PR29 Business Plan Manager in Chelmsford

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.

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

Fixed Term Contract or Secondment - 2 years

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

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.