Project Manager - Transformation Programme 19 – 24 Month Fixed Term Contract
Thames Water is seeking a talented and highly motivated Project Manager to join our Retail PMO team, supporting the delivery of a major procurement and operational transformation programme.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role within one of Thames Water's most significant transformation programmes, helping to deliver lasting change across our operations, technology and customer services.
This is not a traditional PMO or reporting role. We're looking for an experienced Project Manager who can actively influence delivery outcomes, challenge plans, identify risks early and work alongside the Programme Manager to drive successful programme delivery across multiple workstreams.
Working alongside the Programme Manager, you will be at the centre of programme delivery, ensuring governance is effective, risks are understood, dependencies are actively managed, and stakeholders have the insight they need to make informed decisions.
This role is ideal for a Project Manager who understands how complex programmes are delivered, not just how they are reported. We are looking for someone who can provide constructive challenge, identify issues before they become blockers, influence delivery teams and help drive successful outcomes across multiple workstreams. If you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, solving complex delivery challenges and collaborating with senior stakeholders to make things happen, we'd love to hear from you.
What you will be doing as a Project Manager
- Take ownership of programme governance and controls, ensuring effective management of decisions, actions, risks and dependencies across the programme.
- Lead the coordination of governance forums, maintaining governance calendars, decision logs, RAID logs and action trackers.
- Produce high-quality weekly and monthly programme reporting, bringing together updates from multiple workstreams into a clear and coherent programme-wide view.
- Analyse programme performance and delivery progress, identifying trends, emerging risks and areas requiring intervention.
- Work closely with the Programme Manager and workstream leads to proactively manage risks, issues and dependencies, driving mitigation and resolution activities.
- Build strong working relationships across programme workstreams, delivery teams, business stakeholders and suppliers.
- Challenge plans, readiness activities and delivery progress to ensure commitments are achievable and potential issues are identified early.
- Support recovery planning where delivery is at risk and provide recommendations to improve programme performance.
- Prepare materials and insights for senior stakeholder meetings, governance forums and Steering Committees.
- Represent the programme within selected meetings and deputise for the Programme Manager where appropriate.
What you should bring to the role
Essential
- Proven Project Management experience delivering complex business transformation initiatives.
- Experience working within large-scale programmes involving procurement, operational transformation or significant business change.
- Strong experience of programme governance, reporting, RAID management and delivery controls.
- Demonstrable experience coordinating multiple workstreams and managing complex interdependencies.
- Proven ability to identify risks and issues early, provide constructive challenge and drive actions through to resolution.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate detailed delivery information into concise programme-level insight.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, including experience engaging senior leaders, programme sponsors and delivery teams.
- Strong organisation skills with the ability to work across multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience producing high-quality reporting and presentations for senior stakeholders.
Desirable
- Experience within utilities, water, energy, telecommunications, financial services or other regulated industries.
- PRINCE2, APM, MSP or equivalent project or programme management qualification.
- Experience working with large suppliers and complex procurement activities.
How you will work with the Programme Manager
The Programme Manager retains accountability for overall programme outcomes, strategic direction, stakeholder leadership and key decision-making.
As Project Manager, you will work alongside the Programme Manager to establish and operate effective programme controls, governance and coordination activities. You will increasingly provide delivery insight, constructive challenge and practical recommendations to support successful programme delivery. This role goes beyond reporting programme status. You will actively influence delivery outcomes by maintaining visibility across workstreams, identifying emerging issues, driving actions to resolution and helping the Programme Manager make informed decisions.
Base Location: Hybrid working with typically 2-3 days per week in the office, flexing up or down depending on programme requirements and delivery phase. The role will be based between Langley and Reading; ad hoc travel to Swindon and London may be required.
Hours: 36 hours per week.
What’s in it for you?
- A Competitive salary of £55,000 to £60,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience
- 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 days with length of service. (plus bank holidays)
- Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
- Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
- 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.
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 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
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.
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