PMO Lead

Southern Water; Chatham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Water is recruiting a PMO Lead to lead the Programme Management Office across the Environment & Innovation directorate. The role coordinates reporting, governance and lifecycle processes, ensuring alignment with business owners and stakeholders.

The PMO Lead will manage Senior PMO Analysts and PMO Analysts, drive standards, and optimise delivery across a growing portfolio funded with significant future investment. This is a permanent, regionally flexible role with weekly site visits.

Qualifications

• Significant demonstrable experience of shaping, scoping and delivering PMO services.
• Experience of managing a PMO team with a portfolio of Business and IT Projects and Programmes.
• Experience of the full delivery lifecycle and project management tools and techniques.
• Experience of managing resource demand and assignment, identifying opportunities and risks.
• Experience of financial management including tracking and reporting, purchase orders, invoicing and finance system updates.
• Experience of project, programme and portfolio reviews, reporting and analytics.

Responsibilities

• Co-ordinate project and programme level reporting, including analytics to identify issues, trends, gaps and improvements required.
• Ensure the team capture and manage demand through the delivery lifecycle processes, from idea through to closure, in collaboration with Business Owners and Business stakeholders, PMs, tracking and prioritising initiatives.
• Drive adoption of the Environment & Innovation delivery lifecycle, standards and processes ensuring projects and programmes are compliant.
• Be a key point of contact with other PMO teams in SW to ensure sharing best practice and learnings.
• Co-ordinate, track and report risks, issues, changes and dependencies at a programme and portfolio level.
• Management of permanent and contract Senior PMO Analysts and PMO Analysts in the successful delivery of PMO services.

Skills

PMO leadership

Portfolio management

Delivery lifecycle

Analytics & reporting

Financial management

Job description

Closing Date

2026-11-20

Job Title: PMO Lead

Location: flexible within our region with weekly site visits required (driving licence essential)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37 hours per week

Salary: £70-75,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience

The Environment & Innovation team is at the forefront of Southern Water's drive to enhance and protect the environment. Deploying the latest innovative solutions and working in partnership with our customers and stakeholders, the team takes an holistic approach to managing water quality and flow across the region. The portfolio has rapidly expanded from £50million to over £2 billion in the next 10-year period. This is a fast-paced team that is now expanding to continue to deliver a larger programme of sustainable and innovative solutions.

A brand new position has been created to join our Environment & Innovation team as a PMO Lead.

About the role

The Programme Management Office (PMO) provides the central 'hub' for the projects and programmes within the Environment & Innovation directorate. This includes delivery lifecycle governance, financial management, reporting and analytics, assurance / quality control, toolkit, standards, processes and templates.

What you will be responsible for

• Co-ordinate project and programme level reporting, including analytics to identify issues, trends, gaps and improvements required.
• Ensure the team capture and manage demand through the delivery lifecycle processes, from idea through to closure, in collaboration with Business Owners and Business stakeholders, PMs, tracking and prioritising initiatives.
• Drive adoption of the Environment & Innovation delivery lifecycle, standards and processes ensuring projects and programmes are compliant.
• Be a key point of contact with other PMO teams in SW to ensure sharing best practice and learnings.
• Co-ordinate, track and report risks, issues, changes and dependencies at a programme and portfolio level.
• Management of permanent and contract Senior PMO Analysts and PMO Analysts in the successful delivery of PMO services.

What you’ll bring to the role

• Significant demonstrable experience of shaping, scoping and delivering PMO services.
• Experience of managing a PMO team with a portfolio of Business and IT Projects and Programmes.
• Experience of the full delivery lifecycle and project management tools and techniques.
• Experience of managing resource demand and assignment, identifying opportunities and risks.
• Experience of financial management including tracking and reporting, purchase orders, invoicing and finance system updates.
• Experience of project, programme and portfolio reviews, reporting and analytics.
• Regulated industry exposure is highly desirable.

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.

"Our mission is to protect and enhance life through water-and we need passionate people to help us achieve it. If you’re inspired by our purpose and believe you can contribute, apply today. You don’t need to meet every criterion; what matters most is your drive to make a difference."

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.

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