Project Director – Southern Water Framework

Location: Falmer (initially) moving to Otterbourne, Hampshire

Sector: Water

Contract: Contract (open to permanent)

Salary: Competitive + benefits

About the Role

We are looking to strengthen our Senior Leadership Team with an experienced Project Director to lead delivery within our Southern Water Framework. You will deliver a range of vital construction schemes to maintain and improve Southern Water’s water supply and wastewater treatment assets across the South and Southeast regions.

Key Responsibilities

As Project Director, you will:

Promote and actively demonstrate collaborative behaviours across the Southern Water framework.

Develop and maintain a high-performance culture, driving efficiencies and continuous improvement.

Build and maintain strong working relationships with the Southern Water client teams.

Champion health, safety, wellbeing, and environmental excellence — creating a culture that achieves Zero LTI and RIDDOR incidents.

Take full lifecycle accountability for project success — from design and procurement through to commissioning and handover.

Communicate effectively across all stakeholder groups to maximise collaboration and leverage Costain’s wider capabilities.

Ensure governance and compliance with Southern Water and Costain requirements.

Deliver commercial and financial performance in line with business objectives and budgets.

Skills & Experience Required

Proven experience leading complex projects or programmes in a collaborative delivery environment, ideally within the water or utilities sector.

Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with a track record of driving mutual success.

Significant experience managing multiple projects within a major framework or programme.

A people-focused leader with extensive line management and team development experience.

Excellent understanding of CDM Regulations, construction management, and engineering principles.

Strong knowledge of collaborative contractual forms (e.g. NEC).

Commercially astute with solid financial and analytical abilities.

A solutions-focused mindset with the ability to guide teams through problem-solving and change.

Adaptable and resilient, able to respond effectively to challenges and shape outcomes.

Qualifications

HNC/HND or Degree in a relevant Construction or Engineering discipline (essential).

NEC Project Manager Accreditation – preferred.

APMP (Association of Project Management) – preferred.

Senior Leaders Safety Training certification