At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead groundbreaking desalination projects to secure water supplies for the East of England.
- Company: Anglian Water, a leader in innovative water solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous pension, private healthcare, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to inclusion and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on vital infrastructure that benefits millions.
- Qualifications: Experience in complex infrastructure projects and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 57000 - 63000 € per year.
Circa £60k, salary depending on skills and experience. Permanent full-time with the flexibility for part-time, 37 hours a week. Location: Peterborough, Huntingdon, Lincoln or Norwich - Hybrid.
Three Career-Defining Project Manager Opportunities: Shape the Future of Water. We're building something big - and we're looking for exceptional Project Managers to help lead it. Anglian Water is developing a ground-breaking desalination programme to secure water supplies for the East of England for generations to come.
We're looking for three Project Managers to help drive this programme forward:
- Norfolk Desalination - a First-of-a-Kind Major Project: A once-in-a-career opportunity to help shape a potentially nationally significant project from the very beginning. We're looking for someone with major project experience, comfortable operating in early development: shaping strategy, programmes, budgets and governance. DCO experience is strongly desirable. This role is about influence, leadership and setting the foundations for delivery at scale.
- Desalination Pilot Plant: This role is about making innovation real. We're looking for a Project Manager with proven capital delivery experience, strong process knowledge and first-class H&S credentials. You'll be hands-on, visible on site, and integral to safely delivering a complex pilot (~£15m) that will inform future large-scale solutions.
- Desalination Associated Infrastructure (Pipelines, Pumping & Storage): This role focuses on the critical link between treatment and supply - the infrastructure that gets water into customers' taps. We're looking for pipeline development and delivery experience, with the confidence to lead complex interfaces across multiple projects.
Three roles. One programme. Real impact. If you want to work on infrastructure that genuinely matters, this is it.
What you'll be doing:
- Provide strong H&S and CDM leadership, embedding a safe, inclusive delivery culture.
- Own the project from early development onwards, controlling scope, programme, cost and risk.
- Build and manage the integrated project programme, milestones and dependencies.
- Lead budget and cost control, working closely with Commercial to manage forecasts, challenge variance and maintain affordability.
- Drive risk, issue and opportunity management, ensuring proactive mitigation and clear escalation.
- Manage complex interfaces across workstreams, partners and stakeholders.
- Lead planning, consenting and regulatory activity, supporting submissions and key regulatory discussions.
- Work with Procurement to develop procurement and contract strategies, managing consultants and contractors under NEC contracts.
- Prepare and present governance and assurance updates, including sponsorship and performance forums.
- Lead lessons learned and continuous improvement.
We invest in our people - as a valued employee, you'll be entitled to:
- Personal private health care.
- Generous double match pension - contribute 7% and Anglian Water will contribute 14%, giving a total contribution of 21%.
- 24-hour Virtual GP service for you and your household.
- 26 days annual leave - rising with length of service and the ability to buy more.
- Life assurance (up to 8 x salary).
- Personal accident cover (up to 5 x salary).
- Excellent family-friendly policies, such as 26 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave, as well as 4 weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
- Opportunity for shared parental pay.
- Bonus scheme.
- Flexible benefits and working culture to support your wellbeing and lifestyle.
What we're looking for:
- Proven experience delivering complex infrastructure projects, with accountability across the full project lifecycle.
- Strong early-stage development experience, shaping scope, strategy, programmes and budgets.
- Confidence owning cost, programme, risk and opportunity management within clear governance frameworks.
- Experience working under NEC contracts.
- Strong CDM and health & safety leadership.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
Ultimately, we're looking for someone who is organised, resilient and comfortable with complexity and uncertainty - someone who wants to lead and take ownership, not just manage.
Inclusion at Anglian Water: Inclusion is for everyone. We recruit based on merit and passion, and we're committed to creating an environment where everyone feels they belong - regardless of background or personal circumstances. This is your opportunity to work on some of the most innovative water projects in the UK and help secure supplies for millions of people.
Closing date: 7th June 2026.
Project Manager?- Desalination Programme in Cambridge employer: Anglian Water
Anglian Water is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to work on groundbreaking projects that secure water supplies for the East of England. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, generous benefits including a double match pension scheme and flexible working arrangements, we foster a culture of inclusion and continuous growth. Join us in making a real impact while enjoying a supportive environment that values your contributions and career development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Manager?- Desalination Programme in Cambridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their desalination programme and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. Show them you’re genuinely interested!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be clear about your achievements and how they relate to the role. We want to hear about your project management successes and how you’ve tackled challenges in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Manager?- Desalination Programme in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Project Manager role. Highlight your experience with complex infrastructure projects and any relevant DCO experience. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the desalination programme and how your background makes you the perfect fit. We love seeing genuine enthusiasm!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:In your application, emphasise your leadership experience and ability to manage complex interfaces. We’re looking for someone who can take ownership and drive projects forward, so let us know how you've done this in the past.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there.
How to prepare for a job interview at Anglian Water
✨Know Your Projects Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into your past projects, especially those related to infrastructure and water management. Be ready to discuss specific challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and the impact of your decisions. This will show your potential employer that you have the hands-on experience they’re looking for.
✨Master the Art of Stakeholder Management
Given the importance of stakeholder engagement in this role, prepare examples of how you've successfully managed relationships with various stakeholders. Highlight your communication skills and how you’ve navigated complex interfaces in previous projects. This will demonstrate your ability to lead and influence effectively.
✨Showcase Your Health & Safety Leadership
Health and safety is a top priority in this role. Be prepared to discuss your approach to embedding a safe delivery culture in your projects. Share specific instances where you implemented H&S measures and how they contributed to project success. This will underline your commitment to safety and compliance.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Governance and Risk Management
Familiarise yourself with governance frameworks and risk management strategies relevant to large-scale projects. Prepare to discuss how you’ve controlled scope, cost, and risk in your previous roles. This will highlight your organisational skills and ability to manage complexity, which are crucial for this position.
