Senior Environment Strategy Specialist

Closing Date

Job Title: Senior Environment Strategy Specialist

Location: Falmer, East Sussex (hybrid, approx. 2 days per week in office negotiable)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37, Monday to Friday

Salary: circa £60,000 depending on skills and experience

The Environment & Innovation team is at the forefront of Southern Water’s drive to enhance and protect the environment. Deploying the latest innovative solutions and working in partnership with our customers and stakeholders, the team takes an holistic approach to managing water quality and flow across the region. The portfolio has rapidly expanded from £50million to over £2 billion in the next 10-year period.

This is a fast‑paced team that is now expanding to continue to deliver a larger programme of sustainable and innovative solutions.

To provide technical input and develop solutions during the identification of needs and the design, construction, and commissioning process. Making decisions and recommendations that are recognised as authoritative and have an important impact on engineering design activities. In the majority of cases, the role holder will have the final input on the design to be constructed.

• Reviewing, updating and developing detailed technical content and implementation plans for our emerging Environment Strategy, including SMART targets.
• Promoting accountability for the strategy across the organisation – creating and managing a dashboard to monitor progress, joining up programmes across the business and reporting to internal / external stakeholders at senior level.
• Supporting internal governance and embedding the Environment Strategy in its structure.
• Promoting strategic approaches to biodiversity and climate resilience across the business.
• Collaborating with teams such as Catchment Management, Asset Planning & Strategy, and Clean Rivers & Seas to align delivery plans with environmental goals.
• Bring the Strategy to life internally and externally, helping champion and build visibility across communication methods and mediums.

• Demonstrable experience in developing and delivering environmental strategies.
• Significant strategic expertise in an environmental area such as biodiversity, carbon, or natural & social capital approaches.
• Strong analytical skills and experience (with GIS and data management systems an advantage).
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage senior stakeholders and present complex information clearly.

A collaborative mindset and a passion for driving environmental change. This is a high‑impact role that offers the chance to shape the future of environmental resilience in the water industry. If you’re ready to lead, influence, and innovate—this is your opportunity.

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.

You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long‑term value creation.

At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need.

If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here:
Introduce Yourself (‑Introduce Yourself).

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.