Commercial Programme Lead in London

Hello! Thanks for stopping by. Let us tell you about all the great reasons to join us here at Yorkshire Water:

• We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience (£50,622 to £63,277)
• Annual incentive related bonus (£1000 maximum bonus opportunity for the performance year)
• Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution)
• Development opportunities in line with the progression plan
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays – plus an extra 2 wellness days!
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary
• A great benefits package – choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.
• Retail savings scheme
• Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Location: This role will initially be based in Bradford but we're moving our office to Leeds Valley Park in summer 2026, so you'll be based there in the future (1 office day a week).

Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday working rolling 4-day week to core hours. You will need to participate in an out-of-normal working hours standby call-out rota and be flexible to work outside of core hours.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Commercial Programme Lead to join the Commercial Assurance function at Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water to provide the best service to our customers.

What we do: Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire's water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region and play a key role in the region's health, wellbeing, and prosperity.

New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. The Commercial Assurance function are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.

To lead the commercial transformational programme including projects from inception to completion, ensuring delivery within budget, on time, and in compliance with contractual obligations. The role bridges project delivery and commercial assurance, driving value, managing risk, and ensuring robust governance. The Commercial Programme Lead will develop strong relationships with key stakeholders to facilitate smooth operations and effective project delivery.

Where you fit in: Managing a cost intelligence programme of individual projects (Cost Intelligence Dashboards) that are designed to provide commercial cost assurance confirming that supplier payments are in line with commercial agreements. Ensure commercial project (cost intelligence dashboard/system) pipeline is managed to time, cost, and quality. Take a leading role in organising and facilitating the Commercial Governance Forum, tracking key decisions to drive sustainable business outcomes. Collaborate with internal teams e.g., legal, finance, procurement, operational delivery. You will ensure that programme/project risks, issues and dependencies are managed in line with business targets and that any opportunities are realised to improve performance. Accountable for accurate forecasting and reporting of key project information to programme level reports and governing boards. You will be a leader, confident and assertive, whilst maintaining a can-do attitude to problem solving and directing the wider project resources. Responsible for developing strong excellent working relationships with key stakeholders.

What skills & qualifications you will need: Highly organised and detail-focused, with a strong commitment to delivering accurate, high-quality work. Confident managing multiple priorities, meeting deadlines, and thriving in a fast-paced environment. Experienced in managing complex projects or programmes, with the ability to drive delivery through to completion. Proactive and self-motivated, with a natural ability to identify opportunities for improvement and drive positive change. Strong commercial awareness, with a solid understanding of procurement processes including sourcing, contract management, negotiation, and supplier relationships. Analytical and solutions-focused, using data and insight to inform decisions and deliver results. A collaborative team player who builds strong working relationships and works effectively across functions. Adaptable and resilient, able to respond to changing priorities while maintaining focus and performance. Skilled at stakeholder management, with the ability to build and maintain trusted relationships both internally and externally.

You will also benefit from having: Experience of managing transformational programmes in large organisations. Qualified in change management practices or Project Management disciplines. Previous experience gained within the water or utility industry. Knowledge and understanding of commercial governance and the requirements of policy, procedure and processes and the impact on the business.

Closing date: Closing date for this role is the 3rd June 2026.