Change Lead – SAP Ariba Transformation Programme Fixed Term Contract.
Help shape the future of Thames Water through one of our most significant transformation programmes.

Thames Water are looking for an experienced Change Lead on a fixed term contract until December 2027 to drive the people side of change for the implementation of SAP Ariba, a key part of Thames Water's £30m SAP ERP Cloud Apps Programme. This is an exciting opportunity to lead business wide transformation, influencing how teams across Procurement, Commercial, Finance and the wider organisation adopt new ways of working and realise the benefits of a modern ERP platform.

What you'll be doing as our ERP Change Lead Ariba you will develop and deliver the change strategy that ensures our people are informed, engaged and ready for change. Working closely with programme teams, senior stakeholders and implementation partners, you will:

• Lead and deliver the change management approach for the SAP Ariba implementation.
• Develop stakeholder engagement, communications and business readiness plans.
• Assess and manage change impacts across processes, systems, roles and behaviours.
• Build and support a network of Change Champions across the business.
• Partner with functional teams to develop training strategies and adoption plans.
• Monitor change readiness, engagement and adoption metrics.
• Identify and mitigate change-related risks and issues.
• Support go-live activities and post-implementation adoption.

What you should bring to the role

• Proven experience leading change management within large-scale transformation programmes.
• Experience supporting ERP implementations, ideally SAP Ariba.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Expertise in change impact assessment, communications, training and business readiness.
• Knowledge of recognised change methodologies such as Prosci, ADKAR or equivalent.
• Experience working across complex organisations with multiple stakeholders and third-party partners.
• A recognised Change Management qualification (Prosci, CCMP or equivalent).

This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in a major business transformation programme, helping to shape the future of Thames Water while working with senior leaders and diverse teams across the organisation. You'll have the chance to drive meaningful change, influence strategic outcomes and leave a lasting impact on how we operate.

If you're a passionate change professional who enjoys bringing people on the transformation journey and delivering lasting business benefits, we'd love to hear from you.

What’s in it for you?

• A starting salary of £70,000 per annum.
• 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays)
• Car Allowance.
• Annual Bonus.
• Private Medical Health Care.
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Find out more about our benefits and perks (Please note different T&Cs apply if on secondment)

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team
Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.