.2 million customers, delivering 520 million litres daily through a 9,000-mile pipeline network.