Strategic Major Projects Sponsor (Water & Utilities)

Southern Water; South Harting; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Water invites applications for a Major Project Sponsor to lead strategic programmes, ensuring alignment to business goals and realising intended benefits. The role involves governance, financial oversight, and stakeholder engagement across multiple sites with hybrid working patterns.

The successful candidate will oversee business case development, investment approval, and risk management, reporting to the Strategic Programme Sponsor and ensuring delivery of project milestones within

Qualifications

• Experience in project or programme sponsorship within the water/infrastructure sector.
• Familiarity with gated process reviews and benefits management.
• Experience in asset management and strategic risk identification.
• Exposure to large-scale infrastructure projects, water/utilities sector, regulated industries.
• Understanding of financing models such as DPC/PFI.

Responsibilities

• Sponsor and oversee project delivery, ensuring objectives, timelines, benefits realisation, and outcomes align with strategic business goals.
• Develop and maintain robust business cases, securing investment approval through governance processes and escalating significant risks or issues.
• Provide financial oversight, ensuring projects deliver value for money and manage budgets and forecasts.
• Monitor project performance throughout the lifecycle, ensuring milestones and governance requirements are met.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including regulators, ensuring engagement and transparent communication.
• Drive proactive risk, opportunity, and benefits management to optimise outcomes.
• Ensure high-quality regulatory submissions and project documentation are completed to meet compliance.

Skills

Project governance

Benefits management

Financial management

Investment appraisals

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Regulated industries knowledge

Capital delivery

Education

Numerate/technical degree

Job description

Southern Water invites applications for a Major Project Sponsor to lead strategic programmes, ensuring alignment to business goals and realising intended benefits. The role involves governance, financial oversight, and stakeholder engagement across multiple sites with hybrid working patterns.

The successful candidate will oversee business case development, investment approval, and risk management, reporting to the Strategic Programme Sponsor and ensuring delivery of project milestones within