Project Manager

Southern Water; England; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water management company in the United Kingdom seeks a skilled project manager to oversee significant infrastructure initiatives. You will be responsible for scoping, budgeting, and scheduling within major projects aimed at enhancing water supply. Candidates should have strong project management experience, ideally within engineering or construction, and a solid educational background. The role is crucial in ensuring successful execution while collaborating with various internal and external stakeholders. The company offers innovative work and investment in future water services.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Opportunity for personal impact

Investment in workforce development

Qualifications

• Strong project management experience within engineering, construction, or infrastructure.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments.
• Experience in regulated settings or large, multi-stakeholder organisations is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of the workstream package through planning and risk management.
• Support the development of commercial models and procurement strategy.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including engineering, finance, and procurement.

Skills

Project management

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in Science, Engineering, or Project/Programme Management

Membership of the Association for Project Managers or similar

Tools

P6 (Primavera)

Job description

Overview

We're recruiting for several roles, each responsible for delivering a specific package of work within a wider project workstream, reporting into a Senior Project Manager. These roles will support major infrastructure programmes including our Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) initiative – a pioneering model using third‑party finance to fund future assets – and our Development Consent Order (DCO) workstream, which enables the delivery of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). You'll lead on scoping, budgeting, scheduling, and procurement to meet critical project milestones. Success will require navigating complex challenges, driving innovation beyond business‑as‑usual approaches, and collaborating with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Leading the delivery of your workstream package through planning, risk management, and governance
• Supporting the development of commercial models and procurement strategy (including £1bn+ tender design)
• Coordinating cross‑functional teams including engineering, finance, procurement and legal
• Managing stakeholder relationships across internal teams, suppliers, regulators and other industry bodies
• Ensuring the delivery of high‑quality project information, performance reporting and financial forecasting

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring strong project management experience, ideally gained within engineering, construction, or infrastructure projects. They will demonstrate the ability to thrive in fast‑paced environments, managing multiple workstreams and shifting priorities with confidence. Experience working within regulated settings or large, multi‑stakeholder organisations is essential, along with commercial awareness and an understanding of third‑party finance models such as PFI or PPP (desirable but not essential). Understanding of engineering contracts would be beneficial, supported by excellent problem‑solving skills, high attention to detail, and strong written and verbal communication.

Candidates should be degree‑qualified in a relevant discipline such as Science, Engineering, or Project/Programme Management, and gained full membership of the Association for Project Managers or similar. Or is actively working towards membership of a professional body. The role also requires someone who is proactive, organised, and able to manage ambiguity, with the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders. Experience using P6 (Primavera) planning tools would be an advantage.

Project Details & Benefits

Southern Water is embarking on one of the most ambitious infrastructure programmes in the UK water industry. Our newly established Major Projects Directorate is leading the delivery of several Strategic Resource Option (SRO) projects, with a combined value exceeding £5bn. These nationally significant, large‑scale infrastructure projects are critical to securing and future‑proofing water supply across the region. The project you will be involved in is a major cross‑country potable water pipeline running from near Winchester to Andover. It will require crossing multiple roads and rivers using a range of pipe‑laying techniques, alongside extensive stakeholder and landowner engagement as the route passes through or beneath their land. The project is expected to span approximately three years, with construction scheduled to begin in 2026. The estimated order of value is between £50m and £75m.

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.

Inclusive & Empowering

At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need.