Head of Water Infrastructure

Closing Date: 30th August 2026

Interviews will take place week commencing 14th September 2026

About the role.

Cambridge has become a major incubator of successful tech start-ups contributing significantly to the UK economy. However, Cambridgeshire and its surrounding areas face significant challenges. Water, transport and housing problems affect the quality of life for Cambridgeshire’s residents leading to some global science businesses choosing different locations, notwithstanding Cambridge’s research reputation.

This role will be responsible for leading strategic vision and integration of water infrastructure within planned spatial growth. Working collaboratively with local partners across Greater Cambridge and with central government, to identify, support and implement a range of solutions to tackle the multi-faceted water infrastructure challenge across the region. You will be the bridge between high-level master planning and on-site delivery, ensuring that water supply, wastewater, and drainage infrastructure are not barriers to growth, but catalysts for resilient, environmentally sustainable high-quality places.

To lead the delivery of integrated engineering and infrastructure programmes that accelerate economic growth and housing delivery across Greater Cambridge, providing strategic leadership to a team of technical specialists responsible for site de-risking, enabling works and major infrastructure projects. The role oversees technical due diligence, development viability assessments, utilities planning, procurement and contract management, ensuring the successful delivery of roads, bridges, drainage, utilities, remediation and other infrastructure works. Working closely with internal teams, external partners and stakeholders, the postholder provides expert technical advice, manages programme performance, risks and budgets, and reports to senior leadership, committees and the Board to ensure development sites are unlocked and ready for sustainable growth.

This is a rare chance to work for an organisation which is uniquely positioned to shape the future of place-based housing delivery and regeneration in Cambridge. Working with influential stakeholders, you will support our experienced team in driving delivery of a range of complex workstreams.

This role is being recruited by Homes England to support the establishment and operation of the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation. The successful candidate will initially be employed by Homes England and will work predominantly on matters relating to the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation and its activities.

About you.

We are seeking an experienced and influential water infrastructure professional with a strong technical background in civil, environmental or water engineering and relevant chartered status. The successful candidate will have extensive experience of addressing water-related infrastructure challenges on major development, regeneration or large-scale place-making programmes, together with a deep understanding of water resource, wastewater, and drainage planning. A strong understanding of integrated water management, sustainable urban design and nature-based solutions will be essential, alongside the ability to identify and deliver innovative interventions that improve long-term water resilience and environmental outcomes. A deep understanding of the regulatory landscape, and awareness of the environmental, economic and social challenges facing the water sector, particularly within Greater Cambridge and the wider region.

An exceptional relationship builder and influencer, you will have a proven track record of working collaboratively across government, local authorities, regulators, water companies and the private sector to achieve shared objectives. You will be comfortable leading complex programmes and infrastructure projects, coordinating multiple stakeholders and driving delivery against ambitious growth objectives. With strong strategic, communication and partnership skills, you will be able to translate complex technical challenges into practical solutions, champion water-efficient development and help shape a resilient, sustainable future for Greater Cambridge.

Who are we?

Who is the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation?

In April 2024 Homes England was commissioned to work with MHCLG officials to establish an incorporated growth company to act as an interim delivery body for the Secretary of State’s ambitions for Cambridge.

The Greater Cambridge Development Corporation was established by the government on 23 July 2026. It is a statutory delivery body set up as a new local-national partnership, to unlock the long-term sustainable economic future of Greater Cambridge.

Building on the foundations laid by the Cambridge Growth Company, the Development Corporation marks the next phase of the government's commitment to achieving nationally significant economic growth through infrastructure-led development across Greater Cambridge.

The Development Corporation will be responsible for the stewardship and deployment of very significant public capital investment, with capital projects typically measured in multiples of £100 million, and overall programme value measured at over £100bn, delivered over long-time horizons and through complex commercial, land and infrastructure arrangements involving leveraging significant private sector investment.

Homes England: The Housing and Regeneration Agency

We believe that affordable, quality homes in well-designed places are key to improving people’s lives. As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, we create thriving new places and transform urban areas, combining the full breadth of our powers, expertise, land, capital and influence to bring investment to communities and get more homes built.

How? We form long-term partnerships that bridge the gap between the public and private sector to meet local needs and aspirations. We use our influence to champion the creation of sustainable homes, communities and places that are brilliantly designed for the people that live there now, and in the future. And we use our funding and support to build a more resilient, diverse and innovative housing sector, helping new entrants in the market, encouraging modern methods of construction and design, and promoting the utmost attention to building safety.

Together with our partners, we’re accelerating the pace of house building, remediation and regeneration across the country, as we seek to deliver ever more affordable homes in places people are proud to call home for generations to come.

What we offer.

As well as a competitive salary and 33 days annual leave, we are committed to 50/50 hybrid working. We’ll support you, wherever possible, so that you don’t miss out on what matters to you.

• Membership of the Homes and Communities Agency Pension Scheme, which is a contributory defined benefit scheme with the amount you receive on retirement based on your salary and years worked at the Agency.
• Internal applicants: please note that if you are successful, the salary you are offered will be in accordance with our pay policy. You can find details on the HR Hub SharePoint site.
• Employee assistance programme
• Wide range of healthcare plans
• Financial wellbeing support
• Access to many great discounts with leading high street names
• Our range of network groups are also there to support you to be yourself at work and play a key role in helping shape our future.
• If you are a member of a professional body, we’ll pay for your membership and once you get your digital kit, you’ll be good to go.
• 50/50 office/ home based model

We're a diverse team of more than 1,000 professionals spanning 17 professions, helping Homes England to be effective, efficient and deliver for communities.

Our people remain at the heart of everything we do, and we’re committed to building an Agency that not only reflects the diverse communities we serve, but also champions inclusion in how we shape homes and places across the country.

For more information about our EDI strategy please see our Homes England equality, diversity and inclusion reports - GOV.UK

You will be required to have the Right to Work in the UK and Homes England do not offer visa sponsorship. If your application is shortlisted to interview we will require you to provide proof of your Right to Work in the UK at this stage.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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