Major Project Sponsor

Closing Date

Location: Base location flexible across multiple Southern Water sites.

Hybrid working model (2 days in the office or on site)

About Us:
At Southern Water, we are committed to providing high-quality water and wastewater services across our regions. We are seeking a dynamic Major Project Sponsor to lead and support our strategic programmes, ensuring they are aligned with business goals to deliver the intended benefits. If you have experience in project and/or programme sponsorship, project governance, benefits and financial management within the infrastructure or utilities sector, this is an exciting opportunity for you.

Role Overview:
Reporting into the Strategic Programme Sponsor, the role holder will ensure the programme vision and programme level strategic objectives are translated to a project level. The Major Project Sponsor will be an advocate for the project he/she is assigned, ensuring delivery teams remain in governance, holding them to account on project financial and schedule performance whilst assisting with appropriate risk management to ensure projects deliver the intended benefits expected of the wider programme.

Key Responsibilities:

• Project Outcome Alignment: Ensure project delivery requirements are set to align with strategic objectives with a clear expected timeline for benefits realisation.

• Viability: Create and ensure currency of project level Project business cases, escalating any risks or threats to the Strategic Programme Sponsor.

• Financial Management: Seek financial authority through governance forums, focusing on value for money and appropriate risk allowances. Ensure project costs are aligned with the Execution Plan, addressing any deviations in collaboration with the Strategic Programme Sponsor.

• Project Delivery Oversight: Maintain day-to-day oversight of project progress, ensuring milestones are met throughout the project lifecycle (whether via the internal R&V gates, or the Regulatory RAPID gated process).

• Stakeholder Management: Identify and engage with stakeholders, which may involve Regulators, ensuring their needs are met and they are informed of project progress.

• Risk & Opportunity Management: Identify project benefits, risks, and opportunities, driving value for money and mitigating risks where possible.

• Regulatory Assurance: Ensure the timely provision and quality of documentation required for regulatory submissions and external publications.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong decision-making ability, using evidence and experience to guide choices.

• Ability to focus on the bigger picture, ensuring customer benefits are prioritised in decision-making.

• Skilled at communicating complex information clearly and effectively to various stakeholders.

• Ability to resolve non-delivery issues, such as governance, financing, and project direction.

• Strong interpersonal skills to build rapport with the project delivery team, PMO, and external bodies (e.g., Regulators, other water companies).

• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage a varied workload while maintaining focus on key priorities.

Knowledge & Experience:

• In-depth understanding of the project lifecycle, cost principles, and investment appraisals, either directly as Project Sponsor or via project delivery experience.

• Familiarity with project management practices, gated process reviews, benefits management and value-for-money appraisals.

• Experience in asset management and strategic risk identification and management.

• Exposure to large-scale infrastructure projects, preferably in the water/utilities sector, with knowledge of Regulated industries.

• Understanding of financing models such as DPC/PFI.

Qualifications:

• A degree or equivalent qualification in a numerate or technical discipline.

• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., Institute of Asset Management, Chartered Management Institute, RICS, Association of Project Management).

• Post-graduate experience in project or programme sponsorship ideally within the water or infrastructure sector.

• Exposure to the water/utilities sector, asset management principles, and large-scale infrastructure financing.

Why Join Us?
At Southern Water, you will play a key role in shaping the success of our strategic programmes, helping us to deliver benefits for our customers, communities, and the environment. We offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and the opportunity to work in a collaborative and innovative environment.

Apply Today
If you are a strategic thinker with a proven track record in programme sponsorship and project governance, we would love to hear from you. Join our team and make a lasting impact on the future of water and infrastructure services.

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