Location
Falmer, East Sussex (Hybrid/Flexible)

Hours
Full Time - 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Salary
Circa £45,000 - £55,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience

About the Role
The Environment & Innovation team at Southern Water is leading the way in enhancing and protecting the environment by deploying innovative solutions and working closely with customers and stakeholders. This rapidly expanding team manages a portfolio growing from £50 million to over £2 billion over the next 10 years. We are recruiting two new positions: Catchment Specialist and Senior Catchment Specialist within the Partnerships stream.

In this role, you will be part of the Catchment Strategy Team supporting the delivery of our Integrated Catchment Management Strategy. You will collaborate with Catchment Partnerships and internal teams to implement nature-based, innovative solutions that protect water quality and the environment. Your work will contribute to meeting regulatory commitments under programmes such as DWI Undertakings, WINEP, and statutory plans including the Water Resource Management Plan and Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans.

You will engage with stakeholders, regulators, and community groups to promote catchment-scale solutions, support technical evaluations, and recommend environmental measures to address future challenges. Planning for successive AMP periods and aligning work with partnership opportunities will be key responsibilities. Additionally, you will contribute to cross-functional projects and industry forums to champion the catchment approach.

The Senior Catchment Specialist role includes managing individuals and workloads to support the Team Manager.

Benefits
Generous pension scheme with up to 11% company contribution
25 days annual leave
Life assurance equal to 4x salary
Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (available after 6 months service)
Health Cash Plan
Fully funded eye tests
Two paid volunteering days per year
Occupational health service
Discounts with over 800 popular retailers
Digital GP service
Study support for job-related qualifications may be available
Competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options
Cycle to work scheme

Join our Environment & Innovation team and explore career progression, training, and development opportunities with a company committed to its customers and the environment. We value flexible working and encourage you to discuss any requirements during the application process.

As part of Southern Water, you will be expected to support out-of-hours incident response to ensure our customers receive the service they deserve. Details of any incident support rotas will be discussed during your interview.

Experience
- Degree or equivalent experience in environmental science or related field
- Environmental background with MSc or equivalent experience preferred for Senior role
- Demonstrable experience in environmental and water quality investigations, catchment management planning and delivery
- Proven project delivery, stakeholder engagement, and technical report writing skills
- Proficiency in data analysis, GIS mapping, and dashboard reporting systems
- Strong technical expertise in hydroecology, catchment water planning, and GIS systems

About You
Motivated and collaborative individual with a passion for environmental protection and sustainable water management. Able to work effectively with diverse stakeholders and contribute to innovative, nature-based solutions. Comfortable managing workloads and supporting team leadership (Senior role).

Qualifications
Degree in environmental science or related discipline required. MSc or equivalent experience highly desirable for Senior Catchment Specialist position.