Senior Innovation Project Manager

About us Lingley Mere, Warrington (Hybrid) Permanent | Full Time Competitive Salary | Annual Bonus  £5000 Car Allowance The role At United Utilities, we don’t just deliver water — we deliver a better future for the North West. Our mission is to provide high-quality, sustainable water services that support a greener, healthier and more prosperous region. Ranked 4 in The Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers , we are proud of our commitment to diversity, innovation and creating a workplace where people can truly thrive.

As we significantly increase our investment in innovation over the next five years , there has never been a more exciting time to join us. The Opportunity We’re looking for a Senior Innovation Project Manager to lead from the front — driving cutting-edge engineering innovation across our Commercial, Engineering and Capital Delivery (CEC) functions. This isn’t just project delivery. You’ll be shaping how innovation is identified, tested, scaled and embedded across a FTSE 100 organisation — directly contributing to carbon reduction, efficiency and future sustainability outcomes .

We are expanding our award-winning Innovation and Out performance team at United Utilities, bringing together innovation, decarbonisation, and standardisation to drive step-change improvements in cost and carbon performance mainly focused on our c.£7bn capital programme. Our team explores innovations that deliver value and drives the deployment of these solutions at scale to unlock out performance against our ambitious targets. What You’ll Be Doing Lead and deliver a diverse portfolio of complex, multi-disciplinary innovation projects Take ideas from concept through to adoption, ensuring measurable benefits and real-world impact Drive efficiency, sustainability and carbon reduction outcomes across the business Inspire and mentor project managers, championing agile thinking and innovative approaches Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, shaping decisions and influencing outcomes Collaborate with external partners and funding bodies including Ofwat, Innovate UK and Horizon Europe Manage delivery across risk, governance, resources and commercial performance Promote innovation across the business, increasing visibility and adoption of new ideas Ensure outstanding Health & Safety performance , operating within CDM and DSEAR frameworks What Makes This Role Different?

Be at the forefront of a rapidly expanding international innovation programme Work on cutting-edge technologies and engineering solutions from around the World Influence strategic direction within a FTSE 100 organisation Play a key role in delivering sustainability and carbon reduction targets Work across internal teams, supply chains and leading external innovation partners What We’re Looking For We’re seeking a visionary project leader who thrives in complexity, brings energy to innovation and knows how to turn ideas into reality.

Essential:
Degree qualified (or equivalent experience) in a technical or engineering discipline Chartered member of an industry recognised organisation Project management qualification (APM or equivalent) Proven experience delivering complex project portfolios Strong stakeholder management with experience influencing senior leaders Experience supporting bids or securing funding for projects Full UK/EU driving licence What You’ll Get in Return We recognise the value you bring — and reward it.

26 days annual leave (rising to 30)  bank holidays Competitive pension scheme (up to 14% employer contribution) Performance-related bonus of up to 20% £5,000 car allowance Company-funded healthcare Flexible, hybrid working You’ll also benefit from exceptional development opportunities, including: APM Project Management qualifications Chartership support (CEng / IEng) Leadership coaching and mentoring Professional memberships and accreditations Your Impact Your work will directly support our ambition to build a more sustainable future , delivering innovation at scale and creating tangible benefits for customers, communities and the environment.

This is your chance to lead transformational change — not just projects. Ready to Lead Innovation? If you’re passionate about delivering impactful projects, shaping the future of engineering and driving meaningful change — we want to hear from you. Apply now and be part of something bigger.