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- Tasks: Lead strategic insights and performance for major investment programmes in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join Southern Water, dedicated to delivering essential water services with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous leave, bonuses, and discounts with over 800 retailers.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of decision-making, driving performance and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in Programme Management; strong analytical skills and effective communication are key.
- Other info: Flexible working options available; engage with us to explore this exciting opportunity!
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Falmer (Hybrid Working)
Salary: up to £60,000 depending on skills and experience
Are you passionate about using data and insight to influence strategic decision-making and drive performance at scale? Do you thrive in a complex, fast-paced environment where collaboration and innovation lead the way?
We’re looking for a Strategic Insight & Performance Lead to join our Capital Delivery PMO—playing a pivotal role in shaping and supporting the delivery of our major investment programmes.
In this key role, you’ll sit at the heart of our Capital Delivery PMO function—supporting execution planning, programme performance and strategic insight across our investment portfolio. You’ll work closely with internal stakeholders including Capital Delivery Leadership, Strategic Programme Teams, and Asset Management, as well as external delivery partners.
Acting as a bridge between planning and delivery, your work will help ensure that programmes are built effectively, resources are allocated optimally, and insight leads to continuous improvement.
Responsibilities will include:
- Execution Planning & Forecasting: Lead coordination of programme builds, quarterly re-forecasting, and delivery optimisation
- Strategic Stakeholder Engagement: Support forecasting and resource planning with sponsors and delivery teams
- Insight Development: Provide actionable insight to senior leadership to inform strategic decisions
- Performance Reporting: Partner with our Reporting Team to develop dashboards and reporting tools that drive accountability
- Continuous Improvement: Dive into delivery performance data to uncover root causes, monitor improvement actions, and challenge underperformance
- Governance & Assurance: Support assurance efforts across the wider PMO to ensure frameworks are robust and fit for purpose
About You
- 5+ years’ experience in a Programme Management or PMO environment, with a strong understanding of complex project and programme lifecycles
- Proven ability to support and influence enterprise-level governance, planning, and delivery processes
- A strategic thinker with strong analytical and critical thinking skills—able to transform complex data into clear, actionable insight
- A confident and effective communicator, capable of influencing and engaging senior stakeholders across the business
- Comfortable working collaboratively across diverse teams, with a relationship-focused approach to problem-solving
- Flexible and adaptable in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
- A recognised Programme Management qualification (e.g., MSP) is desirable
- Membership in a relevant professional body is a plus
This role will be full time Monday to Friday 37 hours a week.
Southern Water operate a hybrid approach to working between our Falmer office and home.
We are offering a salary of up to £TBC per annum depending on skills and experience as well as other benefits including:
- Company and performance-related bonus
- 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
Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?
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. That’s why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve. 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.
Strategic Insight & Performance Lead employer: Southern Water
Contact Detail:
Southern Water Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Insight & Performance Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities of the role, especially around execution planning and performance reporting. Prepare examples from your past experience that demonstrate your ability to lead programme builds and optimise delivery.
✨Tip Number 2
Engage with current trends in strategic insight and performance management. Being able to discuss recent developments or tools in this area during your interview can showcase your passion and knowledge, making you a more attractive candidate.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with professionals in the PMO and Programme Management sectors. Attend relevant events or webinars to connect with potential colleagues or industry leaders who might provide insights or even referrals for the position.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss how you would approach stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Think of specific strategies you’ve used in the past to influence senior stakeholders and drive performance improvements, as this is crucial for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Insight & Performance Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in Programme Management or PMO environments. Emphasise your analytical skills and ability to transform complex data into actionable insights, as these are key for the Strategic Insight & Performance Lead role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for using data to influence strategic decision-making. Mention specific examples of how you've successfully engaged with stakeholders and driven performance improvements in previous roles.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications: If you have a recognised Programme Management qualification (like MSP) or membership in a relevant professional body, be sure to include this information prominently in your application. It shows your commitment to the field and enhances your credibility.
Prepare for Potential Questions: Think about how you would respond to questions regarding your experience with execution planning, forecasting, and performance reporting. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you provided actionable insights to senior leadership.
How to prepare for a job interview at Southern Water
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of the Strategic Insight & Performance Lead. Familiarise yourself with execution planning, stakeholder engagement, and performance reporting, as these will be key discussion points during your interview.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss specific examples where you've transformed complex data into actionable insights. Highlight your analytical and critical thinking skills, as these are crucial for influencing strategic decisions.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively with senior stakeholders. Be ready to share experiences where you've successfully influenced or engaged others in a collaborative environment.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Be prepared to talk about how you've identified root causes of underperformance in past projects and the steps you took to drive continuous improvement. This aligns well with the role's focus on performance optimisation.
