Project Planning and Controls Lead

Closing Date

Project Planning & Control Lead

Location: Falmer Office (Hybrid)
Salary: Starting from £55,000
Contract Type: Full-time

About the Role

We are seeking a proactive and experienced Project Planning & Control Lead to join our team in Falmer. This hybrid role is pivotal in ensuring the successful delivery of complex programmes through effective planning, control, and stakeholder engagement. You will lead a team of Capital Planners and Project Controllers, providing strategic oversight and analytical support to drive performance and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support the Planning & Control team to ensure productivity, timely delivery, and high-quality output.
• Collaborate closely with Programme Managers to support programme delivery within budget and time constraints.
• Represent the team in meetings with senior internal stakeholders and external contractors, communicating updates, ideas, and challenges confidently.
• Build strong relationships with internal teams to facilitate the provision of agreed data to external regulatory boards.
• Organise and manage meetings to ensure data agreement and sign-off for internal transfer.
• Provide key insights for monthly reporting to support strategic decision-making.
• Deliver pre-month-end analytical reviews to PMO and delivery management.
• Analyse contractor-submitted data and lead monthly review meetings.
• Present detailed reports and insights to senior management on a monthly basis.
• Line manage a team of Capital Planners and Project Controllers, fostering development and performance.

Skills & Experience Required

• Proven experience in project planning and control, with a strong understanding of data and process management.
• Working knowledge of the NEC suite of contracts.
• Familiarity with APM or Prince II methodologies.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Experience working within a PMO environment.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to navigate complex project delivery cycles.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• High attention to detail with strong analytical and data handling capabilities.
• Organised, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple workstreams.
• Creative thinker with a drive for continuous improvement.

Why Join Us?

This is a fantastic opportunity to take a leadership role in a dynamic and impactful team, contributing to the successful delivery of key projects. You'll be part of a collaborative environment where your expertise will help shape strategic decisions and drive operational excellence.

Package

This role will be full time Monday to Friday 37 hours a week.  

Southern Water operate a hybrid approach to working between our Falmer office and home.

We are offering a salary of up to £52,000 per annum depending on skills and experience as well as other benefits including:

• Company and performance-related bonus
• Generous pension up to 11% company contribution
• 25 days annual leave
• Life assurance equal to 4x salary
• Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months service)
• Health Cash Plan
• Full funded eye tests
• Two paid volunteering days a year
• Occupational health service
• Discounts with over 800 popular retailers
• Digital GP service
• Study support may be available for job-related qualifications
• Competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options
• Cycle to work scheme

Does this opportunity excite you but you're not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that 'normal' office hours aren't possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can't accommodate every flexible working request, we'll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?

Privacy Statement:

Please note: If you are an existing Southern Water employee, you will need to confirm within your application that your Manager is aware of your application.

All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility (e.g. a passport or long birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months), will be required as part of the recruitment process. If you do not meet these criteria, your application will not be considered.

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