Senior Project Manager – Sewage Treatment Works

Senior Project Manager – Sewage Treatment Works
Reports to: Project Director
Project: Slough - Extension of an operational sewage treatment plant (STW)
Location: First year in Central London, then in Slough.
Role Summary
We are seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager with a strong background in water/wastewater infrastructure to lead the extension of a live sewage treatment works that must maintain full operations throughout construction.
The candidate will own end-to-end delivery (scope, programme, budget, quality, safety, environmental compliance) while ensuring a seamless coordination with Thames Water’s operational team, strict adherence to Thames Water procedures and standards, and effective management of multidisciplinary engineering and delivery teams (civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical/process).
Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the full project lifecycle from project initiation, design coordination, procurement, construction, commissioning, to handover/closeout.
  
• Plan and sequence the works to ensure a full coordination with the existing treatment processes, avoiding any unplanned outages, including a meticulously management of the isolations and live interfaces.
  
• Establish and maintain the Project Execution Plan, programme, cost plan, risk register, and change control in line with client and internal governance.
  
• Serve as the primary point of contact for Thames Water and their operational representatives; chair progress, risk, and interface meetings.
  
• Coordinate permits, isolation plans, and method approvals with the Thames Water operational team to safeguard continuity of service and compliance with permit-to-work systems.
  
• Manage regulatory, statutory, and third-party stakeholders (e.g., local authorities, EA interfaces, utilities).
  
• Champion a safety-first culture; ensure compliance with CDM Regulations, RAMS, LOTO, confined space controls, temporary works, lifting operations, and process safety protocols.
  
• Ensure robust environmental management: pollution prevention, odour control, sludge handling, silt and noise/dust management, and wastewater discharge compliance.
  
• Oversee quality assurance/quality control, ITPs, and documentation to meet client acceptance criteria.
  
• Coordinate civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation & control, and process/chemical engineering inputs; ensure design constructability and operability.
  
• Oversee integration of M/&E plant, MCCs, SCADA/telemetry, and process tie-ins with live assets, plan staged commissioning and performance testing.
  
• Own cost performance: forecasting, earned value, change management, early warnings, and contract administration (e.g., NEC forms).
  
• Lead procurement of subcontractors, OEMs, and long-lead items; manage supplier performance and technical submittals.
  
• Maintain a realistic, risk-adjusted programme; implement recovery plans as needed.
  
• Lead commissioning strategy and phased cutovers; ensure robust testing, O&M documentation, training, spares, asset tagging, and clean handover aligned to Thames Water requirements.
  
• Manage and mentor the project team; allocate resources effectively across planning, engineering, commercial, and site delivery functions.
  
• Drive high-performance collaboration, clear communications, and proactive issue resolution.
  Qualification, skills and experience:
  
• Degree in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical/Process, or related discipline).
  
• Experience delivering water/wastewater infrastructure projects (treatment works, networks, or major AMP frameworks).
  
• Demonstrable experience delivering construction projects on live/operational sewage treatment plants without service interruption.
  
• In-depth knowledge of Thames Water procedures, standards, and permit-to-work systems (e.g., isolations, method approvals, operational interfaces, documentation and assurance expectations).
  
• Proven track record managing multidisciplinary teams (civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical/process) through design, construction, commissioning, and handover.
  
• Strong H&S leadership with excellent command of CDM Regulations, RAMS, temporary works, and process safety in water environments.
  
• Solid commercial acumen (NEC contract administration, cost control, risk/change management).
  
• Excellent stakeholder management, written and verbal communication, and meeting leadership skills.
  
• IOSH/NEBOSH or equivalent H&S qualification; Temporary Works Supervisor/Coordinator experience (desirable).
  
• Confined Space appreciation/awareness; LOTO and electrical isolation familiarity in live MCC/controls environments (desirable).
  
• Experience with SCADA integration, telemetry, OEM process packages, and staged commissioning on live assets (desirable).
  
• Familiarity with digital delivery tools (BIM, CDEs, Power BI dashboards, document control systems), desirable.
  
• CSCS (Manager/Professional) or equivalent and SMSTS.
  Please note that this job description does not represent a comprehensive list of activities and employees may be requested to undertake other reasonable duties.
  Project description
  The £80 million upgrade of Slough Sewage Treatment Works for Thames Water will be carried out by Ferrovial Construction and Cadagua, working together as a joint venture. This project aims to improve the resilience and sustainability of Slough STW, ensuring it meets tougher Environment Agency standards and achieves better environmental performance. Improvements include expanded treatment capacity, advanced systems for removing ammonia and phosphorus, upgraded storm-flow management, and robust new power infrastructure. The partnership combines Ferrovial Construction’s expertise in UK infrastructure projects with Cadagua’s broad experience in international water treatment.
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