Capital Senior Project Manager - Ecology

What you’ll be responsible for

Capital Senior Project Manager – Ecology

Summary

We are looking for an experienced and knowledgeable ecology professional to join our Capital Delivery Enabling Services team.

You'll bring strong knowledge of ecology legislation, ecological survey methodologies, biodiversity enhancement and offsetting, and relevant permitting requirements, including protected species licensing. You'll be confident managing competing priorities and delivering high-quality outcomes within regulatory and project timescales.The role involves managing projects from initial design through to completion, including procurement activities and ensuring assets are delivered to the required standards.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead and support direct reports, including performance management, learning and development, coaching and employee engagement, in line with all HR policies and procedures.
2. Ensure the business can deliver programme-level requirements in accordance with current regulations and procedures, to agreed timescales and within approved budgets, supporting the successful delivery of Welsh Water's investment programme.
3. Assess programme-wide and project-specific requirements, define scope, identify and recommend solutions, contribute to design activities, and oversee ecology, environment and biodiversity considerations across a defined programme of work.
4. Monitor and track programme delivery, taking appropriate action to address any delays or risks relating to ecology, environment and biodiversity matters.
5. Ensure the consistent application of Welsh Water's contract, supply chain and commercial management systems.
6. Comply with Welsh Water's Health and Safety requirements, ensuring all programmes and projects meet current CDM Regulations, while promoting good practice and supporting the identification and reporting of near misses and areas for improvement.
7. Support the implementation of sustainable and innovative programme and project solutions, contributing to efficiency targets and the reduction of Welsh Water's carbon footprint.
8. Take accountability for supporting the delivery of key programmes and special projects involving above-ground, below-ground, or combined asset types within a defined area.
9. Ensure investment requirements are effectively scoped and that optimum solutions are identified, contributing to design activities, procurement processes, and supporting the construction, delivery and commissioning of assets.
10. Work collaboratively with operational teams, design teams, Alliance partners, suppliers and colleagues across Welsh Water to understand and address asset performance challenges.
11. Provide programme and project management expertise relating to ecology, environment and biodiversity matters, offering support and guidance to operational colleagues and Alliance partners when required.
12. Protect Welsh Water's interests by ensuring project risks are identified, understood, assessed and appropriately allocated, while supporting early warning and risk reduction processes to minimise business risk.
13. Coordinate programme and project peer reviews to ensure Welsh Water's interests are represented during solution selection and that associated business risks are fully understood.
14. Support the resolution of issues involving third parties and Welsh Water.
15. Ensure all project handover documentation and procedures relating to ecology, environment and biodiversity matters are completed accurately and in a timely manner.

About you

We're looking for someone who brings a combination of technical expertise, collaborative working and a passion for delivering positive environmental outcomes.

Essential Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification, professional qualification, or equivalent relevant experience.

Essential Experience

• Significant experience managing ecology, environmental and biodiversity activities within large, complex programmes or capital investment projects.
• Strong understanding of ecology, environmental and biodiversity practices, together with relevant Health & Safety legislation, including CDM Regulations.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders to deliver successful project outcomes.

Essential Knowledge & Skills

• Committed to delivering excellent outcomes for customers and the environment.
• Sound knowledge of ecology, environmental and biodiversity considerations within the water sector or a comparable regulated industry.
• Strong decision-making skills, with the ability to balance business priorities, risks, costs and timescales.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop practical and effective solutions.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams and with external partners.
• Able to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes within regulatory and project deadlines.

Good to know

Please submit both your CV and a supporting cover letter outlining your relevant experience and explaining why you are interested in this opportunity. Applications submitted without both documents may not be considered.

Proposed interview dates: week commencing: 17th August 2026 and 24th August 2026.

Due to the nature of the industry, we require satisfactory references, post offer medical clearance, and a criminal records Basic Disclosure check on all new employees joining the business. For some roles there may be additional checks and security clearance required, and this offer is subject all checks being satisfied. You will receive further information on how to complete these checks via email once you have accepted this offer.

Please note, we may close this role sooner if required. We may also extend the original closing date depending on interest.

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact: Nicola.Parnell@dwrcymru.com and enter the job ID in the subject title line.

Benefits

As well as a market competitive salary, 33 days  annual leave (pro rata, including public holidays), we offer a range of employee benefits and rewards including:

• Variable pay schemes (your salary will always stay the same, but depending on the performance of the company you could receive a yearly bonus)
• Enhanced employer pension contributions – Up to 11% employer contributions
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Progression opportunities, including the ability to apply for funded training and coaching and mentoring programmes
• Reduction on gym memberships and high street shopping
• Cycle to work scheme
• Car-leasing scheme
• Health CashBack scheme
• An employee assistance programme for employees and their immediate family

Whilst also working for a not-for profit company that truly cares about earning the trust of customers everyday, and about looking after our beautiful environment.

Who we are

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water keep 3 million people healthy each day with safe, reliable water, and take away wastewater to clean, before returning it safely to our beautiful rivers and seas.

To be able to deliver high quality, essential services which help to protect the health of our customers, colleagues and our environment, we need the right people to deliver on our vision.  This is achieved by living our core values and demonstrating the core behaviours that underpin them.  The security of our people, assets and information is key to us, so we are looking for people who understand and comply with the company’s required security objectives.

We know that the most successful teams are the most diverse teams. Equality, diversity and inclusion provide the very foundation to our culture at Welsh Water. We want every individual to feel confident, proud and able to bring their whole selves to work. 

To ensure an improved representation in our workforce, applications are particularly welcome from minority groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people, Females, LGBT+, Non-binary and people with disabilities. Together we continue to build a workplace that not only celebrates the diverse voices of our colleagues but also represents each customer we serve.

In essence, ours is a company based on trust, openness, respect, commitment and honesty. A company that our colleagues are proud to work for.