Capital Programme Lead Engineer in Langstone

We’re making a difference: Together, we can ensure that there is enough water for everyone, now and in the future. Portsmouth Water are excited to be looking for a Capital Programme Lead Engineer to join the newly established Operational Services department. We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced professional to play a key role in the successful delivery of Portsmouth Water’s capital investment programme.

In this role, you will ensure sponsor delegated duties are fulfilled, providing strategic client-side leadership and governance across the Capital Project Management Cycle. You will work closely with internal and external stakeholders, lead engineering input during the needs capture optioneering and feasibility stages of the project, ensuring investment decisions are robust, well-justified and aligned to business objectives. You will also support the PR29 process through analysis and reporting of asset health and investment needs, helping to develop compelling business cases and ensuring project benefits are realised upon completion. A particular focus of this role will be maintaining effective governance and oversight of Havant Thicket and Portsmouth Water’s wider capital investment programme.

What will you be doing? Key Responsibilities

• Provide stakeholder input to secure agreement or acceptance of various plans associated with the capital investment programme and/or Havant Thicket Reservoir project.
• Liaise with engineering and project management teams to ensure projects fulfil the needs statement.
• Ensure the Asset Directorate and/or Havant Thicket Project Team deliver the agreed scope.
• Provide operational input to assist in the project handover on completion.
• Measure defined benefits to ensure outcomes are delivered.
• Understand and report on the non-infrastructure asset database and asset health including asset criticality, reliability and resilience.
• Understand internal and external risks to both sufficiency of supply and water quality as part of PR29 capital investment long term delivery strategy.
• Keep a log of Technical Queries, Requests for Information and Design Submissions received, responded to, and overdue.
• Arrange and/or attend regular meetings with the Asset Directorate engineering team and project managers to meet Investment Milestones.
• Write and manage the Investment Needs statements for the Operations Directorate.
• Ensure project development, progress, engineered solutions and governance is aligned with the Sponsors expectations.
• Ensure the Company’s standards of specifications, requirements and policies established by Portsmouth Water, specifically in line with the needs statement.
• Undertake a benefits analysis to demonstrate the effectiveness of the solution and the outcomes have been realised.
• Work with the Investment Managers to provide support and input into the Capital Investment Long Term Delivery Strategy.
• Leadership responsibility for the Capital Programme Engineers, providing guidance, mentorship, and talent development.
• Effectively manage the performance of direct reports and ensure that performance management processes within the team are robust and effective.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within the team.
• Health and safety regulatory requirements (CDM and H&S at Work Act).
• Environmental regulatory requirements (e.g. EPSM).
• Work with Asset Directorate to ensure any new assets and installations are compliant with relevant legislation.
• Approved designs are accepted efficiently, being fully functional with all relevant records.
• Responsible for own health, safety and wellbeing, reporting site security and safety concerns in line with company and contractual procedures and demonstrating the expected behaviours of the organisation.

What do you need? Skills, Qualifications & Competencies

Essential

• Minimum HNC/D in a technical discipline related to the field of study.
• Full UK driving licence (all applicants will be required to undertake our driver assessment).
• Must hold or be capable of obtaining Security Check (SC) clearance.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to build excellent relationships with the team and stakeholders.
• Self-motivated, enthusiastic, and able to foster collaborative working.
• Working knowledge of planning software and techniques.
• Proven project management capability.
• A clear, systematic approach to solving complex issues and able to communicate solutions in an effective, efficient, high-level manner.
• Good analytical skills, with the ability to review and write and justify investment needs, progress reports review feasibility and optioneering paper and input into decision support papers.
• Ability to work to deadlines with a focus on results and quality.
• Microsoft Office (Excel/PowerPoint/Word/Teams).
• Willingness to improve knowledge on asset management.
• Team Leadership: Motivating, directing, and coordinating teams.
• Resource Management: Planning, allocating, and managing resources effectively.

Desirable

• Previous operational technical experience in the water industry, working on repair and maintenance and management of assets.
• Previous experience delivering asset improvement schemes as part of a capital programme.
• Previous experience in asset management, developing operational and capital long term delivery programmes.

If you are successful for the role, you will be required to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) pre-employment checks that will include a basic disclosure check. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the national security vetting process for either a CTC or SC clearance check. Any offer of employment is conditional upon completion and receipt of satisfactory checks.

We recognise people want to work in a variety of different ways, and that’s why we’re happy to consider flexible working arrangements. Please feel free to talk to us at interview about the flexibility you may be looking for. We’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and we actively encourage applications from all sections of society. Please be aware, the Company has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

What can Portsmouth Water offer you?

• Holidays Made Better: Enjoy 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, giving you plenty of time to relax, recharge, and explore.
• Pension That Works for You: We’ll help secure your future with a generous pension scheme, contributing up to 15% – because your tomorrow matters as much as your today.
• Performance Pays Off: You could earn a non-contractual bonus of up to 6% of your basic salary, linked to company performance – because when we succeed together, you should benefit too.
• Family Comes First: Whether you’re welcoming a new arrival through birth or adoption, we’ve got your back with enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave and pay.
• Social Events: All expenses covered summer and winter social events.
• Peace of Mind, Always: Our life assurance scheme gives your loved ones extra security, with a 4x salary lump sum benefit in case the unexpected happens.
• Comprehensive Wellbeing Support: Whether you need confidential mental health and wellbeing advice 24/7 through our Employee Assistance Programme, or physical health support via our Virtual GP service (available 8am–10pm, 7 days a week for you and your immediate family), help is always close at hand with the HealthHero app.
• Additional Support When You Need It: We know life has its ups and downs. That’s why we offer Private Medical Insurance - provided by Bupa giving you access to expert healthcare and 24/7 confidential support.
• PW Perks – Treat Yourself! Enjoy exclusive discounts at thousands of retailers, plus exciting benefits like: Electric Vehicle Scheme (after 1 year), Cycle to Work Scheme, Health Cash Plan …and so much more!