Project Manager

Thames Water Utilities Limited; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water utility company in the UK seeks a Project Manager for an 18-month contract. This role involves leading projects within the Customer Experience Transformation Function, ensuring successful outcomes through effective stakeholder management and problem-solving. The ideal candidate should have strong project management experience and excellent communication skills. The position offers a competitive salary of £55,000 to £60,000, alongside comprehensive benefits including health plans and a generous pension scheme.

Benefits

26 days holiday per year

Performance-related pay

Generous Pension Scheme

Access to health MOTs and physiotherapy

Cycle to Work schemes

Qualifications

• Outstanding role-specific experience in a relevant operational or project-management capacity, preferably in a similar industry.
• Proven ability to lead and develop people in a culture of accountability and achievement.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to deliver at pace.

Responsibilities

• Take accountability for the project, cost, and quality, leading the project team to meet its objectives.
• Lead internal teams and third-party collaborators to ensure successful delivery.
• Ensure project activities comply with regulatory requirements and quality standards.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Creative problem solving

Attention to detail

Leadership

Communication

Job description

Job title Project Manager Ref 43616 Division Retail Location Hybrid - Walnut Court - SN2 8BN Contract type Fixed term/Secondment Full/Part-time Full-time Hours 36 hours per week Salary A Competitive salary of £55,000 and up to £60,000 depending on skills and experience. Job grade B Closing date 19/01/2026

Thames Water is seeking a talented and highly motivated Project Manager to join our dynamic Customer Experience Transformation Function within Retail on an 18-month fixed term contract/Secondment.

In this key role, you will collaborate closely with senior leadership and cross‑functional teams, applying your creative problem‑solving skills to tackle complex problems. You will ensure project milestones are successfully achieved in a fast‑paced and evolving environment.

If you have exceptional skills in stakeholder management and a passion for delivering successful outcomes in a high‑energy setting, we want to hear from you!

What you will be doing as a Project Manager

• Take accountability for the project, cost, and quality, leading the project team to meet its objectives.
• Lead internal teams and, in some cases, third‑party collaborators, employing a combination of line management and matrix management approaches to ensure the successful delivery of project outcomes.
• Ensure all project activities align to project governance, establishing regular project review meetings covering cost, schedule, resources, RAID, and RAG statuses.
• Create and maintain project cost models covering actual, accrual, and forecast – challenging costs to drive value.
• Identify and engage with key stakeholders, ensuring their needs and expectations are met throughout the project lifecycle.
• Develop and implement a communications plan to keep all stakeholders informed and engaged.
• Ensure all project activities comply with regulatory requirements and quality standards.

Base Location – Hybrid – Walnut Court Swindon or Clear Water Court Reading

Hours: 36 hours per week

What you should bring to the role

To thrive in this role, you’ll need:

• Outstanding role‑specific experience in a relevant operational or project‑management capacity, preferably in a similar industry.
• Proven ability to lead and develop people in a culture of accountability and achievement.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to deliver at pace.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Creative thinking and problem‑solving abilities.
• Familiarity with Retail services in a water industry an advantage.

What’s in it for you

• A Competitive salary of £55,000 and up to £60,000 depending on skills and experience
• 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 days with the length of service (plus bank holidays)
• Performance‑related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.