Programme Manager

South East Water UK; Snodland; On-site; GBP 77,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stakeholder pension

Holiday entitlement

Flexible annual leave

Cycle to work

Health cash plan

Life assurance

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

South East Water is seeking a Programme Manager to steer a portfolio of interdependent transformation projects aligned with strategic goals. You will report to the Head of Transformation and provide high-level leadership and governance across conception to completion.

You will monitor performance, manage risks, and secure funding while demonstrating tangible business benefits through effective stakeholder engagement and change management across the organisation.

Qualifications

• PMP and PgMP or MBA-equivalent qualifications required.
• Ability to align a portfolio of projects with long-term business goals.
• Lead and mentor other project managers and resolve conflicts.
• Manage multi-million pound budgets and forecasts across the programme.
• Identify and mitigate programme-level risks across all projects.
• Articulate complex information to the Executive team clearly.
• Lead large-scale organisational change and stakeholder buy-in.
• Proven track record of delivering tangible business benefits.
• Develop and manage programme-level budgets; data-driven allocation.
• Experience securing funding from senior management.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate a portfolio of interdependent projects from initiation to closure.
• Develop overarching programme plans and oversee execution of related projects.
• Monitor performance, report progress, cost and strategic value to leadership.
• Manage interdependencies and mitigate portfolio-level risks.
• Stakeholder relationship management with executive teams and partners.
• Lead organisational change initiatives arising from the programme.
• Ensure delivery of business benefits and measure return on investment.
• Oversee financial health and resource allocation for the portfolio.
• Matrix-manage project teams to exceed deadlines with quality results.

Skills

PMP certification

PgMP certification

MBA in business management

Portfolio alignment

Mentoring project managers

Stakeholder management

Budget forecasting

Interdependency management

Executive communication

Education

PgMP / MBA equivalent

Job description

Are you looking for your next challenge steering high-impact transformation directly alongside senior leadership?

Do you have a proven track record of managing high-stakes portfolios aligned directly with enterprise strategic goals?

Reporting to the Head of Transformation, this Programme Manager role is responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of a portfolio of interdependent projects, all aligned with the company’s strategic goals. This involves overseeing multiple, related projects from conception to completion, balancing the key constraints of scope, budget and schedule across the entire programme.

This role will act as the central hub for all programme-related communications and activities. This includes setting overarching strategic direction and programme milestones, monitoring progress and risks at a portfolio level, facilitating communication between project managers and senior stakeholders and ensuring that all project deliverables collectively meet the required strategic objectives.

Main responsibilities:

• Manage and coordinate a portfolio of interdependent projects from initiation to closure. Provide high-level leadership to project managers and the broader programme team, serving as the main point of contact for all programme-related communications.
• Develop overarching programme plans and oversee the execution of all related projects to ensure they collectively align with the company's strategic goals.
• Proactively monitor and control programme performance against established metrics. Regularly report on progress, financial status and strategic value to senior leadership and key stakeholders.
• Take ownership of managing the complex relationships and interdependencies between projects within the programme. Proactively identify and mitigate programme-level risks to ensure the entire portfolio remains on track.
• Actively manage the expectations of a wide range of stakeholders, from project teams to the Executive team. Nurture strategic relationships with key external partners, suppliers and contractors.
• Lead organisational change initiatives that arise from the programme. Secure buy-in from appropriate levels of the organisation and communicate the intended outcomes and benefits of the change to ensure smooth adoption.
• Accountable for ensuring the programme delivers the intended business benefits and outcomes. Measure and report on the value created to demonstrate a return on investment.
• Manage the overall financial health and resource allocation for the entire programme's portfolio, making strategic decisions to secure funding and optimise spending.
• Matrix manage a project team to consistently exceed deadlines and deliver high-quality results.

You’ll need:

Skills / Qualifications / Experience

• A professional project management qualification such as Project Management Professional (PMP) is required, in addition to a professional programme management qualification, such as Programme Management Professional (PgMP) or an equivalent degree (e.g. MBA in business management).
• The ability to align a portfolio of projects with the company's long-term business goals, understanding how each project contributes to overall value.
• The capacity to lead and mentor other project managers, resolve conflicts between different projects and inspire confidence in senior management and stakeholders.
• The skill to manage multi-million pound budgets and financial forecasts across an entire programme, ensuring all projects remain financially viable.
• A proactive approach to identifying and managing interconnected risks across all projects in the programme, understanding how a risk in one area could impact the whole.
• The ability to articulate complex project information, benefits and challenges to the Executive team and other key stakeholders in a clear, concise and persuasive manner.
• The expertise to lead large-scale organisational change and manage stakeholder buy-in across multiple teams and departments.
• A proven track record of successfully leading complex programs, managing multiple interdependent projects and ensuring the delivery of tangible business benefits that align with organisational goals.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and managing programme-level budgets and using a data-driven approach to optimise resource allocation and maximise return on investment.
• Experience in building compelling business cases and using tactical communication, negotiation and influencing skills to gain buy-in and secure funding for large-scale initiatives from senior management.
• Experience in managing complex stakeholder relationships and leading large-scale organisational change initiatives, with the ability to navigate resistance and drive adoption to achieve strategic objectives.

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.

What can you expect from your recruitment?

• 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.

South East Water kindly asks that recruitment agencies refrain from submitting CVs to our employees or associates without explicit invitation from our HR Resourcing team. CVs sent on a speculative basis will not be acknowledged and will not assume any responsibility for fees or commissions in the event that we hire a candidate who applied directly or subsequently introduced by an instructed agency.

Compensation package:

Salary from £85,000 p.a. (dependent on experience)