At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic projects, engage stakeholders, and ensure effective delivery.
- Company: Join Thames Water, the UK's largest water and wastewater company.
- Benefits: Salary up to £65,000, generous leave, pension scheme, and health perks.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and diverse, inclusive culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on communities and the environment every day.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership, communication skills, and stakeholder engagement experience required.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 65000 £ per year.
We are looking for a Strategic Project Manager to join Thames Water on a permanent basis. The strategic project manager will independently scope, plan, and deliver projects aligned to the strategic priorities of the Water Director and the Leadership Team.
The role requires end-to-end ownership of delivery, proactive engagement with a broad range of stakeholders, and clear communication of progress, risks, and outcomes to senior audiences. Projects may also include short-term deployments into operational teams to address business-critical needs.
You can be based at any of the following locations; however, travelling will be required: Ashford Common (WTW), Brixton (WTW), Clearwater Court - Reading, Coppermills (WTW), Darenth (WTW), Deephams (STW), Farmoor (WTW), Fobney (WTW), Hampton (WTW), Kemble Court - Reading, Walton-on-Thames.
What you will be doing as a Strategic Project Manager:
- Lead by example in promoting a strong Health & Safety culture, ensuring it is embedded in all project decisions and delivery.
- Take full end-to-end ownership of projects, including scope definition, planning, governance, timelines, resources, and deliverables.
- Independently manage project governance, producing high-quality stage-gate documentation with minimal oversight.
- Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks, escalating issues and blockers appropriately.
- Provide concise, high-value updates to senior stakeholders to support effective decision-making.
- Engage and collaborate with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to shape and deliver project outcomes.
- Work closely with analytics teams to source, validate, and analyse data from internal systems, and develop dashboards and KPI reporting to track performance.
- Deliver confident, clear presentations and written outputs in actionable formats for senior audiences.
- Collaborate across Water Operations and wider Thames Water teams to support joined-up delivery.
- Support effective change management by guiding operational teams through change and monitoring impacts to avoid change fatigue.
- Develop and maintain project tools, templates, and best practices for use across the wider project management community.
To thrive in this role, the essential criteria you’ll need are:
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to build effective relationships quickly.
- Confidence in coaching and mentoring teams and individuals through change.
- Strong leadership and motivational capability.
- Clear and confident communication skills, particularly with senior audiences.
- A proactive, self-starting approach with the ability to drive performance independently.
- A full UK, clean driving licence.
What’s in it for you?
- Offering a salary up to 65,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
- Annual Leave: 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (Plus bank holidays)
- Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
- Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
- Generous Paternity Leave, including 4 weeks paid and an optional 2 weeks unpaid.
- Enhanced Maternity Leave, 26 weeks full pay and 13 weeks half pay.
- Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of your 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.
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.
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.
Strategic Project Manager - Ashford, Surrey in Stanhope employer: Thames Water
Thames Water is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where you can truly make a difference in the lives of millions. With competitive salaries, generous leave policies, and a strong focus on employee wellbeing, we provide ample opportunities for professional growth and development. Join us in Ashford, Surrey, and be part of a team dedicated to building a sustainable future while enjoying a fulfilling career with meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Project Manager - Ashford, Surrey in Stanhope
✨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 Strategic Project Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to project management. We suggest using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and showcase your skills effectively.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to follow up after your interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. We recommend mentioning something specific from your conversation to make it personal.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website for the best chance at landing that job! We’re always looking for passionate individuals who want to make a difference, so don’t hesitate to show us what you’ve got!
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Project Manager - Ashford, Surrey in Stanhope
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Strategic Project Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that align with the job description, especially around stakeholder engagement and project ownership.
Showcase Your Communication Skills:Since clear communication is key in this role, use your application to demonstrate your ability to convey complex ideas simply. Consider including examples of how you've effectively communicated with senior stakeholders in the past.
Be Proactive and Specific:In your application, don’t just say you’re proactive; provide specific examples of how you’ve taken initiative in previous projects. This will show us that you can drive performance independently, which is crucial for this position.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining the Thames Water family!
How to prepare for a job interview at Thames Water
✨Know Your Projects Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the projects you've managed in the past. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you scoped, planned, and delivered these projects, especially those that align with Thames Water's strategic priorities.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Demonstrate your strong stakeholder engagement skills by preparing to discuss how you've built effective relationships in previous roles. Think of examples where you proactively communicated progress and risks to senior audiences, as this will show your ability to manage expectations.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be prepared to talk about your leadership approach, particularly in coaching and mentoring teams through change. Share specific instances where your leadership made a difference, highlighting your motivational capabilities and how you foster a strong Health & Safety culture.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice delivering concise updates and presentations, as clear communication is key for this role. Use actionable formats in your examples to illustrate how you've effectively communicated complex information to senior stakeholders in the past.
