Project Manager

Southern Water; Horsham; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water services provider is seeking a Project Manager in Sussex to oversee cost-effective maintenance solutions across operational sites. The role requires strong project management experience, particularly within the utility sector, and involves managing project lifecycles, contract compliance, and maintaining health and safety standards. Candidates should possess relevant certifications and have excellent communication skills. Salary up to £53,000 per annum with hybrid working options.

Qualifications

• Strong technical and operational experience in maintenance project delivery.
• Good understanding of regulatory and legislative frameworks.
• Thorough knowledge of contract and commercial conditions.

Responsibilities

• Manage the entire work lifecycle, ensuring quality and timely delivery.
• Contract administration of multiple projects, including cost management.
• Ensure health, safety, and environmental standards during project delivery.

Skills

Project management experience in utility environment

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Influencing skills

Education

Project-related certifications (e.g., APM, Prince2)

Job description

Closing Date
08/08/2025

Job Title: Project Manager – Service Delivery
Location: Sussex - Hybrid - Full Driving Licence is essential due to site visit requirement
Perm/FTC: Permanent
Hours: 37
Salary: Up to £53,000 per annum (including a business needs car)

Job Description
There has never been a better time to join our organisation as we build towards a greener future, tackling climate change, minimising our environmental impact, and reducing our carbon footprint!

We are excited to announce an opening within our service delivery team for a Project Manager. The role involves providing cost-effective maintenance solutions to Southern Water’s operational sites and supporting the delivery of core works. Responsibilities include managing the entire work lifecycle, investigating cost-effective options, defining and communicating scope to contractors, and ensuring quality, cost, and timely delivery of solutions, along with post-delivery closeout.

Key duties also include contract administration of multiple projects, including cost and budget management, contract compliance, reporting, cost verification, and contractor H&S performance.

Reporting to the Senior Project Manager for Service Delivery, the team comprises six project managers responsible for delivering operational capital projects valued at approximately £50M. The role requires leveraging your skills in financial and works management to ensure projects are well-controlled financially and in governance.

Your Key Accountabilities Will Also Include

• Prioritizing health, safety, and environmental standards during project delivery
• Managing contractor activities regarding H&S, scope, and costs through governance, including audits, negotiations, and inspections
• Maintaining budget and cost data, forecasting final costs, and analyzing budget vs. actuals
• Finding innovative solutions to balance operational needs with cost constraints, avoiding unnecessary 'gold plating'
• Assessing payment applications against completed work and costs
• Visiting sites for cost verification and stakeholder meetings as needed
• Supporting achievement of targets, milestones, KPIs, and aligning with Southern Water’s SIM targets
• Building effective relationships with site owners, contractors, team members, and stakeholders

To succeed, you should have strong technical and operational experience in maintenance project delivery, a good understanding of regulatory and legislative frameworks, and thorough knowledge of contract and commercial conditions. Confidence in delivering cost-effective solutions that meet operational and customer needs is essential, along with excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.

Project management experience within a utility environment, especially water/wastewater operations, is required. Preferred qualifications include project-related certifications such as APM, Prince2, and health & safety qualifications (IOSH, NEBOSH), or willingness to obtain them.