Water Strategy & Programme Lead

Southern Water; Durrington, Falmer; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Pension

Life assurance

Cash plan health

Volunteer days

Annual leave 28

Occupational health

Retail discount app

Flexible return to work

Job summary

Southern Water is seeking a Strategic Planning Programme Manager to lead critical strategic projects including the WRMP and DWMP, ensuring delivery on time, within budget and to high quality standards. Hybrid working between Durrington and Falmer, with a permanent contract and a salary up to £55k.

You will coordinate across functions, manage governance, mitigate risks, and report progress to senior management.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in project and programme management within complex delivery environments.
• Strong leadership with experience managing teams in a matrix organisation.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Desirable: Experience in regulatory project programme delivery (WRMP/DP, DWMP, Price Review, WINEP).

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage one or more strategic planning workstreams or programmes from initiation to delivery.
• Coordinate across multiple functions and directorates, including estimating, scheduling, procurement, design, construction, assurance, communications, asset strategy, and frontline operations.
• Manage project governance, ensuring all deadlines and decision points are met, including design, delivery, financial, communication, assurance, and submission deadlines.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks, issues, and dependencies to safeguard project success.
• Collaborate closely with workstream leads, senior management, and stakeholders to monitor progress and maintain clear, timely reporting.
• Build and maintain strong cross-functional relationships, influencing teams across the business.
• Facilitate meetings, problem-solve, and drive consensus to keep projects on track.
• Support assurance reviews and engage confidently with regulators.
• Mentor and coach individuals and teams to ensure effective implementation of the Strategic Planning delivery approach.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Job description

Southern Water is seeking a Strategic Planning Programme Manager to lead critical strategic projects including the WRMP and DWMP, ensuring delivery on time, within budget and to high quality standards. Hybrid working between Durrington and Falmer, with a permanent contract and a salary up to £55k.

You will coordinate across functions, manage governance, mitigate risks, and report progress to senior management.