Programme and Commercial Director - Water Industry

RPS have an opportunity for a Programme and Commercial Director supporting delivery of our role as United Utilities Strategic Solutions Partner in deliver of their Better Rivers Programme. The Programme and Commercial Director will be responsible for building strong client relationships in the Northwest of England. This will require travel and working from client offices in Lingley Mere (Warrington) on a twice weekly basis. This position will suit those with experience in the water/wastewater sector in a Project or Programme leadership role with strong elements of commercial management at programme level. This is a unique opportunity for a candidate with experience in successfully leading the delivery of large programmes of work in the water sector.

As a key member of a dynamic and ambitious framework leadership team, you will work directly alongside our Framework Director and with a team of Regional Programme Managers charged with delivering a significant programme of wastewater projects to challenging timescales and budgets.

About The Team: RPS Water Consulting is a team of Engineers, Modellers, and Data Analysts providing Asset Management and Operational Strategy development, to our Water Industry clients to support business planning and delivery. This is an evolving industry, providing challenges and opportunities that require innovation, dedication, and teamwork to help us meet our clients’ needs. In addition to the United Utilities framework, we also work with several major water companies across the UK, having a broad portfolio of long-term framework agreements in place. Our Water Consultancy business has a range of prestigious AMP8 programmes leading into AMP9 and beyond, where you’ll be securing your career for the next 20 years, leaving a lasting legacy!

About You: As a key member of the Water Consultancy business, your role as Programme and Commercial Director is critical to helping us deliver great projects for our Water Industry clients. You will be working alongside a multi-disciplinary team of water project experts on a range of capital delivery projects. By joining us, you are making a meaningful impact on millions of lives in the UK, leaving a legacy for generations to come. As a valuable member of our team, you will play a crucial role in the water industry, and work with the largest water companies in the region, ensuring a positive and enduring influence on the communities we serve. If you are ready to contribute your skills and expertise to a dynamic and innovative environment, we invite you to join us on this exciting journey.

Your Responsibilities: The Programme and Commercial Director, working with the Framework Director, is responsible for overall programme delivery and profitability. Key duties and responsibilities include:

• Leading, and working in collaboration with, our team of Regional Programme Managers.
• Working with the Project Managers to deliver framework profitability targets.
• Consolidation and co-ordination of delivery programmes across the framework.
• Resource planning and management.
• Call off contract proposal review and approval.
• Identification of programme risks and opportunities, together with risk and opportunity mitigation and management.
• Liaison with and reporting to the internal framework board, to the client and other stakeholders.
• Building high performing teams.
• Driving efficiency and optimisation in the programme.

Skills, Knowledge, and Experience: The Programme and Commercial Director will be a pragmatic individual with the ability to work in collaboration with a range of stakeholders to drive successful delivery. Key role requirements include:

• Experience in leading the delivery of major project/programmes in the water sector.
• Development and delivery of framework commercial strategy.
• Commercial acumen and the ability to deliver commercially complex framework programmes profitably.
• Proven ability to build and mentor teams and drive collaborative behaviours.
• Proven ability to co-ordinate and facilitate teams to deliver successful outcomes at project and programme level through a balance of strategic and tactical approaches.
• Excellent inter-personal, leadership and communication skills.
• Skilled in collaborative negotiation.

What’s in it for you? A personal development plan and a transparent career pathway puts you in the driving seat of your career and you’ll be supported as far as you want to go. We encourage and value different ideas, perspectives, and styles of thinking. We need a mix of experiences and skills to develop the most innovative ideas. We respect one another and recognise the potential and contribution of everyone. You’ll be joining a diverse community and a company that puts its people first and prioritises their well-being. A career here is far from ordinary. Here you’re not a number, you are part of the solution. We’re a connected community, working together to achieve exceptional outcomes. We understand the need to work flexibly, empowering our people to create a work-life balance that’s right for them. We also understand the importance of collaboration and social connection in the office environment. With agile offices and hybrid working offered as standard, we trust our people to find the right balance to meet client needs – this is a workplace that works for you.

RPS, A Tetra Tech company: Representing an exciting new chapter in our business, on 24 January 2023, RPS became a Tetra Tech company. With over 28,000 employees in more than 550 offices in more than 120 countries on seven continents, Tetra Tech is a leading, global provider of consulting and engineering services. As a Tetra Tech company, RPS is proud to offer our people market-leading development and project opportunities, helping to solve some of the world’s most complex problems. Come and join our team and truly make a difference in the future of water!