Major Water Infrastructure Programme PMO Manager
Description
- Job grade: Other
- Contract type: Permanent, Loan, Secondment
- Length of employment: This is a permanent appointment. However, we will consider loans and secondments up to 31 December 2027. If you are considering loan/secondment, there is a possibility of the role being extended as plans for new regulators for England and Wales develop.
- Business area: Major Projects Team in Delivery Directorate
- Type of role: Project Delivery
- Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time
- Number of jobs available: 1
Location
About the job
Job summary
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 PMO Manager to join our Major Projects team in the 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.
You can find out more about why you should join Ofwat, our strategy, values and our framework for success in the attached Information for Candidates Pack.
Job description
We have an excellent opportunity for a PMO Manager to support our growing Major Projects Team at Senior Associate level. This is a new role within 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 in the development of our approach to the delivery of the Programme. You will be working with the team to ensure the effective, efficient and smooth functioning of MWIP and the Major Projects team.
This role will sit within the Major Projects team and will also support wider PMO activity working closer with Ofwat’s central PMO team.
The Major Projects team has a wide remit, working with the industry on some of the largest and most complex major water infrastructure projects the sector has seen in over thirty years, ranging between several hundred million pounds to several billion pounds. Our aim is to ensure companies are developing and delivering them in a timely and efficient manner, while protecting customers and the environment.
The Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) is a dynamic partnership between Ofwat, the Environment Agency (EA), and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). RAPID was created to facilitate the development and funding of large-scale strategic water supply options by water companies. We identify and address key issues relevant to these major infrastructure projects and analyse the feasibility of strategic water supply schemes.
This is a unique opportunity for someone looking to expand their experience of working within complex programme and project delivery, and to play a role in the delivery of some of the most important capital projects in the water sector which are vital for the environment, resilience and growth. The portfolio of projects within the Major Water Infrastructure Programme is also essential to meet the needs of current and future customers—and your work will directly impact how companies deliver for them. This is an evolving space so would suit someone who is a flexible thinker, able to balance the immediate priorities and help shape the future PMO.
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 parter 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.
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:
In this role you will report to the Senior Major Water Infrastructure Programme (MWIP) PMO Manager and will be expected to:
- Manage assigned PMO services - governance and assurance (including contract management), planning and controls, and/or risk and performance, ensuring agreed standards, inputs, outputs, timetables and escalation routes are followed. For example:
- Lead the day-to-day delivery of assigned PMO services, ensuring information quality, compliance with standards and timely completion.
- Plan and facilitate governance activities, ensuring accurate reporting, effective decision-making, action tracking and timely delivery of governance outputs.
- Coordinate and quality-assure programme information, ensuring accurate reporting, performance oversight and effective decision-making.
- Monitor compliance with governance, risk and control requirements, and provide first-line challenge and support to programme and project teams, escalating exceptions to the Principal Programme Lead. - Translate programme-wide frameworks and direction from programme leadership into practical processes, templates, guidance and delivery routines.
- Contribute to the reporting and control cycles, producing clear programme information to support senior leadership, governance forums and delivery of the Major Projects and MWIP plans.
- Support budget administration, including appropriate financial transactions and tracking.
- Build constructive relationships with Major Projects, RAPID, corporate teams, partner regulators, government departments, advisers, delivery partners and water companies.
- Manage Associates (as required), share knowledge and contribute to a high-performing and inclusive PMO team.
Person specification
To be successful in these roles you will need the below essential experience, skills, knowledge, and attributes:
Experience, skills and knowledge
- Lead Criterion 1: Demonstrable experience of working within PMOs 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.
- Lead Criterion 2: Proven experience of administering project and/or programme governance and controls, including arrangements for senior boards, committees or working groups.
- Fully qualified, or working towards a relevant professional qualification or membership, for example PRINCE2, MSP, P3O or APM.
- Experience managing programme risks, issues, assumptions, dependencies, changes and mitigating actions, with the ability to identify and escalate emerging delivery concerns.
- Experience of framework or contract management, supplier governance, budget management, or commercial administration within a controlled environment.
- Good analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret evidence to support planning, prioritisation, resource management and decision making.
- Basic knowledge of data governance within a programme and experience of using Microsoft Power Platforms (e.g. Power BI and SharePoint lists).
- Strong stakeholder-management skills and the ability to influence and collaborate across organisational boundaries.
- Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, including communicating complex issues to non-specialist audiences.
Attributes
8. Builds Trust
9. Adaptable Thinker
10. Delivers Outcomes
Attributes as per Ofwat's Framework for Success for the relevant salary grade. You can read more about Attributes here.
Benefits
Why You Should Join Us:
Our people are at the heart of Ofwat, and our People Strategy defines the goals that keep this focus central to everything we do. Our 2025 People Survey highlights several key strengths. Nine in ten colleagues say that they are treated with respect and that Ofwat values individual differences. The same proportion say that their work is meaningful and that they are being trusted to carry out their roles effectively. 79% of our people rated their manager highly, and 85% described their team environment as positive.
You will also benefit from:
- Excellent employer pension contributions of nearly 29%.You can find further details about pension schemes under Terms and Conditions in the Candidate Pack.
- 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
Moving to Ofwat from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Find out more at .
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Selection process details
How to apply
Apply through the Civil Service Jobs website where you’ll be asked to create an account and complete an application form (CV and personal statement). If you’re unable to make an electronic application, please contact recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk and we will support you in completing your application.
Please see the candidate guidance on our website for more detail and tips on how to best make your application and prepare for interview.
Please ensure you have submitted your application in full ahead of the deadline listed below. Unfortunately, we won't be able to consider late applications.
Selection timetable
- Closing date: 23.55 on 8 November 2026
- Sifting: Week commencing 9 November 2026
- Interview date(s): Week commencing 23 November 2026
Assessment process
Sift Stage - Blind Sifting
We operate a blind sifting model to eliminate bias. All candidate identifying information will be removed from applications.
At sift stage we will assess your application (CV and personal statement) against essential criteria 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 listed above. Please ensure you provide enough evidence in your application form to demonstrate how you meet the criteria.
Use your personal statement to address the below criteria and tell us how your experience, skills and knowledge meet them:
- Lead Criterion 1: Demonstrable experience of working within PMOs 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.
- Lead Criterion 2: Proven experience of administering project and/or programme governance and controls, including arrangements for senior boards, committees or working groups.
- Fully qualified, or working towards a relevant professional qualification or membership, for example PRINCE2, MSP, P3O or APM.
- Experience managing programme risks, issues, assumptions, dependencies, changes and mitigating actions, with the ability to identify and escalate emerging delivery concerns.
- Experience of framework or contract management, supplier governance, budget management, or commercial administration within a controlled environment.
*Please note that in the event of receiving a large number of applications, a pre-sift will take place on just the two lead criteria.
** If a high volume of candidates meet the minimum pass mark at sift stage, we will only progress the highest scoring candidates to interview. Candidates not invited to interview, who have achieved the minimum pass mark, will be placed 'on hold' until the final stage of the assessment process is completed. Should the role/s remain unfilled, candidates placed 'on hold' may be invited to interview in merit order.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Interview Stage - Transparent Interviews
At interview stage we will test against essential skills, experience, knowledge and attributes set out above.
Our transparent interview process involves candidates receiving a selection of attribute-based questions in advance. This has been proven to help neurodiverse candidates and others to perform better at interview and is part of our inclusive culture.
You can read more about attributes and our Framework for success here.
Please note that the interviews will be conducted via video conferencing software (Microsoft Teams).
Please ensure anything you present in your interview answers is factually accurate, and you are not presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by AI, as your own. You may expect follow up questions.
It may be necessary for a second stage interview, which will be communicated to the successful candidates, if required.
If the assessment process identifies more appointable candidates than roles available, a reserve list will be created for 12 months from which further appointments in merit order can be made.
'Near-miss' candidates (candidates who have performed well at interview stage but haven’t scored high enough for the advertised Senior Associate band) may be considered (in merit order) for an Associate grade post – a band lower than Senior Associate. Further details will be provided to candidates as needed.
If you have any queries about any aspect of this role, selection process, or you require any reasonable adjustments, please email recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk
- Email : recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk
Further information
Attachments
| BC-1175 - MWIP PMO Manager October 26 Opens in new window (pdf, 725kB) |
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