Location
Flexible within our region with a hybrid working pattern, approximately 2 days a week in an office. Regular weekly travel across the region is required.

Hours
Full Time - 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday with a hybrid approach between office, site, and home working.

Salary
Circa £55,000 depending on skills and experience

About the Role
The Environment & Innovation team at Southern Water is leading the company’s commitment to enhancing and protecting the environment by deploying innovative solutions and working closely with customers and stakeholders. Currently managing a £50 million portfolio that will expand to over £2 billion in the next 10 years, this fast-paced team is expanding to deliver a larger programme of sustainable and innovative environmental solutions.

We are recruiting two new Senior Specialists focusing on Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) and Ecology. These roles will support the Principal Biodiversity & INNS Specialist to deliver Southern Water’s Biodiversity and INNS programmes, including the Biodiversity Performance Commitment and the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP). Successful delivery of WINEP programmes directly impacts our Environmental Performance Assessment star rating.

Responsibilities include managing a small delivery team, acting as subject matter experts on Ecology or INNS, supporting conservation delivery partnerships, managing land and estate biodiversity, and technically overseeing implementation, monitoring, and reporting of biodiversity and INNS initiatives. The roles involve engagement with key stakeholders, environmental NGOs, catchment partnerships, and other water companies, as well as representing Southern Water on technical environmental partnerships.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a new team led by the Environment Strategy Manager, driving environmental ambition and delivery across the business.

Experience
- Demonstrable applied expertise in ecological/botanical monitoring, biodiversity enhancement projects, estate management, and innovative conservation delivery.
- Proven experience delivering INNS, Biodiversity, or Ecology projects.
- Experience managing technical work through sub-contracted consultancy teams.
- Strong track record of stakeholder engagement and management.
- Experience managing and mentoring a small team.

About you
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to deliver complex presentations clearly to senior, technical, non-technical, and public audiences.
- Ability and willingness to travel regularly across the region for site visits and meetings.
- Motivated to work collaboratively within a fast-paced, expanding team.
- Commitment to Southern Water’s values and environmental goals.

Qualifications
Relevant qualifications and professional experience in Ecology, Biodiversity, Environmental Science, or related fields are expected. Specific qualifications were not detailed but study support may be available for job-related qualifications.

Additional Information
Benefits include a generous pension scheme with up to 11% company contribution, 25 days annual leave, life assurance (4x salary), salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months), health cash plan, fully funded eye tests, two paid volunteering days per year, occupational health service, discounts with over 800 retailers, digital GP service, study support, competitive maternity leave, flexible return to work options, and a cycle to work scheme.

Applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK and provide evidence of eligibility and current proof of address during the recruitment process.

Southern Water values career progression, training, and development opportunities and encourages applications even if candidates do not meet all requirements, as other Biodiversity Specialist roles will also be recruited.