At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative projects that drive sustainability and efficiency across a major organisation.
- Company: Join United Utilities, a top employer committed to diversity and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, annual bonus, car allowance, and flexible working.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with exceptional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the future of engineering and sustainability.
- Qualifications: Degree in engineering, project management experience, and strong stakeholder skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
About us
Lingley Mere, Warrington (Hybrid) Permanent | Full Time Competitive Salary | Annual Bonus + 5000 Car Allowance
The role
At United Utilities, we don’t just deliver water — we deliver a better future for the North West. Our mission is to provide high-quality, sustainable water services that support a greener, healthier and more prosperous region. Ranked #4 in The Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers, we are proud of our commitment to diversity, innovation and creating a workplace where people can truly thrive. As we significantly increase our investment in innovation over the next five years, there has never been a more exciting time to join us.
The Opportunity
We’re looking for a Senior Innovation Project Manager to lead from the front — driving cutting-edge engineering innovation across our Commercial, Engineering and Capital Delivery (CEC) functions. This isn’t just project delivery. You’ll be shaping how innovation is identified, tested, scaled and embedded across a FTSE 100 organisation — directly contributing to carbon reduction, efficiency and future sustainability outcomes.
We are expanding our award-winning Innovation and Outperformance team at United Utilities, bringing together innovation, decarbonisation, and standardisation to drive step-change improvements in cost and carbon performance mainly focused on our c.7bn capital programme. Our team explores innovations that deliver value and drives the deployment of these solutions at scale to unlock outperformance against our ambitious targets.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead and deliver a diverse portfolio of complex, multi-disciplinary innovation projects
- Take ideas from concept through to adoption, ensuring measurable benefits and real-world impact
- Drive efficiency, sustainability and carbon reduction outcomes across the business
- Inspire and mentor project managers, championing agile thinking and innovative approaches
- Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, shaping decisions and influencing outcomes
- Collaborate with external partners and funding bodies including Ofwat, Innovate UK and Horizon Europe
- Manage delivery across risk, governance, resources and commercial performance
- Promote innovation across the business, increasing visibility and adoption of new ideas
- Ensure outstanding Health & Safety performance, operating within CDM and DSEAR frameworks
What Makes This Role Different?
- Be at the forefront of a rapidly expanding international innovation programme
- Work on cutting-edge technologies and engineering solutions from around the World
- Influence strategic direction within a FTSE 100 organisation
- Play a key role in delivering sustainability and carbon reduction targets
- Work across internal teams, supply chains and leading external innovation partners
What We’re Looking For
We’re seeking a visionary project leader who thrives in complexity, brings energy to innovation and knows how to turn ideas into reality.
Essential:
- Degree qualified (or equivalent experience) in a technical or engineering discipline
- Chartered member of an industry recognised organisation
- Project management qualification (APM or equivalent)
- Proven experience delivering complex project portfolios
- Strong stakeholder management with experience influencing senior leaders
- Experience supporting bids or securing funding for projects
- Full UK/EU driving licence
What You’ll Get in Return
We recognise the value you bring — and reward it.
- 26 days annual leave (rising to 30) + bank holidays
- Competitive pension scheme (up to 14% employer contribution)
- Performance-related bonus of up to 20%
- 5,000 car allowance
- Company-funded healthcare
- Flexible, hybrid working
You’ll also benefit from exceptional development opportunities, including:
- #APM Project Management qualifications
- Chartership support (CEng / IEng)
- Leadership coaching and mentoring
- Professional memberships and accreditations
Your Impact
Your work will directly support our ambition to build a more sustainable future, delivering innovation at scale and creating tangible benefits for customers, communities and the environment. This is your chance to lead transformational change — not just projects.
Ready to Lead Innovation?
If you’re passionate about delivering impactful projects, shaping the future of engineering and driving meaningful change — we want to hear from you. Apply now and be part of something bigger.
Senior Innovation Project Manager in Olney employer: United Utilities
United Utilities is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where commercial professionals can thrive while contributing to vital infrastructure projects that benefit communities across the North West. With competitive salaries, flexible working arrangements, and robust career development opportunities, we empower our employees to grow and make a meaningful impact in their roles. Join us to be part of a purpose-driven organisation that values innovation and collaboration.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Innovation Project Manager in Olney
✨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 United Utilities.
✨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 United Utilities.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Innovation Project Manager in Olney
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 United Utilities 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 United Utilities 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 United Utilities
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at United Utilities, 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 United Utilities 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 United Utilities, 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.
