Agile PM

Agile Project Manager
Client Sector: Asset-Centric Organisation – Water Utilities
Location: Exeter, EX2 7HR
Working Model: Hybrid – minimum 2 days per week on-site at Exeter (mandatory)
Role Type: Contract / Permanent with Joan Technologies Ltd, working at client site
Number of Positions: 1
Role Overview
We are looking for an experienced Agile Project Manager to lead the project initiation and mobilisation phase of a strategic data engineering programme within an asset-centric organisation in the water utilities sector.
The programme is currently at an early stage, with a number of uncertainties around scope, requirements, priorities, dependencies, delivery approach and project structure.
The primary purpose of this role is to bring structure, clarity and delivery discipline to the programme and establish the foundations required to move the project from the current initiation/discovery phase into structured execution.
The Agile Project Manager will work closely with the Data Engineering Manager, Business Analysts, Solution Architects, technical teams and client stakeholders to:

• Establish the initial project plan and delivery roadmap.
• Develop and coordinate the Project Initiation Document (PID).
• Clarify scope, objectives, assumptions, dependencies and constraints.
• Establish project governance and Agile ways of working.
• Identify and manage risks, issues and uncertainties.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities and decision-making mechanisms.
• Create the conditions required for the project to move confidently into delivery.

This is a hands-on mobilisation and delivery leadership role. The successful candidate must be comfortable operating in an environment where not all information is known upfront and must be capable of creating clarity and momentum through effective planning, facilitation and stakeholder engagement.
Key Responsibilities
1. Project Initiation & Mobilisation

• Lead the initial project initiation and mobilisation activities.
• Work closely with the Data Engineering Manager to establish the overall project plan, delivery approach, milestones and priorities.
• Establish a clear understanding of the current project position, objectives, scope and outstanding areas of uncertainty.
• Facilitate discussions with business and technical stakeholders to clarify scope, outcomes and priorities.
• Identify gaps in the information required to initiate the project and establish appropriate actions to close those gaps.
• Establish the project structure, governance and ways of working required to support delivery.
• Coordinate inputs from Business Analysts, Data Engineers, Architects and other stakeholders into the project initiation process.
• Drive the transition from uncertain scope/discovery into an agreed and executable delivery approach.

2. Project Initiation Document (PID)

• Own and coordinate the development of the Project Initiation Document (PID).
• Work with the Data Engineering Manager and wider project team to gather and consolidate PID inputs.
• Ensure the PID clearly captures:
  • Project objectives and expected outcomes
  • Scope and boundaries
  • Key deliverables
  • Delivery approach
  • Project milestones
  • Governance structure
  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Stakeholders
  • Dependencies
  • Assumptions
  • Risks and issues
  • Constraints
  • Resource requirements
  • Reporting and governance arrangements
• Identify areas where the PID requires further clarification or stakeholder decisions.
• Drive reviews, feedback and sign-off of the PID with appropriate stakeholders.
• Maintain the PID as the project evolves from initiation into delivery.

3. Planning & Delivery Roadmap

• Develop an initial integrated project plan and delivery roadmap in collaboration with the Data Engineering Manager.
• Translate high-level objectives into practical phases, milestones, deliverables and activities.
• Establish dependencies across data engineering, business analysis, architecture and other workstreams.
• Identify critical path activities and potential delivery constraints.
• Develop realistic timelines based on available resources, dependencies and project priorities.
• Continuously review and refine the delivery plan as scope and requirements become clearer.
• Ensure the project has a clear path from initiation through to delivery and go-live.

4. Agile Delivery Management

• Establish an appropriate Agile delivery framework and ways of working.
• Set up and facilitate Agile ceremonies and planning activities as appropriate.
• Support sprint/release planning and prioritisation.
• Work with Business Analysts and technical teams to establish and maintain an actionable backlog.
• Ensure work is sufficiently defined and prioritised before entering delivery.
• Track progress against agreed milestones and outcomes.
• Remove or escalate blockers that could affect delivery.
• Encourage continuous improvement through retrospectives and regular delivery reviews.
• Adapt the Agile approach where required to suit the programme, client environment and delivery needs.

5. Scope, Risk, Issue & Dependency Management

• Establish and maintain effective scope management processes.
• Identify areas of ambiguity and ensure they are actively managed rather than left unresolved.
• Maintain RAID logs covering:
  • Risks
  • Assumptions
  • Issues
  • Dependencies
• Assess potential impacts of scope changes and emerging requirements.
• Ensure risks and issues have clear owners, actions and target resolution dates.
• Proactively identify cross-workstream dependencies.
• Escalate significant risks, issues and decisions through the agreed governance structure.
• Support stakeholders in making timely and informed decisions.

6. Stakeholder Management

• Establish strong working relationships with client stakeholders, Data Engineering, Business Analysis, Architecture and programme teams.
• Facilitate workshops, planning sessions and decision-making meetings.
• Ensure stakeholders have a common understanding of objectives, scope, priorities and delivery status.
• Communicate complex delivery matters clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Provide appropriate challenge where scope, timelines, dependencies or assumptions require further consideration.
• Ensure actions and decisions are clearly documented and followed through.
• Build trust and effective working relationships with UK-based client teams.

7. Governance & Reporting

• Establish appropriate project governance in collaboration with programme leadership.
• Define meeting structures, reporting cycles, decision forums and escalation routes.
• Produce concise and accurate project status reporting.
• Report on progress, milestones, risks, issues, dependencies and key decisions.
• Maintain project documentation and ensure key decisions and actions are traceable.
• Support governance reviews and steering meetings as required.
• Ensure project information is transparent, current and accessible to relevant stakeholders.

8. Transition into Execution

• Ensure the project has sufficient clarity and structure to move from initiation/mobilisation into execution.
• Establish the initial delivery baseline, including scope, plan, governance and priorities.
• Ensure key dependencies, risks, assumptions and resource requirements are understood.
• Work with the Data Engineering Manager to ensure the technical delivery team is aligned with the agreed roadmap.
• Support the establishment of a sustainable delivery cadence.
• Continue to manage project mobilisation activities until the programme reaches a stable execution phase.

Required Skills & Experience

• Proven experience as an Agile Project Manager, Delivery Manager, Technical Project Manager or equivalent.
• Strong experience in project initiation, mobilisation and delivery planning.
• Demonstrable experience creating and managing Project Initiation Documents (PIDs) or equivalent project initiation/governance documentation.
• Experience working on projects where scope, requirements and priorities are evolving or initially uncertain.
• Strong project planning and delivery management skills.
• Strong understanding and practical experience of Agile/Scrum delivery methodologies.
• Experience working closely with Data Engineering, Architecture and technical delivery teams.
• Strong experience managing risks, issues, assumptions and dependencies.
• Excellent stakeholder management and facilitation skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders and client teams.
• Ability to create structure and clarity from ambiguity.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Proactive approach with the ability to identify issues and drive actions without requiring constant direction.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and workstreams effectively.
• Strong understanding of UK workplace culture and communication norms.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience delivering data engineering, data platform, analytics or technology transformation programmes.
• Previous experience in water utilities or other asset-centric/asset-heavy organisations.
• Experience within energy, rail, telecoms infrastructure, facilities or other infrastructure-intensive industries.
• Experience working with cloud data platforms such as Azure, AWS or GCP.
• Experience managing projects involving multiple technical and business workstreams.
• Experience with data integration, data governance or enterprise data programmes.
• Experience working within regulated environments.
• Agile/Scrum certification such as Scrum Master, SAFe or equivalent.
• Experience with project management tools such as Jira, Azure DevOps or equivalent.

Key Initial Deliverables
During the initial mobilisation phase, the Agile Project Manager will be expected to establish:

1. Project Initiation Document (PID)
2. Integrated project plan
3. Initial delivery roadmap
4. Project governance structure
5. Roles and responsibilities
6. Initial RAID log
7. Scope and assumptions baseline
8. Key dependencies and milestones
9. Agile delivery approach and cadence
10. Project reporting and stakeholder communication structure
11. Transition plan from initiation/discovery into execution

The ideal candidate is a hands-on Agile Project Manager who can bring structure to an uncertain project environment.
You should be comfortable joining a programme where the scope is still being shaped and where information, requirements and dependencies may not yet be fully defined.
You will be expected to ask the right questions, facilitate the right conversations, identify gaps, establish a plan, coordinate the PID, create governance and drive the project towards execution.
The successful candidate should be a confident facilitator and communicator who can work effectively across Data Engineering, Business Analysis, Architecture, business stakeholders and client leadership.
This is not a purely administrative project management role. It requires an individual who can actively shape the project initiation approach, establish delivery structure and work alongside the Data Engineering Manager to get the programme moving.



Common Requirements


Location: Exeter, EX2 7HR
Working Model: Hybrid – minimum 2 days per week on-site at Exeter is mandatory and non-negotiable.
Cultural Fit: The role involves close day-to-day collaboration with UK-based client teams. Candidates should demonstrate strong professional communication, stakeholder management and an understanding of UK workplace culture and working practices.
Domain Preference: Experience in water utilities or other asset-centric/asset-heavy sectors such as energy, rail or telecoms infrastructure will be highly regarded.