PR29 Business Plan Manager

Chelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom (Hybrid)

Job Info

• Job Identification 303
• Job Category Project/Programme managers
• Posting Date 11/02/2026, 08:29 AM
• Apply Before 11/21/2026, 06:00 PM
• Job Schedule Full time
• Locations Hanningfield SVH (Hybrid)
• Duration of role 2 years
• Salary From £85,000
• Re-Approval Needed Yes

PR29 Business Plan Manager

Working hours - Full time 37 hours per week (flexible working arrangements including part time will be considered)

Fixed Term Contract or Secondment - 2 years

Salary from £85,000 to £90,000 per year (depending on experience, and for exceptional candidates there may be further negotiation)

Location hybrid working with office location at Hanningfield, Chelmsford, Essex

About the role

At Northumbrian Water, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Every day, we provide essential water and wastewater services to millions of people, and we are committed to delivering reliable, affordable and sustainable services while supporting our communities and protecting the environment. By focusing on the outcomes that matter most to our customers, we are also working towards our ambition to be the National Leader in sustainable water and wastewater services.

We are building a dedicated team to create our PR29 business plan, which will set out what we will deliver for customers and the environment, and the investment needed to achieve it, between 2030 and 2035. We are recruiting a number of key roles to join this team, offering an exciting opportunity to work with colleagues across Northumbrian Water, influence important decisions and help develop an ambitious and compelling plan that delivers lasting value for our customers and communities.

The PR29 Business Plan Manager will lead the development, assurance and integration of major PR29 investment business cases and play a key role in shaping the company's PR29 strategy and business plan.

Working with senior leaders across operations, engineering, asset management, finance, customer and regulation, you will drive investment planning, challenge assumptions, influence key decisions and resolve complex cross-functional issues. You will establish and oversee business case governance, standards and assurance processes, ensuring consistency and quality across the PR29 programme.

In this role, you will provide expert advice and recommendations to senior leadership, ELT and members of the Board on investment priorities, expenditure and regulatory strategy, while representing the company in discussions with regulators and external stakeholders. The role will ensure that submissions deliver the strongest possible outcomes for customers, the environment and the company.

About you

You will have some experience of developing, reviewing or coordinating investment business cases, strategic plans or evidence-based submissions, ideally in the water sector, another regulated industry or a complex infrastructure environment.

You will understand the main components of an investment business case, including the case for change, options appraisal, costs, benefits, risk and delivery considerations and understand how individual investment proposals contribute to customer outcomes, environmental improvements and wider business objectives.

You will have excellent communication, drafting and report writing skills, with the ability to make complex information clear and accessible, as well as numerical confidence and the ability to interpret and present quantitative and financial information accurately.

You have a collaborative working style and can build productive relationships with colleagues from different teams and disciplines. You have a strong customer and stakeholder focus, recognising the importance of affordability, service, resilience and environmental outcomes.

We will be hosting an Open Evening session to learn more about PR29 roles at our Northumbria House office in Pity Me, Durham on Tuesday 10th November 2026. Please register your interest at: recruitment@nwl.co.uk

Please note this role will require a DBS to be completed prior to employment.

This role has also been defined as a safety or security critical role and as a condition of a formal offer of employment you’ll be required to undergo a drug and alcohol test.

Prospective employees and agency workers in defined safety and security critical roles will be required to undertake a drug and alcohol test after the job offer has been made. This will be prior to or within four weeks of their start date.

Prospective employees and agency workers who fail a pre-employment urine drug screen will have their sample analysed by the Company appointed laboratory as a matter of course. Failing a pre-employment drugs or alcohol test may lead to the job offer being revoked.

About NWG

Our purpose at NWG is to care for the essential needs of our communities and environment, now and for generations to come. We do this by providing reliable and affordable water and wastewater services for our customers.

We make a positive difference by operating efficiently and investing prudently, to maintain a sustainable and resilient business.

Our vision is to be the national leader in the provision of sustainable water and wastewater services. To support us in achieving our vision, we have five core values which are the guiding principles, defining who we are, what we do and how we do it.

Together for Inclusion Diversity and Equity (TIDE)

Our colleague network groups include our Rainbow Support Network (LGBTQIA+), REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), WiSTEM (Women in STEM) and Thisability (disability and neurodiversity) networks. They provide a safe space for colleagues from diverse backgrounds, welcoming all colleagues regardless of their personal characteristics to participate in valuable conversation that improves our organisational awareness, understanding and inclusiveness.

NWG are an inclusive employer who support the rehabilitation of offenders, we will not, however consider candidates who have certain unspent convictions to ensure our commitment to fostering a safe and secure working environment for all OR colleagues, suppliers, customers and third parties.

Our benefits

We're a Great Place to Work because of the amazing people who work for us, and to say thank you we offer a range of benefits to colleagues. Our 'Tap Into' benefits include:

• Generous holiday entitlement, plus bank holidays and additional time off on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. There's also the option to buy or sell holidays.
• Company pension scheme, where we'll double match your contributions up to an employer contribution of 11%.
• Free access to local attractions.
• A fantastic discount scheme, with savings on days out, shopping, travel and more.
• Award winning 'Living Well' wellbeing support, including access to a digital GP service for you and your family members.
• Support with sustainable travel – through salary sacrifice cars and cycle to work scheme.
• Financial wellbeing support – access our community savings scheme, financial education and low-cost loans through Salary Finance. We also provide 4 x Life Assurance and an Income Protection Scheme.
• Support with your development – we offer a range of development opportunities, can support you through an interest free qualification loan and we’ll even pay for any relevant professional body subscription.