Staff Project Manager (m/w/d)

Job Description

At OVO, we understand that a one size fits all approach doesn't work for everyone. That's why we created the OVO Way of Flexibility.

All our roles are hub based (Bristol or London), providing a dedicated space for collaboration, connection and teamwork. You'll also have the flexibility to work from home.

Everyone belongs at OVO

At OVO, we are on a mission to solve one of humanity's biggest challenges, the climate crisis. And we know it takes all of us to change the world. That's why we need diverse people from all abilities, gender identities, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, life experiences and backgrounds to join us.

Teamworking for the planet

Everything we do here spins around Plan Zero. So, naturally, the team you'll be joining plays a gigantic role in making that happen. Here's how:

Our purpose in Agile Delivery is to build a culture that is healthy, human, and high-performing, one where strategy aligns, outcomes are achieved with confidence, and people thrive. You will be joining the Projects function which focuses on execution, orchestrating the "When" and "How" for a specific project/initiative, managing scope, timelines, and risks to deliver on our promises.

This role in a nutshell

The Staff Project Manager provides strategic leadership for highly complex projects, with the capability to refine frameworks and influence organisational agility. This role requires deep methodology knowledge to systematically tailor and combine frameworks for system-wide flow and strategic influence.

Your key outcomes will be

• Methodology Optimisation: Systematically tailors and combines multiple methodologies to create a highly optimised and effective delivery framework for complex and ambiguous projects.
• Strategic Risk & Problem Anticipation: Anticipates potential problems before they manifest as critical issues and leads multi-disciplinary teams to solve systemic issues that cut across different business functions (including Pods).
• Strategic Cadence: Designs and embeds the processes for complex, multi-phase projects to deliver outcomes that impact the entire business.
• External Dependency Management: Manages complex external dependencies (e.g., third-party suppliers, regulatory bodies, other business functions and Pods) with long lead times.
• Data-Driven Influence: Embeds metrics into organisational dashboards that aggregate performance across multiple projects, driving decision-making and aligning to business value.

Core Responsibilities

• Project Planning & Delivery: Selects and implements advanced planning techniques to optimise the delivery process and identifies and removes bottlenecks in the delivery pipeline.
• Strategic Decision Facilitation: Establishes the decision-making authority and criteria for complex, multi-phase projects or initiatives to protect desired business outcomes.
• Commercial Acumen: Proactively challenges the rationale and scope of their project to ensure it is the most effective use of OVO resources, proposing changes that increase its strategic impact across the wider business portfolio.
• Coaching & Leadership: Coaches individuals on complex skills and drives career development for emerging talent. Proactively recognises potential conflict situations and acts proactively to defuse or address prior to a flashpoint.
• Continuous Improvement: Embeds continuous improvement practices into organisational workflows and designs and institutionalises learning mechanisms across multiple projects.

You'll be a successful Staff Project Manager here at OVO if you...

• Design the Ecosystem (Methodological Artistry): You don't just "run" projects; you architect the frameworks. You can systematically blend Agile and Waterfall to ensure a "system-wide flow" that respects both regulatory deadlines and rapid product innovation.
• Anticipate the Flashpoint (Pre-emptive Risk Management): You have a "sixth sense" for systemic friction. You identify bottlenecks, external dependency delays, and cross-functional conflicts months before they become critical issues.
• Master your Stakeholders (Senior Stakeholder Proactive Management): You partner effectively with the OVO Leadership Team (OLT) or relevant leaders. You provide the "air cover" your teams need by proactively aligning senior sponsors and driving high-level decision-making when projects face ambiguity.
• Wield Data as Influence: You don't just report status; you drive value. You embed metrics into organisational dashboards that aggregate performance across multiple projects, providing leadership teams with the commercial clarity needed to make tough trade-offs.
• Navigate the Regulatory Maze: You can manage long-lead external dependencies without letting them derail the agility of the internal delivery teams.
• Act as a Commercial Challenger: You proactively challenge the rationale and scope of your initiatives. You ensure every project is the most effective use of OVO resources and aren't afraid to propose changes that increase strategic impact across the wider business portfolio.
• Coach the Next Generation: You are a multiplier of talent. You drive organisational agility by coaching emerging leads on complex delivery skills and proactively recognising potential conflict to defuse it before a flashpoint.

Let's talk about what's in it for you

We'll pay you between ??62,500 and ??75,000, depending on your specific skills and experience. If your expectations are a little different, have a chat with us!

We keep our pay ranges broad on purpose to give us, and you, flexibility to match your experience to our zero carbon mission.

You'll be eligible for an on-target bonus of 15%. We have one OVO bonus plan that focuses on the collective performance of our people to deliver our Plan Zero goal.

We also offer plenty of green benefits and progressive policies to help you feel like you belong at OVO...and there's flex pay. We'll give you 9% Flex Pay on top of your salary - 4% of this is auto enrolled into your pension, and the remaining 5% is yours to do what you like with. You can use this to buy from our extensive range of flexible benefits, including our green benefits which we've put at the heart of our offering, add to your pension or even take it as cash.

Here's a taster of what's on offer:

For starters, you'll get 34 days of holiday (including bank holidays).

For your health
With benefits like a healthcare cash plan or private medical insurance depending on your career level, critical illness cover, life assurance, health assessments, and more

For your wellbeing
With gym membership, travel insurance, workplace ISA, will writing services, dental insurance, and more

For your lifestyle
With extra holiday buying, discount dining, home & tech loans, and supporting your favourite charities with give-as-you-earn donations

For your home
Get up to ??400 towards any OVO Energy plan, plus great discounts on solar, smart thermostats and EV chargers

For your commute
Nab a great deal on ultra-low emission car leasing, plus our cycle to work scheme and public transport season ticket loans

Want to hear about our full range of flexible benefits and progressive people policies? Our People Team can tell you everything you need to know.

For your Belonging

To find better ways to support our people, we need to listen to each other's experiences and find ways to build a truly inclusive and diverse workplace. As part of this, we have 8 Belonging Networks at OVO. Led by our people, for our people - so when you join OVO, you can play a part - big or small - with any of the Networks. It's up to you.

Oh, and one last thing...

We'd be thrilled if you tick off all our boxes, yet we also believe it's just as important we tick off all of yours. And if you think you have most of what we're looking for but not every single thing, go ahead and hit apply. We'd still love to hear from you!

If you have any additional requirements, there's a space to let us know on the application form; we want to make the process as easy and comfortable for you as possible.