Portfolio Manager - Customer & Corporate Manager

Closing Date

Job Title: Portfolio Manager

Location: Durrington (with hybrid working)
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 37 hours per week
Salary: salary to be discussed at screening stage

About the role

These roles are key leadership positions at the heart of Southern Water’s transformation agenda. We are recruiting two Portfolio Managers, each with the same vision and strategic oversight. One will lead the delivery agenda across our Customer and Corporate directorates, the other will lead our Digital delivery agenda, both focused on supporting our AMP8 aspirations and driving operational and customer excellence.

Working closely with our Executive and senior leadership teams, you will turn business strategy into practical, achievable delivery roadmaps. You will bring expert stakeholder management, the ability to mobilise programmes at pace, and the confidence to lead multi‑disciplinary teams to deliver consistently and continuously improve.

You’ll be part of our Digital function an ambitious, collaborative, growing area of the business that works as a true strategic partner. Your work will directly influence Southern Water’s future by driving value, innovation, and improved service outcomes for our customers and communities.

What you will be responsible for

• Leading the definition of delivery strategies and roadmaps that support business ambitions and AMP8 outcomes.
• Translating business strategy into tangible delivery programmes that balance cost, value and performance.
• Mobilising complex programmes—pulling together cross‑functional and third‑party teams and setting them up for success.
• Overseeing delivery of projects and programmes across the full lifecycle, ensuring time, cost and quality commitments are met.
• Providing exceptional leadership to multi‑disciplinary teams, building capability, inspiring performance, and supporting professional growth.
• Driving consistent continuous improvement across delivery, governance, risk management and stakeholder engagement.

Additional requirements for the role

• Some travel across our region to meet teams and stakeholders.
• Occasional participation in governance forums outside core hours may be required.

What you’ll bring to the role

Essential

• Strong experience leading enterprise wide change programmes and delivery portfolios in complex environments
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, including senior and executive-level engagement.
• Demonstrable track record of leading multi‑disciplinary and matrix teams and delivering large change portfolios.
• Experience in setting delivery strategies, governance approaches and financial management frameworks.
• Experience in leading, coaching and developing a project management community, building an engaged and proactive team 
• Demonstrable experience modernising and continuously improving delivery ways of working and methods
• Relevant qualifications (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, Agile).

Desirable

• Experience delivering programmes with budgets of £5m–£20m+.
• Background in digital transformation, utilities or similarly complex service-led industries.

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 senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long-term value creation 

At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need.

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. 

#LI-HM2

#LI-Hybrid