Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose

At Pennon Group, we’re proud to serve communities while protecting the environment. Together with our subsidiaries, South West Water, Bristol Water, Bournemouth Water, SES Water, Pennon Water Services and Pennon Power, we’re leading the way in water and renewables.

We’re proud to be recognised as a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we’re working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.

Whether you’re starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.

Ready to make a splash? Join our team today.

Solution Development Water Programme Lead
Full time | Exeter

At South West Water, we're investing in the future of our water services to deliver resilient, reliable and sustainable outcomes for our customers, communities and the environment. As part of this commitment, we're looking for a Solution Development Water Programme Lead to drive the development of major investment programmes, helping shape the solutions that will deliver long-term operational, environmental, regulatory and customer benefits.

About the role:

This is an opportunity to play a leading role in developing the investment programmes that will shape the future of our water services. You'll work on complex and high-profile initiatives across water treatment, water networks and associated operational assets, helping identify the right solutions to meet future challenges and business needs.

Working closely with colleagues across Asset Management, Operations, Delivery and our framework partners, you'll lead the development and assessment of investment options, ensuring programmes are aligned with business objectives and deliver the best value for customers and the environment.

What you'll be doing:

As Solution Development Water Programme Lead, you'll lead the development of investment programmes from identifying business and asset needs through to option selection and outline design, ensuring solutions are safe, resilient, efficient and deliverable.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development and option selection of major water investment programmes.

• Translating business, operational and asset management needs into robust technical solutions and outline designs.

• Coordinating multidisciplinary consultants and design partners to deliver programme objectives.

• Driving efficient option development and assessment to achieve best-value outcomes.

• Managing programme scope, priorities, resources and key milestones.

• Collaborating with Asset Management, Operations, Delivery, Commercial and Performance teams.

• Challenging assumptions and solution approaches to maximise value, resilience and deliverability.

• Identifying opportunities for innovation, standardisation and cross-programme efficiencies.

• Establishing effective governance, reporting and stakeholder engagement arrangements.

• Monitoring programme performance against time, cost and regulatory commitments.

• Promoting a strong culture of health, safety and environmental leadership.

What we're looking for:

We're looking for an experienced programme leader with a strong engineering or technical background and a passion for developing long-term solutions that create lasting value for customers, communities, operations and the environment.

You'll have experience leading complex investment, engineering or programme development activities and be comfortable working across multiple disciplines to turn business needs into practical, deliverable solutions.

You'll bring:

• Experience leading engineering, capital investment or programme development activities within the water sector or a similar regulated environment.

• Experience developing and assessing solutions across a broad range of asset types, including treatment, network and operational assets.

• A strong understanding of option development, feasibility assessment and outline design.

• Experience managing consultants, multidisciplinary teams and a broad range of stakeholders.

• Proven ability to balance technical, operational, commercial and regulatory requirements.

• Experience of programme governance, risk management and performance reporting.

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence decision-making across multiple disciplines.

• Experience driving performance, efficiency and value through investment planning and programme leadership.

Qualifications:

• Degree qualified in Engineering or a related discipline.

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, or working towards chartership.

• Experience within the UK water sector and AMP environment is desirable.

• APM, PRINCE2 or equivalent programme management qualification is desirable.

Why join us?

You'll join a business investing heavily in its assets, people and environmental performance, giving you the opportunity to influence major investment decisions and help shape the future of water services across the Group.

You'll work at the forefront of solution development, collaborating with experts from across the business and our framework partners to identify, assess and develop investment opportunities that create lasting benefits for customers, communities and the environment.

• 30 days annual leave + bank holidays and the option to buy or sell your holiday

• Bonus

• Private Healthcare

• Company car or cash for car allowance

• Competitive contributory pension

• Share-save scheme

• Health benefits & wellbeing support programmes

• Group discounts

• Cycle to Work scheme

• Financial support services

• Development and training opportunities

...and much more!

Closing Date: 26th October 2026

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.

Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.

Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:

Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.

Be You - We want you to bring your best everyday. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.

Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.