Senior Strategic Delivery Lead (Partnerships)

Closing Date

Job Title: Senior Strategic Delivery Lead (Partnerships)

Location: within our region (hybrid/flexible)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37 hours per week

Salary: circa £75,000 + car allowance

The Environment & Innovation team is at the forefront of Southern Water’s drive to enhance and protect the environment. Deploying the latest innovative solutions and working in partnership with our customers and stakeholders, the team takes a holistic approach to water quality and flow across the region. Currently delivering a programme that is expanding to over £2 billion over the next 10 years. This is a fast-paced team that is now expanding to continue to deliver a larger programme of sustainable and innovative solutions. This role sits in the part of the directorate that focuses on improving bathing water quality.

About the role

Bathing water quality can be impacted by several factors including leaking or damaged sewers, storm overflows, agricultural runoff, illegal connections, seabird or other animal waste, incorrect disposal of waste and other marine activities. The Senior Strategic Delivery Lead will pioneer how we partner with our stakeholders and the community, to improve and maintain bathing water quality across our 700 miles of coastline. This is a delivery leadership role focused on turning collaboration into action. You'll work with councils, communities, regulators, NGOs, contractors and environmental partners to develop and deliver solutions that improve bathing water quality and create sustainable environmental outcomes.

What you will be responsible for

• Lead the partnership delivery strategy for the Bathing Water Programme across the Southern Water region.

• Build strong relationships with local authorities, regulators, environmental groups, community organisations and delivery partners.

• Secure commitment and action from partners to improve bathing water quality, to supplement the extensive work we are carrying out on our own assets

• Develop practical catchment-based solutions that deliver measurable environmental benefits.

• Influence senior stakeholders, political representatives and community leaders.

• Ensure improvements are maintained over the long term, not simply delivered and handed over.

• Drive accountability, collaboration and performance across complex partnership networks.

• Act as a key advisor to programme leadership on partnership and delivery strategy.

What you’ll bring to the role

You'll be a highly credible strategic leader with experience delivering complex programmes through partnerships.

You'll bring:

• Significant experience of leading large-scale strategic programmes.
• A track record of successful delivery involving councils, regulators, communities or public sector partners.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Strong understanding of regulatory and political environments.
• Experience navigating complex and high-profile stakeholder landscapes.
• Commercial awareness and an outcome-focused approach.
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with practical delivery.
• Strong leadership capability and experience building high-performing relationships and teams.

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.

"Our mission is to protect and enhance life through water—and we need passionate people to help us achieve it. If you’re inspired by our purpose and believe you can contribute, apply today. You don’t need to meet every criterion; what matters most is your drive to make a difference."

If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here: Introduce Yourself (myworkdaysite.com- 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 (DBS) 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.

Welcome

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.

We succeed together

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.

Need flexibility in your work?

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?