The Director of Strategic Projects will lead the development of key strategic AMP9 projects across the North West, with a focus on Liverpool and Manchester. With a forecast investment spend of circa £3bn, the individual will have full responsibility for building a team from across UU to develop the strategy for implementation, including leading the investigation of multiple options, identifying the best solutions within conflicting priorities, building business cases, fostering key stakeholder partnerships within UU and externally, including with our regulators and ensuing the programmes and projects are set up to deliver the strategy, leading to real and sustained change for our customers.
Key Accountabilites:
*The individual will have full responsibility for creating and leading a multi-disciplinary team to deliver critical strategic programmes aligned within workstreams for PR29
*Working with the Asset Management Director to identify the key issues and challenges that need to be addressed and resolved.
*Responsibility for defining the full and detailed scope of work; the key programmes and projects to meet the regulatory requirements, factoring in the detailed design and operation for the business post implementation. The individual will ensure the programmes and projects deliver real and sustained change for the customer, ensuring value for money alongside our vision - a stronger, greener, healthier north west.
*for delivering greener solutions across the region. New and innovative ways of thinking and working will be needed re-imagine the drainage of the two major cities in our region: Liverpool and Manchester.
*Leading the programme of investigation, evidence gathering, modelling and monitoring.
*Leading the delivery of the AMP8 regulatory investigations to meet the requirements of regulators, ensuring they support the future strategic aims in AMP9
*Leading the definition of the proposed strategy and ensuring buy in from the Executive and Board.
*A key element of the role will involve complex and highly challenging stakeholder engagement. The individual will lead the development of detailed stakeholder plans, factoring in local and national stakeholders in government and regulators, with a key focus on customers as we design, deliver, implement and operate. The individual will play a key role in the delivery of the plans; facing off to stakeholders, ensuring buy in and leading stakeholder engagement internally and externally.
*The individual will lead the commercial strategy for the potential projects including the definition of the delivery routes associated with potential projects to ensure value for money, optimum delivery and operation.
*The individual will ensuring appropriate reporting (including metrics, risk reporting etc) are in place, with regular Exec and Board reports to ensure the Exec and Board are fully informed on these key strategy programmes.
Skills & Experience:
*Track record in successful delivery of complex company-wide programmes from scope, planning, execution to completion & close down.
*A highly credible leader, who can influence at all levels, internally across the business, and externally.
*Excellent stakeholder management skills and able to collaborate in order to achieve the best outcomes for the organisation as a whole
*Strong practical and theoretical knowledge of UU, best practice, regulatory frameworks, water & wastewater networks, treatment and waste management within the water industry both nationally and internationally
*Experience of preparing regulatory submissions, including annual reporting and price control processes; specifically the evidence, assurance and demonstration of regulatory need
*Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and present complex data and make strategic decisions.
*Experience with project management tools and methodologies
*Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to challenges