Interview

 

Here are tailored interview questions for your interview with MWH (now part of Stantec), one of the @one alliance partners with Anglian Water. These questions show your interest in the alliance's collaborative model, sustainability goals, and project delivery approach:

🔹 About the Alliance and Collaboration

  1. How does MWH’s approach to collaboration differ within the @one Alliance compared to standalone projects?

  2. What does a successful partnership look like within the @one Alliance, and how is that measured?

  3. How are cross-organisational teams integrated to ensure seamless project delivery?

  4. How does MWH balance its own corporate objectives with the shared goals of the @one Alliance?

🔹 Project Delivery and Innovation

  1. Can you walk me through how the Design and Build model is implemented within MWH’s work with the Alliance?

  2. What role does digital engineering (e.g., BIM, digital twins) play in MWH’s current projects with Anglian Water?

  3. How do you incorporate low-carbon design principles into capital delivery?

  4. What’s an example of a project where MWH has led or significantly contributed to an innovative solution within the Alliance?

🔹 Culture, Values, and Ways of Working

  1. How does MWH foster a culture of continuous improvement within its Alliance work?

  2. What kind of personal qualities do you look for in candidates who want to succeed in an alliance model like @one?

  3. How does MWH support professional development and learning in a highly integrated alliance environment?

🔹 Sustainability and Long-Term Impact

  1. What are some of the key sustainability challenges MWH is tackling with Anglian Water under AMP8?

  2. How is MWH helping Anglian Water meet its Net Zero targets?

  3. How does MWH ensure environmental and community impact is addressed from the early design stages?

🔹 For Your Own Understanding

These are questions you might be asked, so prepare answers for them:

  • Why do you want to work with MWH and the @one Alliance?

  • What do you know about the @one Alliance and its role in Anglian Water’s delivery model?

  • How do you handle working in multi-disciplinary teams?

  • Describe a time you contributed to a collaborative project with tight deadlines.

Would you like me to tailor a few sample answers as well, based on your background?

Why do you want to work with MWH and the @one Alliance?

"Having been part of the @one Alliance since its inception in 2005, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful integrated, collaborative delivery models can be—especially when they’re focused on long-term outcomes for customers and the environment. MWH’s technical leadership, particularly in process innovation and sustainable infrastructure, really appeals to me. With my 18 years at Anglian Water, I bring a deep understanding of the business drivers and regulatory context. I’m excited about the opportunity to bring that perspective back into the Alliance from a partner angle, especially as we move into AMP8 with its focus on carbon, digital delivery, and resilience."

2. Can you walk me through how the Design and Build model is implemented within MWH’s work with the Alliance?

"From my experience in the Alliance, the Design and Build model thrives on early contractor involvement and agile decision-making. At Anglian Water, I worked closely with design and construction partners to ensure that process technology selections were robust, future-proof, and operable—especially for nitrate removal schemes. A good example of this was when we piloted a novel ion exchange system and worked with partners to integrate it into a D&B framework, aligning regulatory needs, CAPEX, and OPEX from the outset. MWH’s structured yet flexible approach to D&B would allow me to contribute meaningfully in the early design phases, especially around treatment technology feasibility and operational efficiency."

3. What’s an example of a project where you contributed to an innovative solution in a collaborative environment?

"A recent example is when I led the development of a digital scheduling tool for sewage pumping station maintenance. It integrated asset condition data, hydraulic criticality, and historic alarms to generate optimised maintenance schedules. This required close collaboration with field operations, digital developers, and asset planners. It significantly improved reactive work rates and reduced pollution risk. Working in a matrixed, cross-functional team reminded me of the early Alliance days, where innovation and trust went hand in hand. That’s the kind of collaborative environment I’m keen to return to with MWH."

4. How does MWH help Anglian Water meet its Net Zero targets?

"MWH is well-positioned to support Net Zero through its strengths in carbon-smart design, process optimisation, and digital delivery. From my work in nitrate removal, I know how energy-intensive some treatment processes can be—so designing with whole-life carbon and energy in mind is critical. For instance, selecting ion exchange over biological denitrification in certain contexts was a carbon-driven decision. I see great opportunity for MWH to embed low-carbon thinking not just in materials and construction, but in treatment process selection, control strategies, and predictive maintenance."

5. What kind of qualities make someone successful in an alliance environment like @one?

"From my years in the Alliance, success hinges on three things: openness, accountability, and the ability to see the bigger picture. You need to put the programme’s goals ahead of individual KPIs. That means being solutions-focused, comfortable with ambiguity, and deeply collaborative. I’ve always found that strong technical leadership paired with humility and willingness to listen makes for the best results. I’d like to bring that mindset to MWH, especially in guiding early process design conversations."

How does MWH foster a culture of continuous improvement within its Alliance work?

"Within the @one Alliance, continuous improvement is more than just a principle—it's built into the way we deliver. MWH contributes to this by encouraging open feedback loops between delivery, design, and operations. One example I’ve seen is the use of post-project reviews to capture lessons learned—not only at a technical level but across team behaviours and collaboration effectiveness.

In my own experience, developing a digital scheduling system for pumping station maintenance required constant iteration. We tested new logic with users, adapted based on feedback, and embedded those learnings into future updates. MWH supports this kind of environment by creating space for experimentation, by championing lean thinking, and by sharing learning across project teams, not keeping it siloed. That approach is critical to delivering smarter, faster, and more sustainable outcomes in AMP8."

Q: What kind of personal qualities do you look for in candidates who want to succeed in an alliance model like @one?

"Success in the Alliance isn’t just about technical skill—though that’s important. The key qualities I’ve seen make the biggest difference are collaboration, resilience, and curiosity. You have to be able to work across organisational boundaries, deal with shifting priorities, and still stay focused on delivering long-term value for customers and the environment.

Having worked in the Alliance when it first formed, I’ve seen how crucial it is to have people who are not just experts in their field but who are open to other perspectives, can challenge constructively, and know when to lead and when to support. Those who thrive are solution-focused, embrace change, and are willing to learn from both successes and failures."

Q: How does MWH support professional development and learning in a highly integrated alliance environment?

"MWH benefits from the shared learning culture that’s embedded in the Alliance—where best practice, technical innovation, and leadership development are actively exchanged across partners. That shared learning environment means individuals aren’t just growing within their own company’s framework, but within a diverse, multi-disciplinary community.

I’ve experienced this firsthand through technical forums, secondments, and collaborative training sessions across different partners. It broadens your understanding and accelerates your development. MWH, in particular, has a reputation for investing in talent—both through structured development pathways and through encouraging people to take on new challenges within cross-functional teams."

🔹 Sustainability and Long-Term Impact

Q: What are some of the key sustainability challenges MWH is tackling with Anglian Water under AMP8?

"AMP8 is focused heavily on decarbonisation, water scarcity, nature-based solutions, and asset resilience. MWH is central to tackling these challenges by rethinking how infrastructure is designed and delivered.

For example, balancing regulatory compliance with nature-positive outcomes is a growing challenge—particularly in catchment-scale nutrient management and sustainable drainage. MWH is helping Anglian Water integrate process innovation, digital tools, and low-carbon construction methods to meet these expectations while staying cost-efficient and customer-focused."

Q: How is MWH helping Anglian Water meet its Net Zero targets?

"MWH is contributing on multiple fronts—from promoting low-carbon design standards to incorporating embodied carbon assessments into early project stages. The ability to quantify, reduce, and track carbon is becoming business-as-usual within the Alliance, and MWH plays a leading role in developing those frameworks.

From my experience working on nitrate removal projects, process selection can have a significant impact on operational carbon. MWH’s ability to challenge conventional solutions and identify alternatives—like ion exchange vs. biological denitrification—demonstrates the value they bring in aligning technical decisions with Net Zero goals. They also enable innovation in delivery, such as modular construction and off-site fabrication, which reduce transport and emissions."

Q: How does MWH ensure environmental and community impact is addressed from the early design stages?

"By embedding environmental considerations into the optioneering process, MWH helps ensure that sustainability isn’t an afterthought. Early-stage engagement with stakeholders—both internal and external—allows MWH to shape solutions that are technically sound and socially responsible.

For instance, in previous projects I’ve worked on, understanding community sensitivities—such as odour, noise, or traffic disruption—has been crucial to getting stakeholder buy-in. MWH’s ability to integrate these considerations into environmental assessments, planning applications, and design layouts from day one shows their commitment to responsible infrastructure. Combined with tools like BIM and GIS, they can visualise and mitigate impacts before they happen on site."


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