Location
Reading, based at an office within the Thames Water catchment area

Hours
36 hours per week, Monday to Friday, hybrid working – typically 2–3 days per week in the office and on site

Salary
£80,000 to £89,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience, plus £5,800 per annum car allowance (full UK driving licence and access to personal transport required)

About the Role
Lead the future of water and wastewater infrastructure as an Infrastructure Engineering Manager (known as Programme Technical Manager once in the role). This pivotal senior engineering leadership role is central to one of the UK’s largest water or wastewater infrastructure programmes, valued between £500m and £1bn. You will set the technical direction, develop high-performing teams, and ensure complex, multi-year programmes are delivered safely, sustainably, and efficiently. Your leadership will be key to modernising critical national infrastructure and building long-term resilience for the communities we serve.

Key responsibilities include:
- Providing technical leadership across major water or wastewater treatment programmes from early concept through delivery and handover to Operations
- Leading, mentoring, and inspiring a multi-disciplinary engineering function, from Apprentices to Principal Engineers, fostering a culture centred on safety, inclusion, wellbeing, and professional development
- Setting and embedding technical strategy, standards, and governance to assure quality, safety, and regulatory compliance across complex programmes
- Collaborating with internal teams, delivery partners, consultants, and contractors to proactively manage risk and drive successful outcomes
- Building trusted relationships with senior leaders, regulators, and stakeholders to influence decisions on risk, value, and technical direction
- Championing continuous improvement by challenging existing ways of working, promoting innovation, and sharing best practice across the programme

Experience
- Chartered Engineer (or equivalent) with membership of a relevant professional body
- Significant leadership experience within engineering, infrastructure, project, or construction environments (water sector experience advantageous but not essential)
- Strong commercial and contractual awareness, with deep understanding of risk, value management, and lifecycle decision-making
- Experience developing business cases and strategic Project Briefs
- Knowledge of the regulatory environment and its influence on major infrastructure programmes
- Proven ability to define and embed processes relating to technical assurance, quality, documentation, and continuous improvement
- Experience in resource planning, productivity improvement, and leading teams to deliver to time, cost, and quality objectives

About you
- Excellent communication, coaching, and influencing skills with a collaborative and inclusive leadership style
- Ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with senior leaders, regulators, and stakeholders
- Passionate about safety, inclusion, wellbeing, and professional development
- Innovative mindset with a drive for continuous improvement and best practice sharing

Qualifications
- Chartered Engineer status (or equivalent) is essential
- Full UK driving licence and access to personal transport required for car allowance eligibility