Programme Manager - ERP Transformation

At Thames Water, we make a daily difference to our 16 million customers by supplying 2.6 billion litres of water through 32,000 km of pipes, keeping taps flowing and toilets flushing. We deliver life's essential service so our customers, communities and the environment can thrive.

As the UK’s largest water company, we are taking action for a new world of water - fixing the problems of today and building resilience for tomorrow. In digital transformation, this means leveraging data and technology to transform our organisational capability, drive innovation and deliver impactful change to our customers, communities and the environment. 

As part of our turnaround plan, we are driving process efficiencies throughout the organisation.  Core to this will be the modernisation and transformation of our core ERP systems. We are looking for a seasoned Programme Manager, who has successfully led companywide ERP Transformations from both a Digital and Business change perspective.  This is a high-profile role within Thames Water, and you will interface regularly with Director and C-Suite level stakeholders. Experience with SAP systems would be beneficial, although we will consider applicants with experience of similar enterprise grade systems e.g. Oracle. 

What you’ll be doing as a Programme Manager
As a Programme Manager, your role encompasses several critical tasks. You are entrusted with both overseeing sub portfolios of work and delivering significant technology and business change initiatives that propel Thames’ progress toward achieving business area goals and desired outcomes. Here are the key aspects of your responsibility:

Leadership and Coordination: You have direct line management responsibilities in managing project management teams across a programme/sub portfolio.  Also, you will lead both internal teams and third-party collaborators, employing a combination of line management and matrix management approaches.

Stakeholder Management: You will be a great stakeholder manager, who is able to work collaboratively and influence a wide range of stakeholders up to and including executive level.

Goal Achievement: Your primary objective is to ensure successful outcomes that align with business priorities. This involves meeting project/programme and sub portfolio level goals within specified timelines, adhering to budget constraints, and maintaining alignment with the scope.

Effective Transition: As a project/programme within a sub portfolio nears completion, you will ensure a smooth transition into service. This involves seamless integration of any project deliverables into the operational environment.

Financial and Commercial Acumen: Given the collaborative nature of your role, financial and commercial expertise is essential. You will work closely with our digital colleagues, supplier and finance teams to optimise project resources and costs.  Costs must account for both delivery and run costs. Leading on the development of business cases

Domain Advantage: While not mandatory, experience in utilities or water-related projects would be advantageous.   We are looking for programme managers with a wide range of experience who can bring this to their delivery at Thames Water.

Base Location: Clearwater Court, Reading - Hybrid
Working Pattern: Full Time

What you should bring to the role
Essential:

• Significant experience of Digital / IT programme management delivery role, managing complex projects with multiple internal and external stakeholders/third parties
• Experience of financial management up to £10m per annum
• Experience of IT and business process impacting transformation programmes, that are 2+ years in duration, >£25 investment programmes and impacting >500 employees.
• Line management experience
• Delivery of IT projects involving management of third-party suppliers
• SAFe Practitioner, Scrum Master or equivalent
• PRINCE 2 Practitioner or equivalent
• Experience of working with different delivery methodologies i.e. Agile, Waterfall

Nice to have:

• SAP experience or similar platform e.g. Oracle
• Development /management of SOWs/Third party suppliers and supplier management
• Management of platform replacements involving significant business change
• Ability to challenge supplier cost
• Exposure to Lean methodology

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary between £80,000 - £90,000 per annum depending on experience
• Annual Leave 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (Plus bank holidays)
• Car Allowance
• Annual Bonus
• Private Medical Health Care
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution
• Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year
• Wider benefits scheme including our benefits hub, which is packed full of offers and information to save you money and support your wellbeing.

Who are we?
At Thames Water, our purpose is crystal clear - to deliver life’s essential service so our customers, communities and planet can thrive.

Water is life’s great leveller. Every living thing needs it, every single day. From people to plants, birds to bees, farms to factories, we all need it to thrive, and we’re committed to taking care of it for us all.

But keeping water flowing is becoming harder. From scorching summers to wetter winters, extreme weather affects everything from our pipes to our local rivers. We need to keep millions more kettles boiling, public services operating, washing machines spinning, showers running and more, so every drop is more precious than ever. Are you ready to play your part?

Working at Thames Water
At Thames Water we recognise that people are at the heart of our business. To help us succeed in providing life's essential service, we need a range of skills and capabilities, representative of society throughout our business.

We seek to attract and retain a cultural mix of people who can offer different but complementary attitudes, values, talents, and knowledge. We understand the importance of appreciating and harnessing the unique skills, experiences, background, and differences that each individual brings.

Our over-arching diversity and inclusion aim is to ensure Thames Water is a diverse and inclusive great place to work. We encourage applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process.

Find out more about working at Thames Water.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business, meet colleagues and earn some extra money along the way.

Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.