About Us
Salary - Competitive
Work Type - Hybrid
Job Location - Lingley Mere (UU), Lingley Green Avenue, Great Sankey, Warrington, WA5 3LP
Role Type - Permanent
Employment Type - Full Time
Working Hours - 37.0 Hours per Week
United Utilities’ (UU) purpose is to deliver great water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West of England. We are committed to providing our services in a way that respects the environment, supports the economy, and benefits society.
We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves.
We uphold our ethics, values and business model to fulfil our mission and, by setting clear goals and objectives, we create sustainable long-term value for our colleagues, customers and communities. Whether you work with a team that shares your vision or join a network of peers with similar interests, you will find a welcoming and supportive organisation to be part of.
We’ve got a lot to offer. You’ll be part of a thriving FTSE 100 company and will enjoy a range of core benefits that reflect your value and value contribution.
Benefits
- A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service (increases one day per year), in addition to 8 bank holidays
- A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
- Up to 20% performance-related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
- A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company-funded scheme
- MyGymDiscounts - gym and wellness benefit that offers up to 25% off on gym memberships and digital fitness subscriptions
- Best Doctors
- Salary Finance
- Wealth at Work courses
- Deals and discounts
- EVolve Car Scheme
- Employee Assistance Plan
- Mental health first aiders
- ShareBuy
- MORE Choices flexible benefits
- Enhanced parental leave schemes
Job Purpose
Are you ready to lead high impact change that transforms how we work?
At United Utilities, we're on a mission to deliver transformational business change that drives real value across our people, processes, and ways of working to deliver a stronger, greener, healthier North West. As a Programme Manager in our Transformation and Change team, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering complex, multi-workstream programmes in some of our core business. Focused on business change, you’ll provide strategic leadership, ensure alignment with our wider business goals, and manage critical interdependencies, risks, and stakeholder engagement. You’ll also play a critical part in delivering transformational change and ensuring that value is realised.
Accountabilities & Responsibilities
- Define, plan, and lead the delivery of programmes aligned to strategic objectives.
- Develop and maintain integrated programme plans, roadmaps, and governance structures.
- Manage interdependencies across multiple projects and initiatives.
- Lead cross-functional teams and project managers to deliver business outcomes.
- Develop and manage programme budgets, forecasts, and resource plans.
- Identify and manage risks, issues, and changes across the programme lifecycle.
- Report programme status, progress, and KPIs to sponsors and governance boards.
- Ensure alignment of delivery with business strategy, target operating models, and change impacts.
- Lead benefits management and delivery by ensuring realisation plans are tracked, realisation planning, and post implementation reviews using the TMO’s frameworks
- Support benefits tracking, realisation planning, and post-implementation reviews.
- Ensure that programme deliverables meet quality standards and requirements.
- Drive continuous improvement, quality assurance, and adherence to TMO standards.
- Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, delivery partners, and third-party vendors.
Technical Skills & Experience
- Strong leadership and stakeholder management across business and technology domains.
- Ability to build relationships with stakeholders, negotiate agreements, and manage conflict effectively.
- Resilience and drive to ensure successful delivery of a programme of activities.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously, while adhering to deadlines and ensuring that resources are utilised effectively.
- A natural facilitator who can confidently shape ideas and drive matrix teams to deliver outcomes to time and quality.
- Capacity to analyse complex situations, identify potential problems, and develop effective solutions.
- Deep understanding of programme and project lifecycle management.
- Proficient in risk, issue, dependency, and change management.
- Financial acumen to manage large programme budgets.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills at all levels.
- Proficient in project management methodologies, tools, and techniques, such as Agile, Waterfall, or PRINCE2.
- Competent in using programme management tools (e.g., MS Project, Planview, Clarity, JIRA).
Qualifications
Essential Qualifications
- Extensive experience delivering large, complex programmes.
- Proven track record in managing multiple projects and teams concurrently.
- Experience in stakeholder engagement at senior level.
Desirable Qualifications
- MSP® (Managing Successful Programmes) certification or equivalent experience
- PMI PgMP® (Program Management Professional), PRINCE2® Practitioner, AGPM.
- Agile certifications (e.g., SAFe Program Consultant, AgilePM, Scrum@Scale).
- Experience in portfolio management, change management, or business transformation.
- Sector-specific experience in regulated or customer-focused environments is a plus.
We rely on every employee to ensure our customers receive the best possible service, day in, day out. In return, we ensure that you will be well rewarded for your efforts, from an excellent salary through to development opportunities that will really kick start a thriving career here at UU.
