Senior Project Manager

Thames Water; Walthamstow; Hybrid; GBP 67,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water utility company is seeking a Senior Project Manager to oversee a complex £100M project at the Coppermills Water Treatment Works. In this pivotal role, you will manage a cross-functional team and ensure delivery of infrastructure improvements. Ideal candidates will have proven experience in managing large-scale construction projects and a degree in a relevant field. This position offers a competitive salary, extensive benefits, and the opportunity to make a significant impact on London's water supply.

Benefits

Competitive salary

26 days holiday per year

Car Allowance

Performance-related pay plan

Generous Pension Scheme

Private Medical Health Care

Health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing large-scale construction projects from inception to handover.
• Strong working knowledge of UK regulations and contracts.
• Ability to work with high levels of independence and manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of a highly complex, multi-year project.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Own project governance and reporting.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Communication

Project Management

Education

Degree in relevant engineering or project management discipline

Tools

NEC contracts

IChemE contracts

Job description

Ready to shape the future of water infrastructure for one of the world’s greatest cities? As a Senior Project Manager with Thames Water, you won’t just oversee a complex £100M+ project – you’ll join a legacy of dedicated professionals that deliver life’s essential service to millions of Londoners. Join Thames Water’s Major Projects & Programmes Team at this pivotal moment in our mission to future‑prove London’s water supply. You’ll lead a cross‑functional project team and partner with our Tier 1 contractor to successfully deliver major infrastructure improvements at our Coppermills Water Treatment Works. This is not just another project—it’s a flagship initiative involving intricate engineering, demanding stakeholder management, and the opportunity to drive outcomes that matter on a national scale.

What you’ll be doing as a Senior Project Manager

• Lead the delivery of a highly complex, multi‑year project on a 24/7 live operational.
• Build strong relationships within Thames Water, our delivery partners, and stakeholders.
• Own project governance, contract management, and reporting.
• Collaborate with colleagues and delivery partners to deliver project outcomes in terms of time, cost, and quality.
• Strategically guide the team to anticipate and navigate delivery challenges and issues.
• Champion continuous improvement and mentor and upskill emerging talent.
• Lead with integrity and influence for the benefit of the project, the wider business, and the sector.

Location: Hybrid – Coppermills Water Treatment Site, E17 7HQ.
Hours: 36 hours a week, Monday to Friday.
Must have access to a car and a driving licence.

What you should bring to the role

To thrive in this role, the essential criteria you’ll need are:

• Proven experience managing large‑scale (c.£100M) construction projects from inception to handover.
• Degree qualified in a relevant discipline of engineering, project management, or similar.
• Strong working knowledge of relevant UK regulations and contracts (e.g. NEC, IChemE).
• Excellent leadership, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Ability to work with high levels of independence, manage competing priorities, and thrive under pressure.
• Resilience and determination to work as part of a team to achieve the best outcomes for the project.

Additional skills and experiences would be great to have/bring:

• Relevant water sector experience is desirable.

What’s in it for you?

A career‑defining opportunity. You’ll be at the forefront of one of the most ambitious programmes in the UK’s Water Sector this investment cycle—while building your legacy within Thames Water’s leadership community and enjoying a best‑in‑class benefits package including:

• Competitive salary from £67,000 to £88,000 per annum depending on experience.
• 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays).
• Car Allowance.
• Performance‑related pay plan directly linked to both company and individual performance measures and targets.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Private Medical Health Care.
• 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.

Find out more about our benefits and perks.

Who are we?

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.

Learn more about our purpose and values.

Working at 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.