At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative wastewater projects and ensure they align with business goals.
- Company: Join Southern Water, a leader in transforming the water industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £50,000, hybrid work, and growth opportunities.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace committed to your professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainability and community well-being through innovation.
- Qualifications: Experience in utilities or project management, preferably in water innovation.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: Falmer - Hybrid - 3 office/site remaining WFH - Driving licence essential
Contract Type: Fixed term contract - Ending April 2027
Hours: Full time
Salary: Up to £50,000 per annum
About the role
Southern Water is looking for an Innovation Project Manager to support and lead innovation projects across our wastewater business. This is a hybrid role that combines project delivery with technical subject matter expertise. You will help develop and deliver innovation projects that align with our business priorities and support better outcomes for our customers, communities and the environment. You will work closely with internal teams, delivery partners, suppliers, other water companies, academics and research organisations. You will help make sure our innovation portfolio reflects the latest ideas, trends and technologies in the water industry.
The role will focus on three key areas: technical assurance, project management and stakeholder engagement.
What you will be responsible for:
- Lead and deliver wastewater innovation projects, making sure they are aligned to business priorities and deliver clear benefits.
- Provide technical assurance for new concepts, ideas and projects, including developing project scopes, plans and benefit assessments.
- Manage project delivery, including budgets, milestones, risks, governance, reporting and benefit tracking.
- Build strong relationships with internal teams, suppliers, other water companies, academics and research organisations to support innovation and adoption.
- Promote innovation work across the business and externally through steering groups, technical working groups, trade press, conferences and technical journals.
What you’ll bring to the role:
Essential
- Experience working within utilities, preferably within the water industry.
- Experience working in innovation, research and development, or a similar technical project environment.
- Technical knowledge of water and/or wastewater operations, capital delivery or assets.
- Strong project management skills, including planning, risk management, reporting and budget tracking.
- Good stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build relationships across technical and operational teams.
Desirable
- Degree-level qualification in a scientific, engineering or related discipline.
About Southern Water
Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed. You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence key decisions and support long-term value creation.
Our commitment to inclusion
We understand that great talent comes in many forms. If this role excites you and you share our commitment to delivering sustainable solutions for our communities, please apply, even if your experience does not perfectly match every requirement. We’ll support your growth and development.
If this role is not quite what you are looking for but you are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here: Introduce Yourself.
Our Commitment to Diversity
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.
Additional information
In line with Southern Water’s security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years. Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all pre-employment checks, including security vetting. Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment. Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.
Innovation Project Manager in Horsham employer: SouthernWaterServices
Southern Water is an exceptional employer, offering AI Automation Engineers the chance to work with cutting-edge technologies like Microsoft Copilot and Power Platform in a dynamic and supportive environment. With a strong commitment to employee growth through training and development opportunities, as well as a focus on diversity and inclusion, Southern Water fosters a culture where innovative ideas thrive and every team member can make a meaningful impact on the future of water services.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Innovation Project Manager in Horsham
✨Leverage Innovation Hubs
Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like SouthernWaterServices.
✨Connect at Industry Conferences
Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.
✨Use Your University’s Resources
If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like SouthernWaterServices.
We think you need these skills to ace Innovation Project Manager in Horsham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.
Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at SouthernWaterServices that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.
Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at SouthernWaterServices and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at SouthernWaterServices
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at SouthernWaterServices, they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.
✨Familiarity with Tools and Technologies
Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show SouthernWaterServices that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At SouthernWaterServices, they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.
