At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the PMO for major water infrastructure projects, ensuring quality and performance.
- Company: Join Ofwat, a key player in regulating the water sector in England and Wales.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and excellent pension contributions.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values collaboration and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on water governance and customer outcomes.
- Qualifications: Experience in PMO leadership and strong stakeholder engagement skills required.
The predicted salary is between 75600 - 92400 £ per year.
Join Ofwat's Major Projects Leadership Team as a Director, Major Water Infrastructure Programme PMO.
Office Location: London (E14 4HD) or Birmingham (B5 4UA) with hybrid working.
About Us
We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales. The water sector is entering a new chapter. The government has set out a bold new direction, bringing together expertise from across the sector to deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment. We are collaborating with fellow regulators to respond to recommendations in The Independent Water Commission Report, the Welsh Government's response to the Green Paper, Shaping the Future of Water Governance in Wales, and the Government's White Paper, A new vision for water. Ofwat is working with the government and other regulators to help create a new body for England, bringing together our strengths with those of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency and Natural England. We are also continuing to work with the Welsh Government to support decisions on the future arrangements for Wales. While these changes take shape, our mission remains the same: to hold water companies to account, drive performance, and ensure the sector delivers real value for customers, communities, and the environment. If you're passionate about making a difference, this is a unique moment to join us and help shape the future of water, and together we can continue to make a positive impact.
The Role
The MWIP PMO Director role is critical to strengthening programme assurance, delivery confidence and regulatory oversight across the Major Water Infrastructure Programme. Leading the MWIP PMO function, the successful applicant must be a strategic thinker with an ambitious approach and a commitment to quality. Articulate and influential, you must also be highly organised, with strong analytical, stakeholder engagement and leadership skills, and able to provide authoritative, data-driven check and challenge to support robust programme performance. The role serves both RAPID and Major Projects functions, spanning the full life cycle of the MWIP programme. Reporting to the Senior Director, Major Projects, you will be a member of the Major Projects Leadership Team (MPLT) as well as the RAPID Leadership Team.
Key deliverables:
- Shape the future of the PMO function, setting out a clear long-term destination as well as running shorter sprints to deliver improvements. In shaping the direction, you will engage and gain buy-in from RAPID and Major Project's Directors/Senior Directors.
- Provide authoritative, data-driven check and challenge to project teams, moving the PMO beyond coordination and reporting to provide proactive challenge of programme performance, delivery confidence and the robustness of delivery plans.
- Shape the approach to aggregating data across organisations and the programme, creating a programme-wide view that enables comparability, trend analysis, benchmarking and actionable insight to improve oversight and delivery performance.
- Implement proportionate project controls, including the people, processes and services needed to support specific tasks such as risk, issue, dependency, schedule and benefits management, ensuring risks and issues are visible through routine reporting and addressed proactively with Ofwat, partner regulators and companies.
- Manage the deployment of internal capability and external consultant support, where required, to build and mature the PMO function and ensure services are aligned to programme priorities and delivery needs.
- Developing the team's capability and confidence, through coaching, role modelling and provision of development opportunities.
- Build strong and effective relationships, particularly with other MP and RAPID Directors as well as partner regulators and Water Companies.
- Inspiring and promoting learning and knowledge sharing across relevant sectors.
- Maintain and evolve a diverse and inclusive culture within the organisation where our people are representative of the communities we serve, and everyone is valued, treated fairly, and empowered to thrive. You will also support our people to sustain a work life balance and get the best from hybrid working.
- Engage in the development of the MP and RAPID strategies and approaches, in line with our SAILOR values. Working with other Directors in maturing our ways of working and co-ordination of change.
- Lead and coordinate internal communications across the programme as well as programme related communication with partner regulators and companies.
About You
Below are some of the key essential experience, skills & knowledge required for this post:
- Significant experience of leading PMO, project controls and/or programme assurance functions within major projects or complex programmes.
- An inclusive leadership style which inspires, motivates, and promotes collaboration to develop high performing, innovative and inclusive teams.
- Capable of leading, implementing and evaluating change in business processes, systems, teams and people.
- Demonstrable experience of stakeholder engagement and getting a wide range of conflicting views aligned.
- Strong understanding of major project delivery and the controls needed to support effective oversight and performance management.
- Strong critical thinking and analytical skills, able to create actionable insight and new learning.
- Proven ability to provide authoritative, evidence-based check and challenge to senior stakeholders and delivery teams, using data and insight to strengthen delivery confidence and programme performance.
Why You Should Join Us
- People Centric: Our people are at the heart of Ofwat and everything we do - we ensure all voices are heard and treat each other with respect; you'll be given the autonomy and the support to do your role in the best way.
- Innovative Work Environment: We embrace agile and new ways of working and have a culture build on trust, flexibility, and collaboration.
- Development Opportunities: Gain valuable experience and develop your skills in a supportive and dynamic setting.
- Work-Life Balance: Enjoy the flexibility of working from home combined with the benefits of in person collaboration in our Birmingham and London offices.
- Excellent employer pension contributions of up to 29%.
- 25 days' annual leave, increasing to 30 with each year of service, plus bank holidays and an extra 2.5 days of privilege leave.
- Access to exclusive discounts on a variety of goods and services, including retail outlets, theatre tickets, holidays, insurance, and a gym membership.
- Fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies.
- Up to 3 volunteering days per year.
- Recognition vouchers scheme rewarding your hard work.
- Generous shared parental leave and pay supporting your family life.
Closing date: 23.55 on 23 August 2026.
Director, Major Water Infrastructure Programme PMO in London employer: Totalwellnessacupuncture
Totalwellnessacupuncture is an exceptional employer that values the well-being of both its clients and employees. With a supportive work culture that prioritises professional development, you will have access to ongoing training and growth opportunities while making a meaningful impact in the lives of older adults in Bridgend. The hybrid working model offers flexibility, allowing you to balance your personal and professional life effectively.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Major Water Infrastructure Programme PMO in London
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Director, Major Water Infrastructure Programme PMO at Totalwellnessacupuncture!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Totalwellnessacupuncture or be willing to refer you for that Director, Major Water Infrastructure Programme PMO position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Totalwellnessacupuncture who’s on the lookout for their next Director, Major Water Infrastructure Programme PMO star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Director, Major Water Infrastructure Programme PMO role at Totalwellnessacupuncture!
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Major Water Infrastructure Programme PMO in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Totalwellnessacupuncture. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Totalwellnessacupuncture
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Totalwellnessacupuncture. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
