Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose

South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK’s most stunning landscapes.

We’re proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we’re working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.

Whether you’re starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.

Ready to make a splash? Join our team today.

Role Purpose

To provide strategic leadership and single-point accountability for the company's asset investment programme and regulatory contract management across both long-term planning and AMP delivery. The post holder is responsible for maintaining a coherent, prioritised and optimised investment portfolio, ensuring that investment decisions are evidence-based, aligned to company objectives and deliver the best outcomes for customers, the environment and stakeholders.

The role serves as the central authority for investment governance, programme controls and regulatory commitments, providing the insight, assurance and decision-support framework required to support executive decision-making and maintain regulatory confidence. Operating at the interface of Asset Management, Capital Delivery, Finance and Regulation, the role ensures the organisation maintains a clear and authoritative view of investment performance, risk and value.

Key Deliverables

Investment Strategy & Portfolio Ownership

• Own and maintain the organisation's integrated long-term asset investment programme across water and wastewater services.

• Establish and maintain a single, authoritative view of investment requirements, priorities, dependencies and outcomes.

• Ensure investment decisions align with the company's value framework, strategic objectives and regulatory commitments.

• Provide clear recommendations and investment insight to senior leadership and governance forums.

Programme Governance & Coordination

• Lead the coordination of investment programmes across multiple portfolios, ensuring consistency of approach and prioritisation.

• Establish robust governance, planning and performance management processes.

• Manage programme baselines covering scope, cost, schedule, benefits and performance measures.

• Resolve programme conflicts, dependencies and resource constraints to maximise business outcomes.

• Drive benefits realisation and post-investment review processes to ensure value delivery.

Regulatory Contract Management

• Own the regulatory baseline and investment commitment framework across AMP delivery.

• Manage change control processes governing investment scope, outcomes and expenditure.

• Ensure transparent and auditable management of Performance Commitment Deliverables (PCDs), ODIs and regulatory obligations.

• Monitor and report regulatory performance, identifying risks and developing mitigation strategies.

• Support regulatory assurance, audit activities and evidence submissions.

Investment Optimisation & Decision Support

• Lead whole-life cost, benefit and risk assessments to support effective investment prioritisation.

• Identify opportunities for programme optimisation, efficiency and improved value.

• Promote the use of scenario planning, sensitivity analysis and portfolio modelling to inform investment choices.

• Ensure customer outcomes, environmental impacts, resilience and carbon considerations are embedded within decision-making.

• Drive consistent application of investment planning methodologies and value-based frameworks across the organisation.

Reporting, Insight & Assurance

• Develop and maintain executive-level reporting and investment performance dashboards.

• Provide timely, accurate and insightful reporting of programme performance, risks, opportunities and delivery confidence.

• Translate complex investment, financial and programme data into clear narratives for Board, Executive and regulatory audiences.

• Provide early warning mechanisms that enable proactive intervention and decision-making.

• Act as the trusted source of portfolio intelligence across the business.

Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead and develop a high-performing investment planning and programme governance team.

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

• Build organisational capability in investment planning, portfolio governance and programme controls.

• Establish best practice standards, frameworks and tools that support future AMP cycles and long-term business success.

What Previous Experience Is Required

Essential Experience

• Significant leadership experience within investment programme management, portfolio governance, capital planning or regulatory contract management.

• Experience operating in a regulated utility, infrastructure, engineering or asset-intensive environment.

• Demonstrable experience managing complex portfolios and investment programmes with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.

• Proven track record of maintaining programme baselines, change control processes and performance reporting frameworks.

• Experience developing and presenting investment recommendations to executive, Board and regulatory audiences.

• Strong understanding of investment prioritisation, whole-life cost assessment and benefits realisation methodologies.

• Experience supporting regulatory reviews, submissions, assurance and audit activities.

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams within matrix organisations.

Desirable Experience

• Experience supporting Ofwat Price Reviews or major regulatory submissions.

• Experience managing large-scale capital investment portfolios within the water sector.

• Knowledge of asset management frameworks and long-term investment planning practices.

• Experience with portfolio modelling, scenario analysis and investment optimisation techniques.

• Understanding of regulatory incentives, PCDs, ODIs and performance frameworks.

Key Qualifications

Required

• Degree qualification in Engineering, Asset Management, Project Management, Finance, Economics, Business Management or a related discipline.

• Chartered status, or working towards professional accreditation through a recognised professional body (e.g. ICE, CIWEM, APM, RICS, CIMA or equivalent).

• Strong understanding of investment planning, programme governance and portfolio management disciplines.

Closing Date: 14th Aug 2026

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.

Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.

Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:

Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.

Be You - We want you to bring your best everyday. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.

Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.