Mace
Senior Programme Manager - Water Infrastructure

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Mace: Senior Strategic Programme Leader
Mace combines construction expertise with consultancy to unlock potential in every person or project and redefine the boundaries of ambition. Our values shape the way we consult and define the people we want to join us on our journey.
About the Role
Reporting to the Head of Programme Development, this is a senior leadership role 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 be expected to 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. They will be responsible for 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 will lead senior discussions with regulators, oversee the RAPID gated process and associated deliverables, and provide credible executive-level reporting and assurance. Success will require strong commercial awareness, mature stakeholder management, sound judgement and the ability to anticipate and mitigate strategic risks to protect programme outcomes.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Responsibilities
- 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 AW and consultants following AW Line Management principles and requirements.
Requirements
You’ll need to have:
- Extensive experience leading complex, high-value infrastructure programmes through development and delivery.
- Proven track record of 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.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Our Values
- Safety first: Going home safe and well: We champion a safe, diverse and inclusive working environment, understanding the importance of wellbeing in every team.
- Client focus: Deliver on our promise: We own the quality of deliverables, strategic outcomes and build long term relationships with our clients.
- Integrity: Always do the right thing: We influence positive outcomes within our industry, while always aligning with our compliance obligations.
- Create opportunity: For our people to excel: We champion a continuous improvement culture throughout all activities, inspiring our people and teams to develop.
Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. Even if you feel you do not fulfil all the criteria, please apply as you may still be the best candidate for this role or another role within our organisation.
We are also open to discussing part time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable with-in the role.
#LI-Onsite
#LI-JM1
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills