Programme Manager - Operations

Wave Utilities; Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading national business water retailer is seeking a Programme Manager to drive operational strategy and delivery in the water industry. This senior role involves overseeing complex programmes, ensuring effective collaboration among teams, and aligning initiatives with business strategy. The ideal candidate will have proven project leadership skills, excellent communication abilities, and experience with change management. The position offers a competitive salary of £65,000 to £75,000 along with various employee perks and a hybrid working model.

Benefits

Excellent pension scheme

Bonus potential

Perkbox membership

Income protection scheme

Personal accident insurance

4x salary life assurance

Free onsite parking

24 days holiday plus bank holidays

Paid volunteering day

Healthcare cashback scheme

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience managing complex programmes and projects from start to finish.
• Strong knowledge of agile methodologies.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all workstreams, managing timelines, risks, budgets, and stakeholder requirements.
• Ensure internal teams and external partners work together effectively.
• Contribute to key initiatives aligning with business strategy and budget.

Skills

Proven Project Leadership

Excellent Communication Skills

Digitally Proficient & Organised

Change Management Expertise

Tools

MS Office

Jira

Job description

Programme Manager – Operations (37 hours per week Permanent)

Location: Contractual base in Salvus House, Durham / Pearl House, Peterborough with hybrid working opportunities

Salary: £65,000 – £75,000 plus a discretionary bonus potential of up to 8% of annual salary

Job Level: C

Reporting to: Director of Operations

We want our people to have a great work-life balance and support flexible working in terms of a hybrid model and varying start and finish times in some teams where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.

ABOUT US

Wave is a leading national business water retailer helping over 300,000 customers across the UK to benefit from the non‑household water market. We’re dedicated to helping businesses lower water use, be more water efficient and reduce costs – all which helped us earn the Water Retailer of the Year award in 2021, reclaim the title in 2023. Most recently, we celebrated the win again in 2025, where the judges highlighted our commitment to social value and sustainability as well as our market‑leading customer service. Our vision is to be the most customer‑focused utility delivering value and efficiency in everything we do, making a positive difference to the environment and society.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

Wealth

• Excellent pension scheme - we will double match your contribution, up to a maximum of 5% employee contribution and 10% from Wave
• Bonus potential
• Perkbox membership with a vast range of perks - high street savings (fashion retailers, supermarkets and restaurants), discounted cinema tickets, travel and holiday discounts and online fitness classes
• Income protection scheme
• Personal accident insurance
• 4x salary life assurance
• Free onsite parking

Time off

• 24 days holiday rising to 26 (plus bank holidays)
• A day off for your birthday
• Half a day on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
• The option to buy holidays
• 1 day paid volunteering

Wellbeing

• Hybrid/Flexible working
• Healthcare cashback and treatment scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Annual conference and Christmas party
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Free flu shots

Family Friendly

• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Enhanced shared parental and adoption leave
• We care about you as an employee and have a range of resources available to both you and your family

THE ROLE IN A NUTSHELL

This is a senior role driving Wave’s operational strategic delivery plan and the wider smart programme in the water industry, which is undergoing major transformation with smart meter deployment. The Programme Manager will:

• Lead complex programmes: Oversee all workstreams, managing timelines, risks, budgets, and stakeholder requirements to deliver maximum value and customer satisfaction.
• Enable collaboration: Ensure internal teams and external partners work together effectively, maintaining compliance and risk management.
• Support strategic projects: Contribute to other key initiatives across operations to align with business strategy and budget.
• Bring expertise: Proven experience in leading large, cross‑functional change programmes, strong agile methodology knowledge, and excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Desirable: Utility sector experience and familiarity with programme management tools and methodologies.

In short, it’s about turning strategic vision into actionable steps, driving change, and ensuring successful delivery in an evolving industry.

WHAT WILL YOUR TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE?

You’ll be working directly with your colleagues and the Operations Director as well as other teams across Wave and external parties. Monitoring delivery of key actions and milestones, aligning communications across teams as well as taking in new information and developments to adapt and flex the approach to deliver for our customers and stakeholders.

Having support and strategic guidance from the Operations Director and Wave Leadership teams whilst being empowered to manage time, workstreams, risks and technical development. Investigating existing issues, gaps, root causes and gaining cross business insight for potential solutions and fixes.

WHAT DO WE NEED FROM YOU?

Skills/ Experience

• Proven Project Leadership – Hands‑on experience managing complex programmes and projects from start to finish, with strong knowledge of agile methodologies.
• Excellent Communication Skills – Ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels, supported by clear written and verbal communication.
• Digitally Proficient & Organised – Confident using MS Office and project management tools (e.g., Jira), with strong analytical skills and a focus on time, cost, and benefit tracking.
• Change Management Expertise – Skilled at driving large‑scale change initiatives, supporting teams through transition, and embedding new processes effectively.

Please refer to the essential criteria in the job description as this is what you will be shortlisted against.

Wave is committed to making a positive difference to the environment and society in which it operates. If you are excited to join a dynamic growing business which cares about its people, we would love to hear from you.

BE YOURSELF – OUR DIFFERENCES MAKE US STRONGER

Wave is proud to be an inclusive employer and actively encourage applications from all backgrounds. We will take into consideration any adjustments or individual requirements at any stage of your recruitment journey. If you require any additional support related to menopause, neurodiversity, or any other reason, please do let us know by contacting [e-mail].

Please ensure you attach your CV and a covering letter so we can get to know more about your skills and experience and why you are suitable for this role. We will not be able to consider applications without a covering letter.

Closing date: 4pm on th January 2026

Interviews are planned for 2nd February 2026

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