Closing Date 13/08/2026 Innovation Project Manager – Wastewater Location: Falmer- Hybrid- 3 office/site remaining WFH- Driving licence essential Contract Type: Fixed term contract- Ending April 2027 Hours: Full time Salary: Up to £50,000 per annum About the role Southern Water is looking for an Innovation Project Manager to support and lead innovation projects across our wastewater business. This is a hybrid role that combines project delivery with technical subject matter expertise. You will help develop and deliver innovation projects that align with our business priorities and support better outcomes for our customers, communities and the environment. You will work closely with internal teams, delivery partners, suppliers, other water companies, academics and research organisations. You will help make sure our innovation portfolio reflects the latest ideas, trends and technologies in the water industry. The role will focus on three key areas: technical assurance, project management and stakeholder engagement. What you will be responsible for: Lead and deliver wastewater innovation projects, making sure they are aligned to business priorities and deliver clear benefits. Provide technical assurance for new concepts, ideas and projects, including developing project scopes, plans and benefit assessments. Manage project delivery, including budgets, milestones, risks, governance, reporting and benefit tracking. Build strong relationships with internal teams, suppliers, other water companies, academics and research organisations to support innovation and adoption. Promote innovation work across the business and externally through steering groups, technical working groups, trade press, conferences and technical journals. What you’ll bring to the role: Essential Experience working within utilities, preferably within the water industry. Experience working in innovation, research and development, or a similar technical project environment. Technical knowledge of water and/or wastewater operations, capital delivery or assets. Strong project management skills, including planning, risk management, reporting and budget tracking. Good stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build relationships across technical and operational teams. Desirable Degree-level qualification in a scientific, engineering or related discipline. About Southern Water Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed. You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence key decisions and support long-term value creation. Our commitment to inclusion We understand that great talent comes in many forms. If this role excites you and you share our commitment to delivering sustainable solutions for our communities, please apply, even if your experience does not perfectly match every requirement. We’ll support your growth and development. If this role is not quite what you are looking for but you are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here: Introduce Yourself. Our Commitment to Diversity We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. Additional information In line with Southern Water’s security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years. Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all pre-employment checks, including security vetting. Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment. Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation. Our purpose is big. Our impact is huge. And we know that every single one of us has the power, through our actions, to positively change society and the environment for good. It’s why careers with us have real meaning. Because, if you’re driven and ambitious, we can offer you huge opportunities for personal growth, professional development and constant innovation. Forever evolving. Forever focused on doing the right thing, we empower and encourage everyone to play to their strengths and to help us shape a fair and positive future for all. We believe in Water for Life. If you do too, Dive Right In. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose. To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support – because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority. That’s why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve. Joining the Southern Water family means you’ll become part of our incident support team. During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that apply to your position. 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?
