Warrington, GBR
The role
Senior Innovation Project Manager
Lingley Mere, Warrington (Hybrid)
Permanent | Full Time
Competitive Salary | Annual Bonus + £5,000 Car Allowance
The Role
At United Utilities, we don't just deliver water, we deliver a better future for the North West. Our mission is to provide high-quality, sustainable water services that support a greener, healthier and more prosperous region.
Ranked #4 in The Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers, we are proud of our commitment to diversity, innovation and creating a workplace where people can truly thrive.
As we significantly increase our investment in innovation over the next five years, there has never been a more exciting time to join us.
The Opportunity
We're looking for a highly experienced Senior Innovation Project Manager with a strong technical and engineering background to lead the development, trial and deployment of innovative technologies across our Commercial, Engineering and Capital Delivery (CEC) functions.
This role is ideal for someone who combines strategic project leadership with the technical credibility to challenge, influence and guide engineers, operational teams, delivery partners and suppliers through the successful adoption of new solutions.
You will lead complex programmes that introduce emerging technologies into operational environments, taking innovation from concept and proof-of-value through to large-scale deployment. Working across a c.£7bn capital programme, you'll play a key role in delivering measurable improvements in efficiency, carbon reduction, operational performance and customer outcomes.
We are expanding our award-winning Innovation and Outperformance team at United Utilities, bringing together innovation, decarbonisation and standardisation to drive step-change improvements in cost and carbon performance.
Our team explores innovations that deliver value and drives the deployment of these solutions at scale to unlock outperformance against our ambitious targets.
What you'll be doing
- Lead and deliver a diverse portfolio of complex, technically focused innovation projects and programmes
- Take ideas from concept through to operational adoption, ensuring measurable benefits, scalability and real-world impact
- Assess, challenge and validate emerging technologies, ensuring technical feasibility, operational suitability and value for money
- Work closely with engineering, operational and capital delivery teams to successfully deploy innovative solutions into live operational environments
- Manage pilot projects, proof-of-concept trials and large-scale deployments involving multiple stakeholders, contractors and suppliersProvide credible technical leadership and challenge to internal teams, consultants and technology partners
- Drive efficiency, sustainability and carbon reduction outcomes across the business
- Inspire and mentor project managers, championing agile thinking, innovation and continuous improvement
- Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, shaping decisions and influencing outcomes
- Collaborate with external partners and funding bodies including Ofwat, Innovate UK and Horizon Europe
- Manage delivery across risk, governance, resources and commercial performance
- Promote innovation across the business, increasing visibility, engagement and adoption of new technologies and ways of working
- Lead the safe introduction of new technologies, processes and suppliers into operational environments, ensuring robust risk assessment and effective governanceEnsure outstanding Health & Safety performance, operating within CDM and DSEAR frameworks whilst maintaining the highest standards of operational safety
What Makes This Role Different?
- Be at the forefront of a rapidly expanding international innovation programme
- Work on cutting-edge technologies and engineering solutions from around the world
- Influence strategic direction within a FTSE 100 organisation
- Play a key role in delivering sustainability and carbon reduction targets
- Work across internal teams, supply chains and leading external innovation partners
- Lead the deployment of emerging technologies that will shape the future of infrastructure and utility operations
- Solve complex engineering and operational challenges where there is no established playbook
- Deliver innovations that create lasting impact across one of the UK's largest capital investment programmes
What we're looking for
We're seeking a visionary project leader with strong technical and engineering expertise who thrives in complexity, brings energy to innovation and knows how to turn ideas into reality.
Essential
- Degree qualified (or equivalent experience) in an engineering, technical or scientific discipline
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Chartered member of a recognised professional institution
- Project management qualification (APM, PRINCE2 or equivalent)
- Significant experience delivering complex programmes involving engineering, infrastructure, technology or operational change
- Proven experience delivering complex project portfolios
- Demonstrable experience introducing, trialling and deploying new technologies within operational, industrial or regulated environments
- Strong technical understanding with the ability to evaluate engineering solutions, challenge assumptions and make evidence-based decisions
- Experience managing multiple suppliers, contractors and delivery partners throughout the project lifecycle
- Strong stakeholder management skills with experience influencing senior leaders and executive-level stakeholders
- Experience supporting bids, securing funding or developing business cases for innovative projects
- Demonstrable experience managing technical, operational and commercial risk within complex programmes
- Full UK/EU driving licence
Operational Health & Safety Leadership
- Proven experience managing Health & Safety risks within live operational, industrial, infrastructure or construction environments
- Demonstrable understanding of CDM regulations and the governance requirements associated with introducing new technologies, equipment and supply chain partners
- Experience leading projects involving operational interfaces, contractor management and the safe deployment of innovative solutions
- Ability to identify, assess and mitigate technical, operational and Health & Safety risks associated with first-of-a-kind technologies and new working methods
- Strong track record of embedding a positive safety culture whilst delivering complex programmes safely, on time and within budget
Desirable
- Experience within utilities, water, energy, infrastructure, environmental services or similarly regulated sectors
- Experience delivering innovation, R&D, technology deployment or digital transformation programmes
- Knowledge of automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced analytics, digital solutions or emerging engineering technologies
- NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent Health & Safety qualification
- Experience working with innovation funding programmes such as Ofwat, Innovate UK or Horizon Europe
What you'll get in return
We recognise the value you bring and reward it.
- 26 days annual leave (rising to 30) + bank holidays
- Competitive pension scheme (up to 14% employer contribution)
- Performance-related bonus of up to 20%
- £5,000 car allowance
- Company-funded healthcare
- Flexible, hybrid working
You'll also benefit from exceptional development opportunities, including:
- APM Project Management qualifications
- Chartership support (CEng / IEng)
- Leadership coaching and mentoring
- Professional memberships and accreditations
