Project Controls Manager

About us

United Utilities’ (UU) mission is to deliver high-quality water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West of England. We are committed to providing our services in a way that respects the environment, supports the economy, and benefits society. We are proud to be ranked #11 in The Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List. We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves.
We uphold our ethics, values and business model to fulfil our mission and, by setting clear goals and objectives, we create sustainable long-term value for our colleagues, customers and communities. Whether you work with a team that shares your vision or join a network of peers with similar interests, you will find a welcoming and supportive organisation to be part of.
We’ve got a lot to offer. You’ll be part of a thriving FTSE 100 company and will enjoy a range of core benefits that reflect your value and value contribution. These include:
• A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service, in addition to 8 bank holidays
• A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
• A 20% performance-related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
• A £5,000 car allowance to support your travel needs
• A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company-funded scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working
Our projects are designed to be environmentally and socially responsible and will offer you opportunities to learn and grow throughout the project cycle. As part of our team, you will benefit from a range of training and development programs, such as Project Management Qualifications (APM, APMG and MSP), leadership coaching and mentoring. We also support your achievement of professional accreditation and chartered status. We are here to help you in reaching your full potential and thriving in your career and beyond

The role

Are you looking for a rewarding career that combines your passion for managing and supporting the delivery of Project Controls within large complex programmes or individual major projects coupled with maintaining and developing organisational culture? If yes, then we have an exciting opportunity for you at United Utilities (UU) as a Project Controls Manager.
As a Project Controls Manager, you will be responsible for maintaining control structures and processes, integrating cost, scheduling, risk and change management activities to provide clear and timely visibility of project performance. This will enable rapid and effective decisions to be taken and control actions to be implemented on a fully informed basis. You will use your excellent interpersonal skills to manage the team, ensure they’re delivering the works in a safe way, promoting the right behaviours and creating the right environment for the team members to excel in what they do.
We are excited to offer you a flexible and hybrid working model that lets you balance your work and life and enjoy the benefits of working with us wherever you are. You can choose to work from our main sites close to Warrington, Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, and Kendal, or from any of our other hubs across Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cumbria. In-person attendance is required three days per week to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration, alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.
United Utilities offer dynamic and long-lasting options that will help you grow professionally and personally and you will have the chance to enhance your skill, knowledge and experience in a supportive and collaborative environment. If you are passionate about making a positive difference for the North West of England and want to join us on our journey of transformation, we would love to hear from you. Apply now and become part of the UU family!

Key accountabilities

• Implementing Project Controls to streamline project delivery and enhance performance.
• Managing project control disciplines within project teams for optimal integration.
• Carry out the baseline creation of the WBS, CBS, RBS and OBS ensuring the appropriate level of controls for the project/programme lifecycle and commercial model
• Maintain an accurate assessment of project status and forecast at all times and provide reports to the Programme Controls Manager and the Delivery Lead.
• Monitor performance against the integrated baseline, ensuring continuous alignment of schedule, costs, and risk and applying change control where required.

Skills & experience

To be successful with your application, you’ll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:
• Substantial experience in Project Controls / Programme Delivery within large complex programmes or individual major projects.
• MAPM/AcostE or equivalent Project management/Project controls qualification.
• Full understanding of techniques for all facets of Project Controls.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to build and manage relationships at all levels coupled with great leadership ability to build/devop high performing teams.