Business Readiness & Change Lead

Southern Water • Worthington, MN

2d • $62,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Southern Water is embarking on one of the most ambitious transformation programmes in our history - the Alternative Metering Service Programme. Between 2025 and 2030, we will replace over one million water meters, introducing cutting-edge technology to revolutionise how we operate, engage with customers, and protect our environment. As our Smart Programme Business Readiness & Change Lead, you’ll play a pivotal role in preparing our business for this change. Reporting to the Delivery Programme Manager, you’ll work across operational teams and with third-party partners to ensure Southern Water is ready to adopt new processes, technologies, and ways of working. This is more than a metering upgrade - it’s a strategic shift in how we deliver water services and empower our customers. This is your opportunity to lead change that matters - reducing water consumption, cutting leakage, and enhancing customer journeys, all while supporting our environmental and carbon reduction goals.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience delivering complex business change initiatives
• Strong project and change management expertise with a track record of successful outcomes
• High attention to detail and personal drive
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capabilities
• Experience managing change workstream plans and associated risks
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure
• Project and change management qualifications
• Familiarity with change management methodologies and training approaches
• Understanding of operating models (ideally within utilities or water)

Nice To Haves

• Experience in utilities smart metering programmes (desirable)
• Knowledge of smart metering systems (preferably in water)
• Understanding of customer billing operations

Responsibilities

• Lead business change across impacted operational teams and external partners
• Collaborate with the Smart Operations Centre and AMS Business Change Team to design and deliver continuous improvements
• Drive readiness for new processes and capabilities that leverage smart metering data to:
• Improve customer service and embed behavioural and operational change
• Reduce per capita consumption (PCC) through customer engagement tools
• Support leakage reduction using smart data insights
• Map affected business areas and develop detailed change impact assessments
• Engage stakeholders to sponsor and support required changes
• Scope, plan and schedule readiness activities across programme phases
• Manage Go/No Go reporting and readiness tracking
• Develop and deliver change interventions including training and communications
• Ensure readiness criteria and adoption activities are embedded in governance
• Resolve readiness and adoption risks and issues
• Support customers, stakeholders and third parties in adopting new platforms and processes
• Leverage best practices from other water companies and industry partners

Benefits

• Generous pension up to 11% company contribution
• 25 days annual leave
• Life assurance equal to 4x salary
• Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months service)
• Health Cash Plan
• Full funded eye tests
• Two paid volunteering days a year
• Occupational health service
• Discounts with over 800 popular retailers
• Digital GP service
• Study support may be available for job-related qualifications
• Competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options
• Cycle to work scheme

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees