Location
Central London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
Mace combines construction expertise with consultancy to unlock potential in every person or project and redefine the boundaries of ambition. Reporting to the Head of Programme Development, this senior leadership role is accountable for shaping and leading a portfolio of major infrastructure strategic programmes through early development, regulatory gateways and investment decision points. The role requires an experienced strategic programme leader who can bring structure, pace and judgement to complex, high-value programmes operating in challenging financial, regulatory, commercial and stakeholder environments. The postholder will operate with significant autonomy, deputise for the Head of Programme Development where required, and provide clear leadership across multi-disciplinary teams, senior internal stakeholders, regulators and external partners. Responsibilities include setting strategic direction, translating ambiguity into deliverable plans, securing alignment across complex interfaces, and ensuring robust governance, cost, risk, schedule and performance controls are in place. The role leads senior discussions with regulators, oversees the RAPID gated process and associated deliverables, and provides credible executive-level reporting and assurance. Success requires strong commercial awareness, mature stakeholder management, sound judgement and the ability to anticipate and mitigate strategic risks to protect programme outcomes.

You’ll be responsible for:
- Portfolio leadership: Manage the development and delivery readiness of Anglian Water's strategic resource programmes, ensuring successful progression through key investment and regulatory milestones.
- Strategic development: Shape programme strategies, delivery models and investment cases to support long-term business and regulatory objectives.
- Stakeholder and regulatory leadership: Act as a senior representative with regulators, partners and executive stakeholders, building confidence and securing support for programme outcomes.
- Governance and performance: Ensure effective governance, controls, reporting, risk management and financial oversight across the portfolio.
- Leadership and capability: Deputise for the Head of Programme Development, providing leadership, coaching and direction across the Programme Development function. Act as line manager for an extensive programme management team which is a blend of Anglian Water and consultants following AW Line Management principles and requirements.

Experience
- Extensive experience leading complex, high-value infrastructure programmes through development and delivery.
- Proven track record managing projects across the full lifecycle, from strategy and business case development through to delivery readiness.
- Experience developing major infrastructure projects, including planning, consenting, procurement and commercial strategy.
- Strong experience operating within regulated environments and working with regulators, government bodies and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrable experience managing significant budgets, programme controls, risk, schedule and governance processes.
- Experience influencing and engaging senior leaders, executive teams and boards to secure decisions and approvals.
- Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams within a matrix organisation and develop high-performing teams.
- Extensive stakeholder management experience, building relationships across internal and external organisations.

About you
Strategic thinker with strong commercial awareness and mature stakeholder management skills. Sound judgement and the ability to anticipate and mitigate strategic risks. Confident leader able to operate with autonomy and deputise for senior leadership. Excellent communication skills to engage with regulators, partners and executive stakeholders effectively.

Qualifications
Relevant qualifications and experience in programme or project management within infrastructure or regulated sectors are desirable. Commitment to Mace’s values of Safety first, Client focus, Integrity and Creating opportunity.