Head of Programme Construction

Head of Programme Construction – Balfour Beatty (one Alliance)

Location:

Peterborough

Balfour Beatty plays a key role as part of Anglian Water’s one Alliance. The Alliance is a ground‑breaking collaboration between Anglian Water and eight industry‑leading partners:
Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, MMB, MWH Treatment, Skanska and SWECO. Together we deliver around 40% of Anglian Water’s capital investment programme.

Now working in AMP8, our most ambitious Asset Management Period yet, we are taking on nature‑based, sustainable solutions like wetlands and urban drainage schemes. We’re setting global benchmarks in environmental infrastructure and empowering our people with exceptional career growth opportunities.

We are seeking an exceptional Head of Programme Construction to help lead this mission.

Strategic Leadership:

• Lead regional construction delivery through a team of Heads of Construction.
• Maintain oversight of end‑to‑end construction performance across a major investment programme.
• Champion a positive, open, and inclusive culture where safety and continuous improvement thrive.

Programme Delivery:

• Provide governance and consistency across all construction programmes.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, to budget and to exceptional quality standards.
• Represent construction at senior Alliance forums and influence key delivery decisions.
• Monitor and manage supplier and subcontractor performance.

Commercial & Contractual Excellence:

• Maintain strong cost control, forecasting and commercial governance.
• Support supplier selection, contract management and value‑driven negotiations.
• Ensure all contractual and compliance obligations are met.

Stakeholder Leadership:

• Build strong relationships across Anglian Water, Alliance partners and key external stakeholders.
• Support resource planning and capability development across all construction functions.

Innovation & Sustainability:

• Drive improvements in productivity, waste reduction and embodied carbon.
• Lead constructability reviews and fit‑for‑assembly processes to enhance safety and buildability.
• Embed digital and innovative approaches into project delivery.

Safety First – Every Day:

• Lead compliance with CDM, HSWA and all relevant SHEQ standards.
• Promote a zero‑accident ethos and ensure consistent safety performance across all sites.

• Degree‑level qualification in a construction‑related discipline.
• Significant experience delivering complex, multi‑disciplinary construction programmes (ideally in water/wastewater or major infrastructure).
• Strong technical knowledge of CDM, Health & Safety and environmental standards.
• Proven ability to lead large teams and drive high performance.
• Excellent commercial awareness and programme management capability.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder influence.
• A mindset focused on innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.

• Smart working, with staggered start and finish times, up to 40% remote working where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata).
• Family‑friendly policies: 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave.
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and more.

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

As Balfour Beatty’s Highways business, we deliver major schemes including motorway upgrade programmes, complex national infrastructure projects and regional investment programme works for National Highways. We put the road user at the heart of everything we do, work safely, reduce carbon emissions and add social value to the communities within which we work.

We are a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and…