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- Tasks: Lead transformative programmes that shape the future of Thames Water.
- Company: Join the UK's largest water and wastewater company, making a real impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, private healthcare, and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Drive meaningful change and influence senior leaders in a dynamic setting.
- Qualifications: Experience in complex transformation projects and strong team leadership skills.
- Other info: Flexible working options and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 85000 - 100000 £ per year.
We are embarking on a major transformation journey, with high-quality asset data forming a cornerstone of our future success. The Principal Transformation Manager will be accountable for the successful delivery of Thames Water’s most critical business programmes, ensuring operational resilience, improved performance, and enhanced decision-making capabilities. This role also involves providing strategic support to business unit Directors, driving the achievement of key business outcomes. If you are motivated by complex delivery challenges, senior-level influence, and making a meaningful impact, now is an exciting time to join our team.
What you’ll be doing as a Principal Transformation Manager:
- Oversee programme strategy, mobilisation, and delivery to ensure readiness for critical business milestones.
- Act as the single point of accountability for programme performance, reporting, and the realisation of benefits.
- Build and lead high-performing teams, motivating colleagues and fostering a culture of purpose and collaboration.
- Partner closely with Directors, programme sponsors, and senior stakeholders across core business functions.
- Manage programme interdependencies and align them with the broader transformation portfolio.
- Embed best-in-class methodologies, governance, and commercial thinking into all aspects of programme delivery.
- Influence and inspire teams to embrace new working practices, driving continuous improvement throughout the organisation.
Base location: Hybrid – Reading
Working pattern: Full-time
Travel requirements: Ability to travel within Thames Water’s catchment area as required.
What we’re looking for:
- Proven experience in delivering complex transformation or business-critical programmes, ideally within utilities, infrastructure, or regulated sectors.
- Ability to build, motivate, and lead high-performing teams across multiple disciplines and functions.
- Advanced stakeholder management skills, including the ability to engage and influence senior leaders and Directors.
- Strong commercial awareness and a pragmatic approach to challenging assumptions and achieving clarity in objectives.
- Passion for driving continuous improvement and embedding innovative practices that deliver measurable benefits.
- Expertise in organisational change management, including effective communication, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop effective solutions aligned to business needs.
- Flexibility and willingness to travel as needed to support programme delivery both on-site and remotely.
All applications will need to include a covering letter highlighting your experience in customer-focused operational change and provide examples that demonstrate your ability to deliver complex programmes, lead or support teams, influence senior stakeholders, and drive transformation in dynamic environments.
What’s in it for you?
- Competitive salary from £85,000 to £100,000 per annum
- Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays)
- Car Allowance
- Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets
- Generous Pension Scheme through AON
- Private Medical Health Care
- Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.
Who are we?
We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.
Learn more about our purpose and values.
Working at Thames Water:
Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits. If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet. Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family.
Why choose us? Learn more. We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support.
When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.
Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Principal Transformation Manager employer: Thames Water
Contact Detail:
Thames Water Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Transformation Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or at industry events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Principal Transformation Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching Thames Water inside out. Understand their transformation journey and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. We want to see you shine and show us how you can make a meaningful impact!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've led complex programmes and influenced senior stakeholders. We love hearing about real experiences that demonstrate your capabilities.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we’re always looking for passionate individuals who are committed to making a difference in our communities.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Transformation Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Cover Letter: Make sure your cover letter speaks directly to the role of Principal Transformation Manager. Highlight your experience in delivering complex programmes and how it aligns with our transformation journey at Thames Water.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: We want to see how you've built and led high-performing teams in the past. Share specific examples that demonstrate your ability to motivate colleagues and foster collaboration, as this is key for us.
Engage with Stakeholders: Your application should reflect your advanced stakeholder management skills. Include instances where you've influenced senior leaders or Directors, as this will resonate well with our expectations.
Be Clear and Concise: When detailing your experiences, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, so make sure your examples are easy to follow and relevant to the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Thames Water
✨Know Your Transformation Strategies
Before the interview, brush up on the latest transformation methodologies and frameworks relevant to the utilities sector. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully implemented these in past roles, as this will show your understanding of the complexities involved in transformation projects.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in building and leading high-performing teams. Think about specific challenges you faced and how you motivated your team to overcome them. This will demonstrate your capability to inspire and influence others, which is crucial for the Principal Transformation Manager role.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Be prepared to discuss your approach to stakeholder management. Share instances where you've effectively engaged senior leaders and influenced decision-making. This will showcase your advanced communication skills and your ability to navigate complex organisational structures.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Think of examples where you've driven continuous improvement within an organisation. Highlight any innovative practices you've embedded that led to measurable benefits. This aligns perfectly with Thames Water's focus on operational resilience and performance enhancement.
