Director of Strategic Projects & Management Office

Right across infrastructure, there’s a requirement to not only maintain, but also renew and reimagine. Whatever stage you’re at in your career, with us you’ll have an opportunity to grow and develop. Delivering essential infrastructure services for life, while being safety first, and client and customer centric in a friendly, fun and respectful environment where you are encouraged to thrive.

As an organisation, there is little we don’t do and plenty to get involved in. Our Group Support roles are vital in making sure we can help over 11,000 people deliver essential infrastructure seamlessly across water, energy, transport and telecom. You’ll be at the heart of shaping our IT strategy and governance, driving portfolio management to enable future growth. This role focuses on building strong foundations for technology delivery, overseeing IT risk, aligning projects with cost and resource controls, and guiding key business decisions.

You’ll also champion tools and processes that make change management intuitive and impactful, helping create a competitive edge and transform how we operate.

• Setting the foundations for success by defining governance frameworks and policies that support strategic IT objectives and informed decision-making.
• Driving portfolio management to ensure investments align with business priorities, balancing cost, risk, and benefits while enabling agile ways of working.
• Leading prioritization and resource allocation across programs and projects to maximize impact.
• Providing technology leadership, simplifying tools and processes, and championing best practices in governance and portfolio management.
• Inspiring and mentoring teams, fostering innovation, inclusion, and accountability as we embrace new ways of working.
• Collaborating with business leaders to translate growth objectives into actionable programs and projects.
• Supporting major transformation initiatives, balancing long‑term strategy with practical steps that deliver immediate value.
• Embedding standards and governance that enable discipline without stifling creativity or agility.

• Proven experience as a Head of or Director of Governance and Portfolio Management within a complex or rapidly scaling organisation.
• Track record of establishing governance and portfolio management processes in environments with low standards and maturity.
• Hands‑on experience with portfolio management tools.
• Excellent ability to communicate governance concepts and portfolio processes in business‑friendly language across all stakeholders.
• Influential, pragmatic, and delivery‑focused – able to balance strategic ambition and standards with the pragmatic pressure of delivery.
• Sector experience desirable but not essential.
• Visionary but pragmatic and able to set clear direction whilst delivering tangible outcomes.
• Collaborative and able to bring together diverse stakeholders and create alignment.
• Knowledge and experience working with Agile methodologies.

• Degree level education in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Prince 2 or APM Project Management or equivalent professional qualification.
• Working knowledge of Portfolio Management tools.

• Matched or contributory pension scheme
• Online GP service, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Employee assistance programme
• My Rewards portal, access to 1000’s of retail discounts
• Life assurance
• Cycle to work, salary finance and give as you earn schemes
• Enhanced maternity, paternity leave and adoption leave
• Reward and recognition scheme
• Company car (or allowance) and fuel card with a range of EV and hybrid vehicles to choose from
• My Car Choice – our salary sacrifice EV/Hybrid car scheme
• Company van/vehicle and fuel card for business use
• Private health care and health care cash plan for you (and your family)
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Recommend a friend – get rewarded for introducing people to us!

We want to be an employer of choice and a great place to work, attracting diverse and talented people, who join us and make a difference. We’re one of the Top 100…