Transformation Manager

Pertemps Thames Water; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 26 days + bank holidays

Performance-related pay

Generous pension scheme

Flexible health and wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Pertemps Thames Water in Reading is seeking a Transformation Manager to drive high-priority programmes during a major period of change. You will translate insight into practical action, guide teams through new ways of working and ensure improvements are measurable and sustained.

The role requires strong communication, stakeholder engagement and delivery capability, with the ability to operate in ambiguous environments across operations, technology, digital and business groups.

Qualifications

• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement are essential.
• Proven programme delivery experience across complex change initiatives.
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments with calm decision making.
• Structured, delivery-focused approach with data-driven decision making.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams across operations, technical, digital and business groups.

Responsibilities

• Turning strategic objectives into clear and practical delivery plans.
• Supporting complex transformation programmes and workstreams from definition through to implementation and embedding.
• Using data and insight to identify opportunities, simplify processes and improve operational performance.
• Establishing proportionate governance, delivery controls and measures of success.
• Monitoring progress, identifying risks and issues and taking action to keep delivery on track.
• Engaging and influencing stakeholders across different functions and levels of the organisation.
• Helping teams prepare for and adopt new ways of working, including cultural and behavioural change.

Skills

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Programme delivery

Ambiguity handling

Adaptability

Structured approach

Data-driven thinking

Job description

This full-time Transformation Manager position with Pertemps Thames Water sits within Reading, offering a competitive salary of £50,940 to £65,000 annually, based on experience.

The successful candidate will support high-priority programmes during a major period of change across the organisation. Responsibilities include converting insight into practical action, guiding teams through new working methods and ensuring improvements are measurable and sustained.

Applicants should demonstrate strong communication, stakeholder engagement and programme delivery abilities, alongside the confidence to operate within ambiguous situations. The post involves collaboration with operational, technical, digital and business groups, so adaptability and a structured approach are essential.

Thames Water is delivering one of the most significant transformations in its history. We’re looking for Transformation Managers who can bring energy, structure and momentum to complex change across our operations. You’ll turn insight into practical action, help teams adopt new ways of working and deliver lasting improvements for our customers, colleagues and communities.

What you’ll be doing as a Transformation Manager

As a Transformation Manager, you’ll support the delivery of high-priority transformation programmes in a fast-moving and sometimes ambiguous environment. You’ll work across operational, technical, digital, data and business teams, bringing people together around shared outcomes and ensuring change is practical, measurable and embedded for the long term. Depending on the programme, you may lead a workstream, support a wider matrix team or take personal ownership of specific delivery activity.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Turning strategic objectives into clear and practical delivery plans.
• Supporting complex transformation programmes and workstreams from definition through to implementation and embedding.
• Using data and insight to identify opportunities, simplify processes and improve operational performance.
• Establishing proportionate governance, delivery controls and measures of success.
• Monitoring progress, identifying risks and issues and taking action to keep delivery on track.
• Managing dependencies across multiple initiatives and escalating concerns clearly.
• Engaging and influencing stakeholders across different functions and levels of the organisation.
• Supporting matrix and virtual teams through sustained periods of change.
• Helping teams prepare for and adopt new ways of working, including cultural and behavioural change.
• Creating clear, high-quality programme documentation, updates and communications.
• Communicating complex information clearly and succinctly to different audiences.
• Applying programme, project and change methodologies in a practical and proportionate way.

Base location: Hybrid, Reading/Home Working pattern: Full-time – Monday to Friday 36 hours per week

Necessary requirements for the role: You’ll typically be expected to work from the Reading office around two days per week. You’ll also be expected to work from the London office around two days per month. You must be able to travel across the Thames Water catchment area when required.

The essential criteria to help you succeed in this role is:

• We’re looking for someone who combines strong delivery discipline with a practical, people-focused approach. You’ll be comfortable working through uncertainty, using evidence to make decisions and building the relationships needed to land change successfully.
• Demonstrable experience delivering transformation, change, business improvement or operational improvement programmes.
• Programme or project management capability, including planning, governance, delivery monitoring, risk and issue management and dependency management.
• Experience delivering change of meaningful scale and complexity, with clear evidence of your contribution and the outcomes achieved.
• Experience sustaining delivery over an extended period and maintaining momentum when priorities or requirements change.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to turn data and insight into practical action.
• The ability to bring clarity, structure and direction to fast-moving or ambiguous environments.
• Experience engaging, influencing and constructively challenging stakeholders across different levels of an organisation.
• Experience working through matrix or virtual teams, including situations where you don’t have direct line-management responsibility.
• Experience supporting people through organisational, cultural or behavioural change and helping new ways of working become embedded.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information succinctly.
• A pragmatic, resilient and organised approach, with strong attention to detail and a focus on delivery.

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

• Experience within utilities, infrastructure, manufacturing or another regulated or capital-intensive environment.
• Previous consulting or professional-services experience.
• Experience supporting operational turnaround, efficiency or business improvement programmes.
• Experience of technology-enabled, digital or data transformation, while keeping people and operational adoption at the centre of delivery.
• A relevant business, engineering, human resources, project, programme or change-management qualification.
• Experience coaching colleagues in project, programme or change-delivery practices.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary from £50,940 t0 £65,000 per annum, dependent on experience.
• 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 days with length of service, plus bank holidays.
• Performance-related pay plan linked to company performance measures and targets.
• Generous pension scheme.
• 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 (Please note different T&Cs apply if on secondment)

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 the 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.