Project Manager - Water Catchment Area (Various UK locations)

Jacobs
Jacobs

Operations

Reading, UK

Posted on Jun 19, 2026
Market
Water

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Shape the Future of Critical Infrastructure with Jacobs

Investment in the UK’s water and environmental sector is growing fast — and Jacobs is right in the middle of it.

Our Water Catchment team works across entire river basins, taking a more joined-up approach rather than focusing on single assets. We partner with organisations like the Environment Agency, local authorities, and water companies to tackle real challenges such as flood risk, water quality, climate resilience, and biodiversity.

This is a role where you can make a genuine impact. You’ll use your experience leading complex projects to shape how key infrastructure is planned and delivered across the UK.

You’ll be someone who can break down complex problems into clear, practical plans, and bring teams with you to deliver them. You’ll know how to balance scope, budget, and risk, while still keeping the focus on delivering value for clients.

You’ll also build strong relationships, understand what your clients need, and keep projects moving in the right direction. If you’re someone who likes improving how things are done and finding better ways to deliver, you’ll fit right in.

Ultimately, your experience will help deliver better outcomes — for clients, communities, and the environment.

What you’ll be doing

Lead multidisciplinary teams through all stages of a project, from early planning through to delivery

Work closely with clients such as the Environment Agency and water companies

Manage scope, budget, programme, and risk to keep projects on track

Develop practical delivery plans that align with client goals

Keep projects organised with clear milestones, reporting, and documentation

Ensure projects meet safety and regulatory requirements, including CDM

Look for ways to improve how projects are delivered, with a focus on sustainability

Support a collaborative team environment where people can do their best work

You’ll be supported in an environment that values your input and gives you the space to lead.

At Jacobs, the work you do has a real-world impact — helping to restore natural environments, improve resilience to climate change, and support communities facing increasing environmental pressures.

Here's what you'll need

We’re looking for someone with a strong track record in designing and managing large infrastructure projects, who brings a mix of the following:

  • Experience delivering projects, ideally with the Environment Agency or local authorities
  • Good understanding of flood alleviation schemes
  • Familiarity with the Five Case Model (SOC, OBC, FBC)
  • Experience with project management tools (e.g. MS Project, Primavera) and design platforms (e.g. AutoCAD, BIM)

Having APM qualification or chartership (or similar) and/ or experience working with NEC4 contracts (PSC or ECC) would be also very desirable.

Please note the roles are based on 40h /week work. Hybrid- 2 days/ week in the office..

Available locations : Glasgow / Edinburgh/Peterborough / Reading / Warrington / Bristol

At Jacobs, you'll find more than just a job. You'll discover:

A global network of expertise and opportunity

A culture founded on safety, integrity, inclusion, and belonging

Flexible working arrangements that support your well-being and potential

Opportunities to make a real-world impact through our global giving and volunteering programs

Up to 10% pension

24 days (+10 days bought) holidays

Free medical insurance and more

If you’re looking for a role where you can make a difference and see the results of your work, we’d love to hear from you. Click to apply below!

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Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https://www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.


Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.


Locations
City State Country
Glasgow Lanarkshire United Kingdom
Edinburgh East Lothian United Kingdom
Peterborough Cambridgeshire United Kingdom
Warrington Cheshire United Kingdom
Bristol Bristol City United Kingdom