Senior Project Manager - Sewage Treatment Works

Senior Project Manager Sewage Treatment Works

Reports to: Project Director
Project: Slough - Extension of an operational sewage treatment plant (STW)

Location: First year in Central London, then in Slough.

Role Summary

We are seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager with a strong background in water/wastewater infrastructure to lead the extension of a live sewage treatment works that must maintain full operations throughout construction.

The candidate will own end-to-end delivery (scope, programme, budget, quality, safety, environmental compliance) while ensuring a seamless coordination with Thames Water s operational team, strict adherence to Thames Water procedures and standards, and effective management of multidisciplinary engineering and delivery teams (civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical/process).

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the full project lifecycle from project initiation, design coordination, procurement, construction, commissioning, to handover/closeout.
• Plan and sequence the works to ensure a full coordination with the existing treatment processes, avoiding any unplanned outages, including a meticulously management of the isolations and live interfaces.
• Establish and maintain the Project Execution Plan, programme, cost plan, risk register, and change control in line with client and internal governance.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for Thames Water and their operational representatives; chair progress, risk, and interface meetings.
• Coordinate permits, isolation plans, and method approvals with the Thames Water operational team to safeguard continuity of service and compliance with permit-to-work systems.
• Manage regulatory, statutory, and third-party stakeholders (e.g., local authorities, EA interfaces, utilities).
• Champion a safety-first culture; ensure compliance with CDM Regulations, RAMS, LOTO, confined space controls, temporary works, lifting operations, and process safety protocols.

• Ensure robust environmental management: pollution prevention, odour control, sludge handling, silt and noise/dust management, and wastewater discharge compliance.
• Oversee quality assurance/quality control, ITPs, and documentation to meet client acceptance criteria.

• Coordinate civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation & control, and process/chemical engineering inputs; ensure design constructability and operability.
• Oversee integration of M/&E plant, MCCs, SCADA/telemetry, and process tie-ins with live assets, plan staged commissioning and performance testing.

• Own cost performance: forecasting, earned value, change management, early warnings, and contract administration (e.g., NEC forms).
• Lead procurement of subcontractors, OEMs, and long-lead items; manage supplier performance and technical submittals.
• Maintain a realistic, risk-adjusted programme; implement recovery plans as needed.

• Lead commissioning strategy and phased cutovers; ensure robust testing, O&M documentation, training, spares, asset tagging, and clean handover aligned to Thames Water requirements.

• Manage and mentor the project team; allocate resources effectively across planning, engineering, commercial, and site delivery functions.
• Drive high-performance collaboration, clear communications, and proactive issue resolution.

Qualification, skills and experience:

• Degree in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical/Process, or related discipline).

• Experience delivering water/wastewater infrastructure projects (treatment works, networks, or major AMP frameworks).
• Demonstrable experience delivering construction projects on live/operational sewage treatment plants without service interruption.
• In-depth knowledge of Thames Water procedures, standards, and permit-to-work systems (e.g., isolations, method approvals, operational interfaces, documentation and assurance expectations).
• Proven track record managing multidisciplinary teams (civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical/process) through design, construction, commissioning, and handover.
• Strong H&S leadership with excellent command of CDM Regulations, RAMS, temporary works, and process safety in water environments.
• Solid commercial acumen (NEC contract administration, cost…