Project Manager - People Transformation

Kelda Group Limited 0000411940 - Kelda Group Limited; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water services company is seeking an experienced Project Manager to join their People Transformation Team. This role involves managing transformation projects in a dynamic environment, ensuring successful delivery while adhering to agreed scope and budget. The ideal candidate has strong leadership and financial management skills, experience in delivering People/HR transformations, and excellent communication abilities. This is a full-time role with opportunities for hybrid working between office and home.

Benefits

Annual performance related bonus

Attractive pension scheme

Development opportunities

25 days annual leave

Life assurance cover

Flexible benefits package

Qualifications

• Experience in delivering transformation projects in a live operational environment.
• Proven project management track record with budget management.
• Ability to work independently and manage time effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead on a range of projects varying in size and complexity.
• Ensure projects are delivered to scope, time, budget, and quality.
• Manage resources and stakeholder engagement throughout project life cycles.

Skills

Transformation project delivery

Project management

Financial management

Communication skills

Team leadership

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

APM certification or similar

Job description

Project Manager - People Transformation

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

Salary & Benefits

We offer a salary from around £50k - £55k per annum, depending on experience.

• Annual performance related bonus
• Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution)
• Development opportunities in line with the People Project Manager progression plan
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays – plus an extra wellness day!
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary
• A great flexible 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

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. The hybrid working arrangement will involve a mix of office and home working, typically two days in the office.

Work type

This can be a permanent or fixed‑term position, working full time, 37 hours per week, Monday‑Friday between a working window of 8:00 am‑6:00 pm.

We have an exciting opportunity for a People Project Manager to join the People Transformation 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. 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.

New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers mean that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry.

Where you fit in

The aim of the People Transformation team is to deliver Strategic People Programmes across the organisation (linked to the wider Drive to Thrive Change Portfolio) whilst ensuring appropriate levels of governance are achieved.

This role is pivotal in delivering successful projects within the People Transformation team.

The People Project Manager role will lead on a range of projects, varying in size and complexity, some of which may sit under a wider People Programme. The projects could cover any aspect of People (with associated system implementation) – covering Workforce Planning, Learning & Development, Recruitment, Reward (including Recognition, Benefits & Pay), etc.

You will take the lead on successful project delivery, and will manage suitable resources, and a variety of stakeholders including Yorkshire Water (YW) front‑line business colleagues, central Subject Matter Experts, contract partners and consultants working collaboratively to deliver People Transformation change for the company.

Projects will be delivered against agreed Yorkshire Water targets. You will ensure that projects are delivered to scope, time, cost/budget and quality and that project risks are managed in line with business targets – whilst at all times ensuring health and safety, regulatory and statutory compliance is achieved.

You will work to the agreed business quality assurance standards and facilitate effective project audit reviews.

What skills & qualifications you will need

• Considerable experience in delivering transformation projects in a live operational environment – ideally People and HR transformation projects.
• Proven track record of project management, planning, and financial/budget management and have achieved APM or similar certification.
• Experience of leadership and managing multi‑disciplinary teams through the project life cycle, and experience of managing large workloads of multiple projects concurrently.
• Ability to produce meaningful leadership insight into efficiency of the programme streams both agile and waterfall.
• Robust financial management skills and commercial awareness to allow for effective business decision‑making.
• Excellent communication skills, leading on engagement with key project stakeholders and ownership of wider communications.
• Ability to work on own initiative and self‑manage.
• Effective time management, capable of meeting timescales, with the ability to multi‑task.
• A team player, supports colleagues to achieve the best outcome and values the input of colleagues.
• Diligent with strong attention to detail.
• Advanced user of Microsoft Office packages – Excel, Project, PowerPoint, and Word.

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 transformation projects (ideally in a People / HR environment) 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.

Please apply online and submit an up‑to‑date CV and covering letter outlining your suitability for the role.

Recruitment Process

Closing Date – 5th December 2025

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.