Transformation Manager

Southern Water; Durrington; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Water is seeking a Transformation Manager to lead large-scale change programmes across the organisation. You will partner with senior leaders to turn ideas into lasting results, delivering benefits realisation and sustainable change embedded in processes, systems and ways of working.

You’ll combine strong project leadership with stakeholder management and change expertise to drive operational improvement and efficiency, including automation and AI-enabled solutions.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading business transformation and change initiatives.
• Strong project and programme management expertise.
• Experience managing budgets, governance, risks, dependencies, and delivery plans.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Experience delivering change management and benefits realisation activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex transformation projects through the full lifecycle.
• Identify opportunities for operational improvement and efficiency.
• Develop and deliver business cases, ensuring realised benefits.
• Manage project plans, budgets, resources, risks, governance and reporting.
• Drive business readiness activities and support adoption of change.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership.
• Lead and motivate cross-functional teams to deliver outcomes.
• Champion innovation, automation, and AI-enabled solutions.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Benefits realisation

Budget management

Governance

Risk management

Delivery planning

Tools

PRINCE2

APM

MSP

Agile

Prosci

Job description

Closing Date

2026-10-16

Job Title: Transformation Manager

Location: Durrington

Contract: 18 month fixed term contract

At Southern Water, we’re investing in the future of our business, our customers, and our communities. As we continue to evolve and improve how we operate, we’re looking for an experienced Transformation Manager to help drive meaningful change across the organisation.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead complex transformation initiatives that improve performance, enhance customer outcomes, and support the delivery of our strategic ambitions. You’ll work at the heart of change, partnering with senior leaders and teams across the business to turn ideas into lasting results.

The Role

As a Transformation Manager, you’ll lead the delivery of large-scale transformation projects from concept through to implementation, ensuring benefits are realised and sustainable change is embedded across the business.

You’ll combine strong project leadership with excellent stakeholder management and change expertise to successfully deliver programmes that improve processes, ways of working, systems, and organisational effectiveness.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading complex transformation projects through the full project lifecycle.
• Identifying opportunities for operational improvement and organisational efficiency.
• Developing and delivering business cases and ensuring benefits are realised.
• Managing project plans, budgets, resources, risks, governance, and reporting.
• Driving business readiness activities and supporting successful adoption of change.
• Building strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership.
• Leading and motivating cross-functional teams to deliver outstanding outcomes.
• Championing innovation, continuous improvement, automation, and AI-enabled solutions.

About You

You’ll be a confident and credible transformation professional with a proven track record of delivering complex change programmes in large organisations.

You’ll bring:

• Significant experience leading business transformation and change initiatives.
• Strong project and programme management expertise.
• Experience managing budgets, governance, risks, dependencies, and delivery plans.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• The ability to navigate complexity and drive progress in fast-paced environments.
• Experience delivering change management, business readiness, and benefits realisation activities.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and presentation skills.

Desirable Experience

We’re particularly interested in candidates with experience in:

• Utilities, infrastructure, engineering, or other regulated environments.
• Operational excellence, process improvement, or organisational design.
• Digital transformation, automation, or technology-enabled change.
• PRINCE2, APM, MSP, Agile or similar project management qualifications.
• Prosci or equivalent change management qualifications.

Why Join Us?

This role offers the opportunity to make a visible impact across Southern Water. You’ll work on high-profile transformation programmes, collaborate with senior leaders, and help shape how we operate for years to come.

If you’re passionate about delivering meaningful change, influencing at all levels, and creating lasting business improvement, we’d love to hear from you.

Join us and help transform the future of Southern Water. Apply today.