Senior Strategic Planning Manager

MWH Treatment; Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

MWH Treatment is seeking a Senior Strategic Planning Manager at the Peterborough office with hybrid working. You will link the Integrated Main Works Alliance with Anglian Water, driving strategic planning, governance and performance reporting to inform decisions at the Alliance level.

You will lead executive reporting, manage strategic risks and help shape Anglian Water’s investment programme, including contributions to the PR29 Business Plan. Strong leadership and collaboration are essential.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in programme delivery or strategic planning.
• Experience in complex infrastructure or regulated industries.
• Strong track record of executive reporting and governance.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Ability to turn complex data into strategic insight.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Outstanding communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning and business performance across the Alliance.
• Ensure alignment between client priorities, regulatory obligations and delivery outcomes.
• Support Alliance Director and ELT in developing long-term strategy.
• Provide executive-level insight, challenge and recommendations.
• Drive governance frameworks and assurance processes.
• Oversee monitoring and reporting of PCDs.
• Analyze performance and forecast 2-3 year risks.
• Develop robust programme assurance for time, cost and quality.
• Ensure reporting is accurate, timely and well-governed.
• Act as principal interface between Alliance and Anglian Water.
• Build relationships with senior client stakeholders.
• Represent the Alliance in executive forums and strategic discussions.
• Support transition from AMP8 to AMP9 delivery.
• Embed lessons learned and drive continuous improvement.
• Champion innovation, sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Executive reporting

Program governance

Performance assurance

Commercial acumen

Job description

We are looking to strengthen our Delivery team with a Senior Strategic Planning Manager based at our Peterborough office with hybrid working available.

Reporting directly to the Alliance Director, you will act as the critical link between the Integrated Main Works Alliance and Anglian Water, ensuring strategic priorities, regulatory commitments and delivery performance remain fully aligned.

You’ll lead strategic planning, governance, performance assurance and executive reporting activities, providing insight that enables informed decision-making across the Alliance. Working closely with senior leaders, partner organisations and client stakeholders, you’ll help drive business performance, manage strategic risks and support the development of Anglian Water’s future investment programme, including contributions to the PR29 Business Plan.

This is a highly visible leadership position requiring a blend of strategic thinking, stakeholder influence, operational understanding and commercial awareness.

What You’ll Be Doing

Strategic Leadership

• Lead strategic planning and business performance activities across the Alliance.
• Ensure clear alignment between client priorities, regulatory obligations and delivery outcomes.
• Support the Alliance Director and Executive Leadership Team in developing and implementing long-term strategy.
• Provide executive-level insight, challenge and recommendations to inform key business decisions.
• Drive governance frameworks and assurance processes that support excellence in delivery.

Performance & Programme Assurance

• Oversee the monitoring and reporting of Price Control Deliverables (PCDs).
• Analyse business performance, forecast future risks and identify opportunities across a 2-3 year horizon.
• Develop robust programme assurance processes covering time, cost and quality.
• Ensure reporting is accurate, timely and supported by effective governance.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as the principal strategic interface between the Alliance and Anglian Water.
• Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders and delivery partners.
• Provide clear visibility of performance, emerging risks and future priorities.
• Represent the Alliance in executive forums and key strategic discussions.

Transformation & Continuous Improvement

• Support the transition from AMP8 into AMP9 delivery.
• Help shape organisational transformation initiatives across the Alliance.
• Embed lessons learned, client feedback and best practice into business planning and performance improvement.
• Champion innovation, sustainability and environmental stewardship across programmes.

We’re seeking an experienced strategic leader who thrives in complex, collaborative environments and can influence at the highest levels.

Essential Experience

• Significant leadership experience within programme delivery, business management, strategic planning or performance management.
• Experience operating within complex infrastructure, utilities, engineering, construction or regulated industries.
• Strong track record of executive reporting, governance and performance assurance.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Ability to turn complex data into meaningful strategic insight.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Outstanding communication, leadership and relationship-building skills.

Desirable Experience

• Water industry experience and knowledge of AMP delivery.
• Understanding of regulatory performance frameworks and Price Control Deliverables (PCDs).
• Experience working within alliance, joint venture or collaborative delivery models.
• Degree qualified and/or professionally accredited in Business Management, Programme Management, Engineering, Leadership or related disciplines.
• MSP, APM, PRINCE2, MBA, Chartered Status or equivalent qualifications.