Head of Major Projects

Overview

Ready to take the lead to make a real, lasting impact? Looking for a role where your expertise will directly shape the future of our region’s water supply for generations to come? This is a career-defining opportunity to lead two of the most significant infrastructure programmes in our history. This is your opportunity to join us as Head of Major Projects, a key leadership role, responsible for the successful delivery of South East Water\’s Broad Oak and Arlington Reservoir projects under the Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) and Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) frameworks. You won\’t just be managing a project; you\’ll develop the overall strategy, lead and manage teams to ensure our major projects are scoped, delivered safely, on schedule, and within budget, meeting the high standards of quality and environmental performance required by SEW, its customers and regulators. It’s a complex and rewarding challenge where you can truly make your mark.

Accountabilities:

• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with all internal and external stakeholders to facilitate smooth project delivery and serve as a primary point of contact for external stakeholders, including Ofwat, RAPID, the Environment Agency, and local communities.
• Manage governance compliance through the RAPID gated process, ensuring all submissions are timely and accurate.
• Manage the DPC competitive tender process, including the evaluation and selection of the Competitively Appointed Provider (CAP).
• Drive innovation and new approaches to unlock programme opportunities, test delivery plans, proactively resolve emerging issues, build confidence with regulators, the investor market and delivery stakeholders.
• Engage with the supplier market to build an understanding of and appetite for the delivery model using insights gained to improve and refine our approaches.
• Work with SEW PMO to oversee the development of robust project plans, risk registers, and governance structures to ensure effective project control and transparent reporting.
• Chair and own Steering Group governance process providing regular and accurate reports on project progress, performance, and key risks to SEW senior leadership team and Board
• Ensure visibility of risks and issues through routine reporting and be proactive in how these are addressed within SEW and with our wider stakeholder groups.
• Work with procurement and legal teams to negotiate and manage complex contracts with DPC partners, consultants, and contractors.
• Shape and operationalise a programmatic approach to delivery, creating clarity, insight and performance
• Responsible for the financial performance of the major projects portfolio, including budget setting, forecasting, and cost control.
• Ensure effective commercial and contract management, mitigating financial and commercial risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Major Projects team fostering a culture of excellence, safety, and accountability.
• Ensure the team is equipped with the necessary skills, resources, and tools to effectively deliver the major projects programme.
• Promote a safe working environment and ensure all projects adhere to the SEW health, safety, and environmental policies.

Essential Skills/ Qualifications

• Experienced project delivery professional with a comprehensive understanding of major infrastructure delivery, regulatory landscapes, and large-scale infrastructure delivery models.
• Significant knowledge and proven experience of major project delivery, ideally in an infrastructure sector with PFI/DBO or similar financing models managing substantial commercial risk across a complex regulatory environment.
• A leadership style which inspires, motivates, and promotes collaboration to develop high performing, innovative and inclusive teams.
• Demonstrable experience in managing multi-million-pound capital programmes and delivering large-scale, complex infrastructure projects, with a significant portion in a senior leadership role.
• A relevant degree in Engineering, Project Management, or a related field.
• A relevant Professional qualification in project or programme management (e.g., APM Chartered Project Professional, PRINCE2, MoP, MSP)
• Excellent interpersonal skills, particularly in negotiation, influencing and engagement, with the ability to build trust, confidence and lasting partnerships across organisations.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a high-performing team.
• Strong commercial and contractual knowledge.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

We want to be the water company people want to be supplied by and want to work for.

We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That’s why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

What can you expect from your recruitment?

• To apply for this position, please submit your CV on our career’s website.
• It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water.
• Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks.

If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been looking for, apply now!

South East Water kindly asks that recruitment agencies refrain from submitting CVs to our employees or associates without explicit invitation from our HR Resourcing team. CVs sent on a speculative basis will not be acknowledged and will not assume any responsibility for fees or commissions in the event that we hire a candidate who applied directly or subsequently introduced by an instructed agency.

Compensation package

• Package starting from £120,000+ (flexibility depending on experience)
• £9,844 Car allowance
• Senior Management Bonus