Senior Project Manager

Southern Water; Brighton; Hybrid; GBP 64,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Water is recruiting a Senior Project Manager to lead complex wastewater design and construction programmes. Flexible within the Southern Water region with hybrid working options, you will direct budgets, schedules and governance across multiple workstreams and partners.

You will drive delivery excellence, manage risk and change, and collaborate with stakeholders to realise efficiency gains while maintaining safety and quality standards.

Qualifications

• Experience leading project teams and managing multi-disciplinary programmes.
• Knowledge of safety standards and regulatory requirements in water/utility sectors.
• Strong stakeholder management and delivery of capital projects.

Responsibilities

• Plan, direct and oversee design and construction programmes within budget and schedule.
• Coordinate workstreams, tranches and delivery partners to achieve milestones.
• Manage risk, change and governance across the project portfolio.
• Lead and motivate teams, ensuring quality and safety objectives are met.
• Engage with SDP/DPs, regulators and developers to align requirements.

Job description

Title: Senior Project Manager

Location: Flexible within the Southern Water Region (Hybrid working)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37

Salary: From £70,800 based on skills and experience

Closing Date

2026-09-25

About The Role

The Senior Project Manager (SPM) plans, directs, manages and provides clear oversight of assigned design and construction programmes to ensure that business goals and objectives are accomplished within prescribed schedule and budget parameters.

This role is specific to the wastewater network / infrastructure programme and related Developer Services and Growth sub-programmes.

What You Will Be Responsible For

The SPM is responsible for the overall budget and quality objectives of significant projects and or programme of works.

The role will be integral in delivering the step change in performance and efficiency required within the business, and as such will need to have a good understanding of delivery management, the ability to problem solve and facilitate meetings to achieve consensus to maintain programme.

• Ensuring effective workstream and tranche governance and assurance is in place using Assurance functions as appropriate
• Assignment of competent engineering and project management resources
• Leading and motivating a team of professionals, setting objectives and goals
• Collaborative and integrated team working with SDP and DP’s to maximise efficiency opportunities.
• Coordinating the project teams in the delivery of the Workstream & Tranche Execution Plans including:
• Transforming business needs into workstreams, tranches and projects
• Ensuring projects are optimised and deliver on efficiency savings
• Planning for and maximising Risk & Value (R&V) scope definition and opportunities
• Ensuring R&V process is followed and timely decisions made to avoid delay
• Identifying interdependencies between workstreams, tranches and projects
• Management of environment and planning issues
• Management and coordination of stakeholders
• Management of Developer’s requirements.
• Procurement including negotiations with supply community
• Actively support the risk management activities required to manage escalated risks from the Projects
• Management of Risk and Change at workstream and tranche level
• Approval of Change at tranche level
• Supporting the Sponsor regarding direction and coordination of workstreams and tranches i.e. identifying, initiating, accelerating, decelerating, redefining and terminating projects
• Escalating potential change to Regulatory stakeholder expectations
• Monitoring progress and performance of the workstreams and tranches, in particular:

Accountabilities

• Health & Safety leadership and assurance for the workstreams and tranches
• Compliance management through the Investment Decision phases
• The production of Delivery Plans that meet the strategic objectives and securing approval by the Programme Steering Group
• Ensuring workstreams and tranches deliver the outputs required by the Sponsor for the approved budget
• Providing direction on proposals to resolve workstream and tranche issues.
• Providing direction on new or existing workstream and tranche risks in accordance with the risk management strategy.
• Ensuring the risk management deliverables of Projects are compliant with the Risk Management Process.
• Managing the Strategic Delivery Partner (SDP) and Delivery Partner (DP) procurement process (direct award or mini competition).
• Escalating team and supplier performance issues as required.
• Managing planned and reactive schemes, when delivered by capital delivery.

Knowledge & Experience

What you’ll bring to the role:

• Line management
• Project and contract management (Delivery Partner and Strategic Delivery Partner)
• H&S standards and regulations
• Water or utility industry
• Water and Wastewater regulations
• Construction Practices
• Management of various stakeholder relationships
• Developer Services (optional)

Skills & Qualifications

• A UK Drivers Licence & vehicle
• Degree qualified in a Science, Engineering or Management subject (or equivalent experience)
• A member of an appropriate professional institute (Chartered or working towards)
• Excellent communication skills
• Highly organised and able to multi-task
• Strong financial awareness
• Team management
• Managing various stakeholder relationships
• Implementing transformation change
• Strong problem-solving capability
• Strong delegation skills

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.

Our mission is to protect and enhance life through water-and we need passionate people to help us achieve it. If you’re inspired by our purpose and believe you can contribute, apply today. You don’t need to meet every criterion; what matters most is your drive to make a difference.

Our Commitment to Diversity

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Additional Information

In line with Southern Water’s security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years.

Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all pre-employment checks, including security vetting.

Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment.

Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.