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- Tasks: Lead transformative change in water services and enhance customer engagement.
- Company: Join Southern Water, a leader in sustainable water solutions.
- Benefits: Up to £62,000 salary, generous pension, flexible working, and health benefits.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the environment and customer experiences.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in business change, strong project management skills, and excellent communication.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for career progression and training.
The predicted salary is between 43000 - 62000 £ per year.
Southern Water is embarking on one of the most ambitious transformation programmes in our history - the Alternative Metering Service Programme. Between 2025 and 2030, we will replace over one million water meters, introducing cutting-edge technology to revolutionise how we operate, engage with customers, and protect our environment.
As our Smart Programme Business Readiness & Change Lead, you’ll play a pivotal role in preparing our business for this change. Reporting to the Delivery Programme Manager, you’ll work across operational teams and with third-party partners to ensure Southern Water is ready to adopt new processes, technologies, and ways of working. This is more than a metering upgrade - it’s a strategic shift in how we deliver water services and empower our customers.
This is your opportunity to lead change that matters - reducing water consumption, cutting leakage, and enhancing customer journeys, all while supporting our environmental and carbon reduction goals.
Responsibilities- Lead business change across impacted operational teams and external partners
- Collaborate with the Smart Operations Centre and AMS Business Change Team to design and deliver continuous improvements
- Drive readiness for new processes and capabilities that leverage smart metering data to:
- Improve customer service and embed behavioural and operational change
- Reduce per capita consumption (PCC) through customer engagement tools
- Support leakage reduction using smart data insights
We’re looking for someone who brings:
- 5+ years of experience delivering complex business change initiatives
- Strong project and change management expertise with a track record of successful outcomes
- High attention to detail and personal drive
- Experience in utilities smart metering programmes (desirable)
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capabilities
- Experience managing change workstream plans and associated risks
- Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure
- Project and change management qualifications
- Familiarity with change management methodologies and training approaches
- Understanding of operating models (ideally within utilities or water)
- Knowledge of smart metering systems (preferably in water)
- Understanding of customer billing operations
This role will be full time Monday to Friday with a hybrid approach between our Durrington office and working from home, with occasional travel to other offices when required. We are offering a salary of up to £62,000 per annum as well as other benefits including:
- Generous pension up to 11% company contribution
- 25 days annual leave
- Life assurance equal to 4x salary
- Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months service)
- Health Cash Plan
- Full funded eye tests
- Two paid volunteering days a year
- Occupational health service
- Discounts with over 800 popular retailers
- Digital GP service
- Study support may be available for job-related qualifications
- Competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options
- Cycle to work scheme
Join our Wholesale services Team and see how far your career could progress with a company committed to career progression, training and development opportunities, our customers, and the environment.
If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here: Introduce Yourself (myworkdaysite.com)
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose. To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support – because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority. Joining the Southern Water family means you’ll become part of our incident support team. During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that apply to your position.
Please note: If you are an existing Southern Water employee, you will need to confirm within your application that your Manager is aware of your application. All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility (e.g. a passport or long birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months), will be required as part of the recruitment process. If you do not meet these criteria, your application will not be considered.
Business Readiness & Change Lead employer: Southern Water
Contact Detail:
Southern Water Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Readiness & Change Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues 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 Southern Water and the specific role. Understand their transformation programme and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as someone who’s genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills in project and change management can drive the success of the Alternative Metering Service Programme. Keep it concise and impactful – you want to leave a lasting impression.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Readiness & Change Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in business change initiatives. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Business Readiness & Change Lead, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since this role involves a lot of stakeholder engagement, it’s crucial to demonstrate your excellent communication abilities. Use clear and concise language in your application, and consider including examples of how you've successfully communicated complex changes in the past.
Highlight Your Project Management Experience: We’re looking for someone with strong project management expertise. Be sure to detail your experience managing change workstream plans and any relevant qualifications you have. This will help us see how you can drive readiness for new processes and capabilities.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the position there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Southern Water
✨Know Your Change Management Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your change management methodologies and project management qualifications. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully led complex business change initiatives in the past, especially in utilities or smart metering programmes.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Prepare to talk about your experience in stakeholder management. Think of examples where you've built strong relationships and engaged stakeholders to sponsor and support changes. This role is all about collaboration, so show them you can connect with various teams and partners.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be ready to discuss how you've resolved readiness and adoption risks in previous roles. Share specific examples of challenges you've faced and how you tackled them, particularly in relation to new processes and technologies.
✨Show Your Passion for Customer Engagement
Since this role involves improving customer service and reducing water consumption, come prepared with ideas on how to leverage smart metering data for customer engagement. Highlight any relevant experience you have in enhancing customer journeys and driving behavioural change.
