Programme Manager - IT, Data & Digital

Yorkshire Water; Bradford; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary up to £73,000

Annual bonus up to 15%

Private health care

Attractive pension scheme with 12% company contribution

25 days annual leave plus wellness days and bank holidays

Job summary

Yorkshire Water is seeking a Programme Manager for its Tech team in Bradford. This role involves leading large-scale data initiatives to enhance governance and analytics. You will manage a high-performing team and engage stakeholders to achieve strategic goals.

Ideal candidates will have experience in managing IT and data transformation programmes, with excellent communication skills and the ability to influence senior leaders. Join a company committed to great service and environmental stewardship.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in managing large-scale data initiatives.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a proven ability to engage stakeholders.
• Highly organized and proactive problem-solver.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing programme team to achieve business goals.
• Drive delivery of complex data programmes on time and within budget.
• Promote improvements in data governance and culture.

Skills

Portfolio, programme and project delivery

Stakeholder management

Excellent communication

Budget and forecasting management

Experience in data-focused roles

Education

Qualified in recognised project methodologies (e.g. PRINCE2, MSP, APM, Agile)

Job description

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Hello! Thanks for stopping by. Let us tell you about all the great reasons to join us here at Yorkshire Water:

• We offer a compe titive salary, depending on experience up to £73,000
• Annual incentive related bonus (up to 15% of annual salary)
• Private health care (self only)
• Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution)
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays – plus an extra 2 wellness days!
• A great benefits package – choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.
• Retail savings scheme
• Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Location: West Yorkshire / Hybrid Working (1-2 days in the office a week – Bradford) This role will initially be based in Bradford but we’re moving our office to Leeds Valley Park in summer 2026, so you’ll be based there in the future.

Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Programme Manager to join the Tech team at Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water to provide the best service to our customers. Could this be you?

What we do:

Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year, can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it’s so much more than this. We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire’s water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, and play a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity. N ew environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. The Technology function is a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.

As a Programme Manager, you’ll lead large-scale data initiatives that unlock real business value enhancing data quality, governance and analytics across the organisation. Working at the heart of change, you’ll engage senior stakeholders, lead high-performing teams, and take programmes from idea to delivery with confidence. This is a high-visibility role where you’ll influence strategy, deliver meaningful outcomes, and leave a lasting mark on how the business uses data.

Where you fit in:

As our IT Programme Manager, you will:

• Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing programme team to deliver against strategic business goals
• Drive end-to-end delivery of complex data programmes, ensuring outcomes are achieved on time, within budget, and to quality standards
• Work closely with Delivery Managers, Programme Managers and Business Change teams to ensure a consistent, best-practice approach
• Champion improvements in data governance, quality, compliance and a data-driven culture
• Shape and define programmes from inception, including business cases, benefits realisation and alignment to strategic objectives
• Manage programme budgets, forecasts and investment decisions in line with governance policies
• Identify and manage risks, issues, dependencies and ensure effective escalation where required
• Engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior executives, to drive alignment and buy-in
• Lead programme governance, reporting and performance tracking, ensuring transparency and control
• Foster collaboration across business, data and technology teams, including third-party partners
• Promote excellence in health & safety, risk management and operational standards

What skills & qualifications you will need:

• Demonstrated expertise in portfolio, programme and project delivery within a data-focused role
• Qualified in recognised project methodologies (e.g. PRINCE2, MSP, APM, Agile)
• Excellent stakeholder management with strong influencing and interpersonal skills
• Confident communicator with the ability to present to senior leaders
• Experience leading and developing multi-disciplinary delivery teams
• Commercially aware, with strong budget, forecasting and benefits management capability
• Highly organised, with excellent planning, prioritisation and problem-solving skills
• Experience working in complex organisations, with an understanding of strategic business drivers
• Passionate about delivering great customer outcomes and driving business performance

Although we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it’s important to us that we support flexible working patterns and job share options (when we can), to help you make the best of both your work and home life. We know that juggling childcare responsibilities or getting that ideal work/life balance isn’t always easy! Do we sound like your cup of tea?

If you’ve got experience in delivering large-scale IT, data or digital transformation programmes and want to help us deliver great service for our customers whilst looking after the environment, then be sure to apply today to find out what a career with Yorkshire Water can offer you. If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third-Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance. All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required.

We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible. If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.

Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Closing date for this role is the 15th of July 2026.