At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic projects, engage stakeholders, and drive impactful change in the water sector.
- Company: Join Thames Water, the UK's largest water and wastewater company.
- Benefits: Earn up to £65,000, enjoy 26 days holiday, and access generous health perks.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and excellent career growth opportunities await you.
- Why this job: Make a real difference while building a sustainable career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership, communication skills, and a proactive approach are essential.
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 Wye employer: Thames Water
Thames Water is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Ashford, Surrey, where you can make a tangible impact on millions of lives. With a strong commitment to employee well-being, we provide generous benefits including a competitive salary, extensive annual leave, and a supportive culture that fosters professional growth and development. Join us to be part of a diverse team dedicated to building a sustainable future for our communities and the planet.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Project Manager - Ashford, Surrey in Wye
✨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 doing mock interviews with friends or mentors to boost your confidence and refine your answers.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills through real-life examples. When discussing your experience, we recommend using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to clearly demonstrate how you've successfully managed projects in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. We believe it shows your enthusiasm and professionalism, which is key for a role like this.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Project Manager - Ashford, Surrey in Wye
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 your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. This will show your potential employer that you have the end-to-end ownership experience they're looking for.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since strong stakeholder engagement is key for this role, prepare examples of how you've built relationships with various stakeholders. Think about times when you had to communicate progress or risks to senior audiences and how you tailored your message to suit their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be prepared to discuss your leadership style and how you've motivated teams through change. Share specific instances where your coaching and mentoring made a difference, as this aligns perfectly with what Thames Water is looking for in a Strategic Project Manager.
✨Practice Clear Communication
Given the importance of clear communication in this role, practice delivering concise updates and presentations. You might even want to rehearse with a friend or family member to ensure you can convey complex information in an easily digestible format for senior stakeholders.
