Senior Strategic Delivery Lead (Partnerships)

Southern Water; Worthing; Hybrid; GBP 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company and performance-related bonus

Generous pension

Life assurance payment equal to four×…

Health benefits

Volunteer days

28 days annual holiday

Occupational health service

Retail discount app

Job summary

Southern Water is seeking a Senior Strategic Delivery Lead (Partnerships) to drive the Bathing Water Programme across our region. You will lead partnership delivery with councils, regulators, NGOs and communities to improve bathing water quality and deliver measurable environmental benefits.

You will build durable relationships, steer complex projects, and ensure long-term outcomes while balancing strategic priorities with practical delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering large-scale programmes through partnerships.
• Proven track record with councils, regulators, communities or public sector partners.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Understanding of regulatory and political environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the partnership delivery strategy for the Bathing Water Programme across the Southern Water region.
• Build strong relationships with local authorities, regulators, environmental groups, community organisations and delivery partners.
• Secure commitment and action from partners to improve bathing water quality and environmental outcomes.
• Develop practical catchment-based solutions delivering measurable benefits.
• Influence senior stakeholders and community leaders to support delivery.
• Drive accountability and collaboration across complex partnership networks.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Influencing

Negotiation

Strategic programmes

Public sector partners

Commercial awareness

Delivery leadership

Team leadership

Job description

**Job Title:**Senior Strategic Delivery Lead (Partnerships)**Location:**within our region (hybrid/flexible)**Contract Type:**Permanent**Hours:**37 hours per week**Salary:** circa £75,000 + car allowance The Environment & Innovation team is at the forefront of Southern Water’s drive to enhance and protect the environment. Deploying the latest innovative solutions and working in partnership with our customers and stakeholders, the team takes a holistic approach to water quality and flow across the region. Currently delivering a programme that is expanding to over £2 billion over the next 10 years. This is a fast-paced team that is now expanding to continue to deliver a larger programme of sustainable and innovative solutions. This role sits in the part of the directorate that focuses on improving bathing water quality.**About the role**Bathing water quality can be impacted by several factors including leaking or damaged sewers, storm overflows, agricultural runoff, illegal connections, seabird or other animal waste, incorrect disposal of waste and other marine activities. **The Senior Strategic Delivery Lead** will pioneer how we partner with our stakeholders and the community, to improve and maintain bathing water quality across our 700 miles of coastline. This is a delivery leadership role focused on turning collaboration into action. You'll work with councils, communities, regulators, NGOs, contractors and environmental partners to develop and deliver solutions that improve bathing water quality and create sustainable environmental outcomes.**What you will be responsible for*** Lead the partnership delivery strategy for the Bathing Water Programme across the Southern Water region.* Build strong relationships with local authorities, regulators, environmental groups, community organisations and delivery partners.* Secure commitment and action from partners to improve bathing water quality, to supplement the extensive work we are carrying out on our own assets* Develop practical catchment-based solutions that deliver measurable environmental benefits.* Influence senior stakeholders, political representatives and community leaders.* Ensure improvements are maintained over the long term, not simply delivered and handed over.* Drive accountability, collaboration and performance across complex partnership networks.* Act as a key advisor to programme leadership on partnership and delivery strategy. **What you’ll bring to the role**You'll be a highly credible strategic leader with experience delivering complex programmes through partnerships.You'll bring:* Significant experience of leading large-scale strategic programmes.* A track record of successful delivery involving councils, regulators, communities or public sector partners.* Exceptional stakeholder management, influencing and negotiation skills.* Strong understanding of regulatory and political environments.* Experience navigating complex and high-profile stakeholder landscapes.* Commercial awareness and an outcome-focused approach.* The ability to balance strategic thinking with practical delivery.* Strong leadership capability and experience building high-performing relationships and teams.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.*\"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.\"*If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here: Introduce Yourself (myworkdaysite.com- *Introduce Yourself*)**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.#LI-Hybrid#LI-AC1### Interested in the role?* We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so if you are interested in the position please do send your application over today to ensure consideration.* We truly appreciate every application. Please note, that due to the volume of interest, we may not be able to provide personalised feedback to all applicants.### Our Benefits* Company and performance-related bonus* Generous pension* Life assurance payment equal to four times your annual salary* Health benefits through a Cash Plan* Two paid community volunteering days a year* 28 days annual holiday* Occupational health service* Retail discount app* We offer competitive maternity leave, and flexible return to work options### Everybody Welcome* We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to facilitate your participation in the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to let us know.### Need flexibility in your work?* Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?