Environment Performance Officer - River Restoration

Do you want to be part of a team restoring healthy river ecosystems across the South East Water catchment? Are you passionate about environmental restoration and ready to make a tangible impact in the South East? As Environmental Performance Officer – River Restoration, you will deliver catchment‑based restoration (both river restoration and Nature‑based Solution projects within the Water Industry National Environment Programme) to promote a healthy ecosystem across the South East Water catchment area. You will work closely with partners, land‑owners and contractors to deliver a range of projects that involve all stages from early planning, surveying, modelling, design to supervision of site works.

Main responsibilities

• Assist in the development of a programme of restoration and enhancement projects.
• Work with partners to ensure all environmental aspects of projects are managed from initial design stage through to construction and post‑works management and monitoring.
• Produce outline and final designs as agreed with the Regulator, the Environment Agency.
• Provide environmental advice on project progression and potential environmental sensitivities, ensuring projects are programmed and executed in a well‑planned way to avoid or control environmental risks.
• Prepare detailed reporting, consultation, and mitigation plans for key issues such as heritage and protected species.
• Assist with permits required to deliver projects on time and within budget, including planning permission and flood risk applications.
• Coordinate technical reports to a high standard to meet robust internal and regulatory deadlines.
• Check and review work prepared by others.
• Manage and audit contractors and contract documents to ensure environmental risks are represented and managed.
• Ensure site health and safety and CDM regulations are carried out in accordance with South East Water guidance and policies.
• Support engagement and contribution to catchment meetings and liaison with stakeholder partners.
• Collaborate with other staff in the design of monitoring programmes to demonstrate project outcomes.

You'll need

• Qualified environmentalist (degree, HND or equivalent work‑related experience).
• Project management experience.
• Experience managing environmental aspects and risks across a wide range of settings.
• Ability to determine pragmatic outcomes that minimise harm to the environment and communicate these to the business.
• Passion for the environment and ability to work closely with colleagues, contractors, stakeholders, regulators and the public.
• People management skills, including direct management of a small team and wider management of regulator, stakeholder, and contractor relationships.
• Full, clean driving licence and use of own car to travel across the company region/areas is essential.
• Chartership or working towards chartership of a professional body such as CIWEM, CIEEM, CIWM or the Institute of Water.
• Specialist subject background (e.g., archaeology, arboriculture, EIA, protected species licence holder) or experience working with protected species mitigation.
• Experience in habitat restoration and management techniques, particularly in woodland, chalk grassland and heathland habitats.
• Experience in ecology and supervision of works on site.
• Experience of CDM regulations desirable.

Benefits package

• Excellent stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing‑related benefits.

Equal Opportunities

We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise that creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That is why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

What can you expect from your recruitment

To apply for this position, please submit your CV on our careers website. It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water. In addition, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity and employment referencing checks.

Compensation package

Up to £50,000 p.a. (dependent on experience)