Senior Water Resources WINEP Officer - 14 Month Contract

Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK's most stunning landscapes.

Please make an application promptly if you are a good match for this role due to high levels of interest.

We're proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future.

Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we're working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.

Whether you're starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.

Ready to make a splash? Join our team today.

Role Purpose The Senior Water Resources WINEP Officer will lead the delivery of Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) projects across our Bristol Water water resources portfolio.

The role is responsible for providing technical leadership, stakeholder engagement and programme delivery to ensure environmental obligations are met and sustainable water resource outcomes are achieved.

Working closely with regulators, consultants, operational teams and environmental partners, the postholder will play a key role in protecting rivers and groundwater resources while supporting the development of future water resources strategies and environmental programmes.

Position Start Date: Mid October Key Accountabilities Technical Leadership Act as technical lead for water resources WINEP projects.

Provide specialist advice on water resources, environmental impacts and regulatory obligations.

Lead and review technical investigations, options appraisals and environmental assessments.

Produce and review technical reports, recommendations and supporting documentation.

Project & Programme Delivery Manage the delivery of multiple WINEP projects to agreed timescales, budgets and quality standards.

Support programme planning, budgeting and reporting activities.

Identify project risks and implement appropriate mitigation actions.

Ensure robust governance and reporting arrangements are maintained across assigned projects.

Regulatory & Stakeholder Engagement Lead relationships with regulators including the Environment Agency and Natural England.

Support negotiations and secure agreement on project outcomes and regulatory requirements.

Build productive partnerships with environmental organisations, local authorities, landowners and industry stakeholders.

Strategy & Future Planning Support development of future water resources investigation programmes.

Influence long-term environmental and water resource strategies.

Work with internal stakeholders to identify and prioritise future investment requirements.

Team & Capability Development Share technical expertise across the wider team.

Provide mentoring, coaching and guidance to develop technical capability and resilience within the function.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience Essential Strong knowledge of UK water industry environmental and water resources activities.

Experience delivering environmental, regulatory or water resources projects.

Sound understanding of water resources management and environmental impacts.

Experience managing stakeholders and developing effective partnerships.

Ability to communicate complex technical, environmental and financial information clearly and effectively.

Strong project and programme management skills.

Desirable GIS experience.

Knowledge of hydrology, hydrometry, hydroecology or hydromorphology.

Experience working directly with environmental regulators.

Understanding of water company business planning and environmental investment processes.

Qualifications Essential Degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant environmental, engineering, geography, hydrology or water resources discipline.

Full UK Driving Licence.

Closing Date: 23rd July 2026 We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.

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