Description
We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales.
We have an opportunity for a Major Water Infrastructure Senior Programme PMO Manager to join our Major Projects Team within Delivery Directorate.
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.
Job description
We have an excellent opportunity for a Senior PMO Manager to support our growing Major Projects Team at Principal level. This role is key in the delivery of the Major Water Infrastructure Programme Management Office (MWIP PMO) team that supports both the Major Project team and RAPID team in the regulatory oversight of the overall Major Water Infrastructure programme. You will play a key role in not only delivering Ofwat's strategy, but also to lead the development of key functions within the Major Water Infrastructure Programme Management Office. You will be working with the team to ensure the effective, efficient and smooth functioning of MWIP and the Major Projects team. This role sits within the Major Projects team and will also work closely with the central Ofwat PMO.
This is a unique opportunity to play a role in the delivery of some of the most important capital projects in the water sector. You will have a real input into the oversight of the programme and developing reporting for all levels. These projects are vital to meeting the needs of current and future customers,and your work will directly impact how companies deliver for them. Join us to help secure water supplies for future generations and build a lasting legacy for communities and the environment.
The PMO function spans several disciplines including governance and assurance, planning and controls, framework and contract management, risk and performance. You will be involved with the embedding of the PMO as we grow and you will need to be proactive and champion change. It is a busy environment, so you will help to bring discipline and structure, whilst being problem-solve oriented, proactive and flexible to the needs of the organisation and the programme. In addition to working closely with the Major Projects and RAPID teams you will develop strong working relationships with our partner regulators (Environment Agency and Drinking Water Inspectorate) and Defra. You will be expected to uphold high standards of delivery and collaborate with water and wastewater companies to support them to deliver the best value for customers. You will have a high degree of autonomy and responsibility, and with our support you will continue to hone your judgement and be expected to exercise it responsibly in line with our strategy and ways of working.
Ofwat is a learning organisation, and you will have ample opportunities to further develop your knowledge and experience, as well as consolidate your skillset. We have a well-supported, agile working environment, and a trust-based culture intended to help empower you and enable and support you to succeed within Ofwat. In turn, you will be expected to provide support to colleagues across the organisation, proactively sharing skills and knowledge, and equally will be supported by coaching and mentoring.
Key deliverables:
- Own and lead assigned PMO disciplines, including governance and assurance (including contract management), planning and controls and/or risk and performance.
- Design and maintain proportionate governance and control arrangements across Major Water Infrastructure Programme (MWIP) and Major Projects relevant to the assigned discipline.
- Provide strategic oversight and assurance of delivery against the Major Projects and MWIP plans and objectives, escalating emerging risks and recommending interventions where required.
- Provide independent challenges to programme and project teams where risks or delivery concerns emerge.
- Own and continuously improve the PMO standards, methodologies, controls and assurance frameworks for the assigned discipline, including leading cross-regulatory/programme reviews and lessons learned activity.
- Build trusted relationships across Major Projects, RAPID, corporate functions, partner regulators, government departments, advisers and delivery organisations.
- Influence senior leaders and delivery teams, facilitating complex discussions to balance competing priorities, resolve differences in viewpoints and drive consistent practice.
- Provide leadership, coaching and professional development to Senior Associates and Associates working within the discipline.
- Act as the senior subject matter expert for the assigned PMO discipline and champion an inclusive, collaborative and continuously improving PMO culture within the team and wider organisation.
Person specification
To be successful in this role you will need the below essential attributes, experience, skills and knowledge:
- Significant demonstrable experience of leading PMO programme controls, governance, risk or assurance within complex programme and project delivery environments, possibly within large infrastructure projects and/or large capital programmes, water sector supply chain organisation, consultancy, regulators, Government, or in another similarly relevant position.
- Experience of developing and improving organisational PMO capability, standards, methodologies, governance or assurance arrangements within a complex delivery environment.
- A relevant professional qualification such as PRINCE2, MSP or P3O, or membership of a relevant professional body (such as APM).
- Strong understanding of programme planning, resource planning, risk, issues dependencies, change control and delivery assurance.
- Experience of procurement, contractual, supplier and budget management.
- Experience providing constructive challenge, managing escalation and influencing senior stakeholders across complex environments to build trusted relationships, balance competing priorities and deliver outcomes.
- Experience leading and developing people, professional capability, and continuous improvement.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil complex evidence into clear, concise recommendations, executive papers and presentations.
Benefits
- Excellent employer pension contributions of nearly 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.
- Flexible working arrangements that suit your lifestyle.
- Fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies.
- Up to 3 volunteering days per year.
- Recognition vouchers scheme.
- Generous shared parental leave and pay.
- Enhanced sick pay.
- Regular development opportunities.
- Health and wellbeing initiatives.
- Cycle-to-work scheme.
- Season ticket loan for home-to-office travel.
- Free eye tests and contribution to lenses/spectacles for VDU users.