Assistant Project Manager

Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose

South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK's most stunning landscapes.

We're proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we're working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.

Whether you're starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.

Ready to make a splash? Join our team today.

Assistant Project Manager

Shape the Future of Water. Build a Career That Matters.

Location: Exeter or Bristol with travel across the South West
Salary: Up to £42,000 + excellent benefits.

At South West Water, we're delivering some of the most significant infrastructure projects in the region's history. Our Strategic Resource Options (SRO) Programme is helping to secure long-term water resilience for future generations through the development of complex, high-value infrastructure solutions.

We're looking for an ambitious Assistant Project Manager who wants to be part of a programme that genuinely makes a difference. This is an exceptional opportunity for someone early in their project management career to gain hands-on experience across major infrastructure projects, working alongside experienced project leaders, engineers, environmental specialists, commercial teams, and external delivery partners.

If you're passionate about project delivery, enjoy working in a collaborative environment, and are looking to build a career in infrastructure, construction, engineering, or capital projects, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Be Doing

As an Assistant Project Manager, you'll play a key role in supporting the successful delivery of strategic infrastructure projects from concept through to completion.

You'll gain exposure to every stage of the project lifecycle while developing the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to progress into a Project Manager role.

Key responsibilities include

• Supporting Project Managers and the PMO with the delivery of major Strategic Resource Option projects.

• Assisting with project planning, scheduling, governance documentation, and programme reporting.

• Maintaining project controls, including RAID logs, action trackers, and delivery plans.

• Supporting assurance activities aligned to regulatory requirements, internal governance processes, and RAPID gateways.

• Assisting with cost, programme, risk, and issue management across multiple projects.

• Coordinating information and activities across engineering, environmental, planning, commercial, and delivery teams.

• Supporting engagement with consultants, contractors, stakeholders, and delivery partners.

• Coordinating surveys and site activities between technical teams and land & estates colleagues.

• Producing reports, dashboards, presentations, and programme updates for senior stakeholders.

• Attending site visits and project meetings to develop practical understanding of construction and infrastructure delivery.

• Capturing lessons learned and supporting continuous improvement initiatives across the programme.

• Taking an active role in personal development, professional accreditation, and training opportunities.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who is eager to learn, highly organised, and excited by the opportunity to contribute to major infrastructure projects.

Essential

• Degree, or expected degree, in:

  • Project Management

  • Engineering

  • Construction Management

  • Quantity Surveying

  • Or a related discipline

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Excellent organisational skills with strong attention to detail.

• Ability to manage competing priorities and work to deadlines.

• Confidence working with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

• Ability to build effective relationships within multi-disciplinary teams.

• A genuine interest in project management, infrastructure, construction, or engineering.

Desirable

• Relevant industrial placement, internship, graduate scheme, or project-based work experience.

• Understanding of project delivery frameworks and governance processes.

• Experience supporting programme, risk, cost, or reporting activities.

• Knowledge of infrastructure, utilities, environmental, or construction projects.

• Professional accreditation, or working towards accreditation, with:

  • APM (Association for Project Management)

  • PMI (Project Management Institute)

• Experience or exposure to site-based activities or survey coordination.

What Makes You Stand Out

You'll be someone who:

Puts health, safety and wellbeing first

Takes ownership and follows through on commitments

Is curious, proactive and keen to learn

Enjoys solving problems and improving processes

Builds strong relationships and works collaboratively

Communicates confidently with a wide range of stakeholders

Demonstrates professionalism, integrity and accountability

Thrives in a fast-paced project environment

Why Join South West Water?

This isn't just another Assistant Project Manager role.

You'll have the opportunity to work on projects that will shape the future resilience of water resources across the South West, gaining experience on nationally significant infrastructure programmes while developing your career within a supportive and forward-thinking team.

We offer

• Structured career development and mentoring

• Exposure to major infrastructure and capital delivery projects

• Professional qualification support (APM, PMI and other recognised pathways)

• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements

• Competitive pension and benefits package

• A culture focused on wellbeing, inclusion and continuous development

• The opportunity to make a real impact on the environment and local communities

Ready to Build Your Future?

If you're looking for a role that combines professional development, meaningful work, and exposure to some of the region's most exciting infrastructure projects, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and help us deliver the projects that will secure water resilience for generations to come.

What's in it for you?

At South West Water, we believe in rewarding our people for their hard work and dedication. As our SRO Assistant Project Manager on the SRO programme, you'll enjoy:

• Competitive Salary - Based on experience and skills

• Annual Bonus Scheme - Rewarding your performance

• Pension Scheme - Helping you plan for your future

• Healthcare Benefits - Access to employee assistance programs

• Professional Development - Support for career growth with training opportunities

• Employee Discounts - On various products and services

• Generous Annual Leave - Take time to recharge with our holiday entitlement

Closing Date: 5th November 2026

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.

Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.

Our core values, which are essential to our success, are

Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.

Be You - We want you to bring your best everyday. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.

Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.