Partnership Delivery Manager (Central)

Southern Water; Worthing; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Water is seeking a Partnership Delivery Manager to champion collaboration across Central Sussex. You will identify opportunities, nurture relationships with authorities, businesses and community groups, and drive projects that support environmental objectives.

The role requires a proactive, commercially minded professional with strong stakeholder engagement, capable of delivering outcomes on time and to a high standard.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to develop partnerships and manage multiple stakeholders.
• Strong communication and influencing skills at all levels.
• Experience leading and delivering collaborative projects with external partners.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage relationships with local authorities, businesses, schools and other stakeholders across Central Sussex.
• Identify and pursue partnership opportunities to support environmental goals.
• Influence senior decision-makers internally and externally.
• Manage projects from concept to delivery, ensuring on-time, quality outcomes.
• Represent Southern Water at meetings, forums, and events across the region.
• Collaborate with Environment & Innovation and related task forces to achieve shared goals.

Skills

Relationship building

Stakeholder engagement

Business development

Communication

Project management

Negotiation

Job description

Closing Date 2026-10-16

Job Title: Partnership Delivery Manager - Central Sussex

Location: Worthing, West Sussex (hybrid/flexible)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37, Monday to Friday

Salary: circa £55,000 (depending on skills and experience)

As part of Southern Water's drive to enhance and protect the environment, the Environment & Innovation team are deploying the latest innovative solutions and working in partnership with our customers and stakeholders. The team takes a holistic approach to managing water quality and flow across the region, with a portfolio that has rapidly expanded from £50 million to over £2 billion in the next 10-year period.

About the role

We're looking for a confident, commercially minded relationship builder to join Southern Water's Environment & Innovation team as a Partnership Delivery Manager.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives on developing new relationships, influencing stakeholders and turning ideas into action. You'll spend your time meeting organisations across Central Sussex, identifying opportunities to work together and delivering projects that help reduce storm overflows and improve the health of our rivers and seas.

If you're naturally proactive, enjoy getting out to meet people and have a proven track record of winning support for projects, we'd love to hear from you.

What you will be responsible for

• Building and managing relationships with local authorities, businesses, schools, community groups and other key stakeholders across Central Sussex.
• Proactively identifying partnership opportunities that can support Southern Water's environmental goals.
• Influencing senior stakeholders and decision makers, both internally and externally.
• Managing projects from initial concept through to delivery, ensuring outcomes are achieved on time and to a high standard.
• Representing Southern Water at meetings, forums, events and conferences across the region.
• Working closely with colleagues across Environment & Innovation and the Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force to achieve shared objectives.

What you'll bring to the role

• A talented relationship builder with experience developing partnerships, stakeholder engagement or business development opportunities.
• A confident communicator who is comfortable networking, presenting and influencing at all levels.
• Experience managing projects and coordinating multiple stakeholders to deliver successful outcomes.
• A proactive, results-focused approach with the ability to identify opportunities and drive them forward independently.
• Strong organisational skills and experience working to challenging deadlines.
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with practical delivery.

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain's water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.

You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long-term value creation

Our Commitment to Diversity

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences.

We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic.

If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Additional information

In line with Southern Water's security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years.

Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all pre-employment checks, including security vetting.

Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment.

Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.