Senior Project Manager

Southern Water; Chatham; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Water is seeking a Senior Project Manager to drive delivery of sustainable drainage solutions and Site Area Based Charging initiatives. The role leads the Sustainable Drainage Fund governance, builds stakeholder engagement, and provides strategic guidance across departments.

Flexible-hybrid working is offered with a 37-hour week. The successful candidate will manage funding criteria, assess applications, and monitor outcomes to maximise environmental and operational value, while

Qualifications

• Proven ability to deliver programmes and campaigns influencing behaviour
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Experience in relationship and stakeholder management
• Knowledge of Sustainable Drainage Solutions and industry landscape

Responsibilities

• Lead for Sustainable Drainage Fund governance and delivery
• Develop funding criteria and assess applications
• Oversee fund allocation, monitoring delivery and benefits
• Provide leadership input into Site Area Based Charging policy
• Lead communications and stakeholder engagement across teams
• Support wider programme and strategic direction
• Build partnerships with regulators, authorities and stakeholders

Skills

Programme management

Stakeholder management

Public speaking

Engagement resources

Delivery planning

Leadership

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Team leadership

Education

Project Management qualification

Degree or equivalent qualification

Job description

Closing Date

2026-11-07

JobTitle: Senior Project Manager

Location: Flexible - (Hybrid)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37

Salary: Circa £70,000 based on skills and experience

About the role:

Senior lead for the directorate’s work to drive the adoption and delivery of sustainable drainage solutions through Site Area Based Charging initiatives.

Responsible for building awareness, understanding and support for innovative approaches that reduce surface water entering the wastewater network, helping to improve environmental outcomes, network resilience and regulatory performance.

What you will be responsible for:

A key responsibility of the role will be the management and governance of a dedicated Sustainable Drainage Fund, providing financial support to businesses seeking to implement SuDS measures that reduce surface water entering the sewerage network.

This will include developing funding criteria, assessing applications, overseeing fund allocation, monitoring delivery and benefits realisation, and ensuring funding is targeted towards projects that deliver the greatest environmental and operational value.

In addition, the role will provide strategic leadership and expert input into the development of Site Area Based Charging policy, stakeholder engagement and communications activity.

Acting as a subject matter expert, the role holder will work closely with Economic Regulation, Customer, Environment, Operations and Corporate Affairs teams to ensure consistent messaging, effective stakeholder engagement and alignment with company objectives, regulatory commitments and environmental improvement plans.

• Develop and maintain sustainable drainage partnership guidance, standards and supporting materials, establish and manage a network of delivery partners and solution providers, and provide expert advice and technical leadership to internal teams and external stakeholders to support the successful development and delivery of Site Area Based Charging and surface water management initiatives.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with businesses, developers, local authorities, regulators, NGOs and other stakeholders to identify and deliver SuDS opportunities.

• Manage and govern a dedicated Sustainable Drainage Fund, including developing funding criteria, assessing applications, allocating funding and monitoring project delivery and outcomes.

• Identify and secure partnership and co-funding opportunities that accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and nature-based solutions.

• Act as the company’s subject matter expert for area-based charging, providing strategic advice and influencing policy, industry best practice and stakeholder engagement.

• Lead communications and engagement activities related to sustainable drainage initiatives, working across Regulatory, Strategy, Customer, Environment and Corporate Affairs teams to ensure consistent messaging and alignment with business objectives.

• Provide senior leadership support to the wider programme where required and contributing to the wider strategic direction.

What you’ll bring to the role:

_ Skills & Competencies: _

• Drive to deliver sustainable solutions that provide value for customers and the environment
• Exceptional communicator to wide range of stakeholders (from customers to MPs)
• Programme management/very strong project management
• Experienced in public speaking and development of engagement resources
• Strong planning and delivery skills to ensure outcomes and outputs are met and exceeded
• Relationship management and influencing strategy
• Stakeholder management
• Inspiring leader to support and drive a high achieving team
• Ability to distil technical information into appropriate messaging for the audience
• Can do attitude and can overcome challenges and obstacles

_ Knowledge: _

• Project Management qualification(s)
• Degree or equivalent qualification
• Strategic and commercial awareness
• Extensive experience in relationship and stakeholder management
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Demonstratable experience in delivering programmes, campaigns and/or schemes that influence behaviour/produce action
• Knowledge of industry and political landscape
• Sustainable Drainage Solutions Expertise

_ Desirable _

• Site Area Based Charging knowledge

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

“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.”

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.