Project Manager – Innovation
Shape the Future. Deliver Innovation. Make a Lasting Impact.
Location: Lingley Mere, Warrington (Hybrid Working)
Salary: Competitive + Bonus + Outstanding Benefits
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 across our £7bn capital programme. This role invites an experienced Project Manager or Project Engineer who turns great ideas into reality, drives industry‑leading innovation and delivers projects that make a measurable difference.
The Opportunity
As Project Manager – Innovation you’ll work predominantly with the Standardisation Team, managing the full project lifecycle — planning, execution, monitoring, control and closure. Your core focus will be ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope and within budget, while effectively managing risks, resources and stakeholder expectations. You will lead on standardisation, champion new ways of working and ensure successful integration of solutions into our capital programme.
What You’ll Be Doing
Leading Innovation and Standardisation
- Drive innovative projects from initial concept through development, implementation and adoption.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce carbon impact and enhance operational performance.
- Translate innovation strategies into clear, standardised projects available for take‑up by capital delivery teams.
Delivering Successful Standardisation
- Develop and maintain robust integration of innovation outputs into our standardised product catalogue.
- Ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget and to agreed quality standards.
- Manage project governance, reporting, risk and resource planning throughout the project lifecycle.
Influencing & Collaborating
- Lead and coordinate multi‑disciplinary teams across the business to realise benefits through standardisation.
- Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and business leaders.
- Promote and advocate for the adoption and standardisation solutions.
Creating Lasting Impact
- Use standardisation outputs to drive benefits realisation and ensure successful transition of projects into business‑as‑usual operations.
- Support the development of repeatable, scalable solutions that can be implemented across the organisation.
- Regularly communicate progress, outcomes and recommendations to stakeholders.
About You
We’re looking for someone who combines strong project management expertise with a genuine passion for innovation and engineering excellence.
Essential Requirements
- Demonstrable experience managing and delivering projects within a technical or engineering environment.
- Qualified, or actively working towards, APM PMQ (or equivalent).
- Relevant postgraduate qualification (e.g., MSc in Project Management) or equivalent knowledge, skills and experience.
- Active Professional Development Plan (PDP) and working towards professional membership such as ChPP, CEng, CSci.
- Full UK/EU driving licence.
We’d Love to See
- A passion for sustainability and environmental improvement.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
- Excellent communication and problem‑solving capabilities.
- A proactive mindset with a drive to challenge convention and create better outcomes.
What You’ll Get
- 26 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days after four years, plus bank holidays.
- Competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution (21% combined value).
- Performance‑related bonus of up to 10.5%.
- Comprehensive company‑funded healthcare plan.
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
- Industry‑leading learning and development opportunities.
- APM PMQ support and professional accreditation pathways.
- Support towards CEng, IEng and Chartered status.
- Leadership coaching, mentoring and career development programmes.
- The opportunity to work on projects that positively impact communities and the environment.
Be Part of Something Bigger
At United Utilities, innovation isn’t a buzzword—it’s how we solve some of the region’s biggest environmental and infrastructure challenges. If you’re excited by the opportunity to lead ambitious projects, shape the future of sustainable engineering and make a genuine difference to millions of customers across the North West, let us know how you would help turn tomorrow’s innovations into today’s solutions.
#J-18808-Ljbffr…