Major Projects Engineering Delivery Director

Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose. South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK’s most stunning landscapes. We’re proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals include lowering our carbon footprint, planting 300,000 trees, restoring peatlands, and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.

Major Projects Engineering Delivery Director (SRO Programme)

Location: Bristol or Exeter

Business Area: Strategic Resource Options (SRO) Programme

South West Water is delivering a once-in-a-generation programme of investment to secure long-term water resilience across our region. We are seeking an exceptional Major Projects Engineering Delivery Director to lead the engineering delivery of our Strategic Resource Options (SRO) portfolio – a circa £4bn programme of nationally significant major infrastructure projects. This is a critical leadership role responsible for shaping and delivering complex, high-profile water resource schemes through the Major Water Infrastructure Programme. You will lead integrated, cross-functional teams and ensure successful outcomes from design through to delivery and operational readiness.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead end-to-end engineering and technical delivery across the SRO portfolio
• Drive value engineering, innovation and design excellence to maximise customer and environmental outcomes
• Provide leadership across engineering, environmental, planning, land, stakeholder and operational functions
• Ensure robust governance, compliance, and Board-level reporting across all programmes
• Oversee commercial performance and programme controls, aligned with NEC frameworks
• Build and manage senior stakeholder relationships, including RAPID, Ofwat, EA and Natural England
• Ensure health & safety excellence remains the top priority in all activities
• Develop high-performing, inclusive teams and foster a strong delivery culture
• Ensure alignment with group strategy, sustainability commitments and long-term planning

What We're Looking For

• Strategic, delivery-focused leader with strong track record
• Extensive experience in engineering/programme leadership within major infrastructure (water, utilities, energy)
• Proven track record delivering multi-million-pound major infrastructure programmes in regulated environments
• Strong experience delivering within the Major Water Infrastructure Programme
• Demonstrable success in leading complex, cross-functional teams
• Deep understanding of health & safety, governance, and commercial controls

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering or related field
• Extensive experience in programme leadership, including senior leadership positions
• Full UK Driving Licence

Desirable

• Chartered status (ICE, CIWEM, APM or equivalent)
• Experience in contract management and NEC frameworks

Key Behaviours

• Collaborative Leader – builds alignment across diverse teams and functions
• Decisive & Accountable – takes ownership and drives results
• Influential Communicator – confident at Board and executive level
• Ethical & Values-Driven – leads with integrity and transparency

Why This Role?

• Lead high-impact, nationally significant infrastructure projects
• Play a pivotal role in securing future water resilience for our region
• Work closely with executive leadership and key external stakeholders
• Contribute to a purpose-led organisation focused on sustainability and innovation

What’s In It For You

• 30 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Bonus Plan
• Private Healthcare
• Company car or cash for car allowance
• Competitive contributory pension
• Share-save scheme
• Health benefits & wellbeing support programmes
• Group discounts
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Financial support services
• Development and training opportunities
• … and much more!

If you’re ready to take on a defining leadership role in one of the UK’s most important infrastructure programmes, we’d love to hear from you.

Closing Date: 6th July 2026. We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.

Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness. Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:

• Be Rock Solid – Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.
• Be You – We want you to bring your best every day. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.
• Be the Future – Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.

We look after the water and wastewater services for 1.8 million customers across Cornwall, Devon, the Isles of Scilly and parts of Dorset and Somerset. From treatment and maintenance, to innovation and improvements, we’re busy every day finding and fixing leaks, unblocking sewers and going bigger and further in our environmental work to be a company you can be proud of.