United Utilities
Project Controls Manager
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Location: Lingley Mere, Warrington (Hybrid working, 3 days per week on site)
Help shape the future of water in the North West
At United Utilities, we're committed to delivering a better future for our customers, communities, and the environment. Our Regulation & Compliance Team sits at the heart of this ambition, leading the development of the regulatory submissions and investment plans that will shape the future of water services across the North West.
We're looking for an experienced Project Controls Manager to take ownership of the governance, controls, and assurance engagement that underpins one of our most important portfolios. If you're passionate about project controls, thrive in complex environments, and enjoy bringing structure, insight, and challenge to support better decision-making, this could be the perfect next step in your career.
About The Role
This is a highly visible role where you'll be responsible for ensuring our projects and programmes are effectively controlled, governed, and reported. Working closely with the Head of Programme Management, you'll lead the development and continuous improvement of robust project controls frameworks, providing confidence that our plans are deliverable, well governed, and ready to withstand regulatory scrutiny.
You'll become the go-to expert for project controls across the portfolio, creating the rhythm and discipline needed to drive successful programme delivery.
A key part of your role will be owning the programme's governance cycle and monthly controls drumbeat, ensuring the right information is available at the right time, governance forums (comprising senior stakeholders, up to Executive level) are supported with high-quality materials, and critical decisions can be made with confidence.
What You'll Be Doing
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As Project Controls Manager, you'll:
- Own and continuously improve project controls standards, frameworks, and governance arrangements across the portfolio
- Lead the monthly programme controls cycle, ensuring performance, risk, cost, schedule, and change information is accurate and robust
- Develop and maintain the governance lookahead, ensuring upcoming approvals, milestones, and assurance activities are clearly planned and tracked
- Provide assurance that project artefacts, reporting, and governance materials are complete, credible, and fit for purpose
- Create, coordinate, and quality-check governance packs and gateway review materials, ensuring a "right first time" approach
- Monitor project health, including risk management, governance compliance, and performance indicators
- Oversee change control, risk, and issue management processes, ensuring early warning issues are visible and escalated appropriately
- Challenge and support stakeholders to improve the quality, consistency, and integrity of project information
- Lead third-party assurance activities where required
- Manage and develop project controls capability within the PMO team, including line management responsibility
- Drive continuous improvement across systems, reporting, and project control processes
What We're Looking For
We're interested in hearing from candidates who bring strong project controls expertise along with the confidence to influence and challenge senior stakeholders.
You'll ideally have:
- Significant experience in Project Controls, PMO, or Programme Delivery environments
- A strong understanding of governance, assurance, and project controls disciplines including planning, cost, risk, change, and performance management
- Experience operating within a complex, highly regulated environment
- Strong knowledge of project controls and financial tools such as Microsoft Project, Excel, and other cost management tools
- Experience producing and managing governance packs, steering forums, and stage-gate reviews
- Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex information and identify key insights
- Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to constructively challenge when required
- Experience leading process improvement and embedding best practice
- Previous people management experience, with the ability to build and develop high-performing teams
- Degree-level qualification in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience
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Experience within the utilities sector, water industry, or working with regulatory bodies would be advantageous.
Why join us?
You'll be joining a respected, collaborative team that plays a critical role in shaping United Utilities' future investment plans. This is a rare opportunity to influence major strategic programmes, work with senior stakeholders across the business, and develop your career within one of the UK's largest infrastructure organisations.
In return, we offer a competitive salary and a fantastic benefits package, including:
- 26 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service, plus bank holidays
- Up to 14% employer pension contribution
- Up to 10.5% annual bonus
- Private healthcare
- Enhanced parental leave and flexible working options
- Wellbeing support and employee assistance programmes
- Voluntary flexible benefits scheme
- Share ownership scheme
Ready to make an impact?
Join us and help ensure the successful delivery of the investment plans that will shape the future of water services across the North West for generations to come.
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