Environmental Land Use Strategy Lead

Summary:

Do you have a proven track record in developing and implementing impactful environmental strategies?

Are you passionate about safeguarding vital water resources?

We are looking for a proactive, forward thinking Land Use Strategy Lead to play a crucial role in protecting our drinking water sources. In this role, you\’ll develop and implement strategies to ensure the resilience of raw water quality and quantity, working to mitigate the impact of land use changes and new developments.

You\’ll collaborate closely with our Town Planners and operational catchment staff, contributing to sustainable economic growth while securing future water supplies.

This role will also be instrumental in shaping our future Water Resource Management Plans (WRMPs) and driving the development of Water Industry National Environment Plans (WINEPs).

Main responsibilities:

• Develop and implement land use strategies to protect South East Water’s drinking water catchments

• Develop and implement comprehensive strategies for sustainable water source operation, ensuring full compliance with all relevant regulations and guidelines. These strategies should be designed to effectively manage and balance the competing demands of land use change, environmental protection, resource conservation, and customer water supply, with the goal of meeting current and future customer water demands.

• Establishing, building and maintaining relationships with key partners to deliver outcomes for the WINEP and wider catchments, motivating/supporting individuals in the catchment team with partnerships in their areas. This role demands exceptional collaboration and communication skills, with a proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including internal teams, external partners, local authorities, community groups and regulatory bodies. The successful candidate will be a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability, with a deep understanding of the principles of sustainable land management.

• Provide expert technical guidance and thought leadership, utilising data-driven insights and industry best practices to inform strategic decision-making.

• Ability to work with uncertainty and plan adaptively as a self-starter.

• Write and coordinate technical reports, communication documents to a high standard to meet robust internal and regulatory deadlines. Check and review work prepared by others.

You\’ll need:
Skills / Qualifications / Experience

• Experience in either Urban Planning, Environmental Science, Water and Environmental Management.

• Demonstrable experience in a similar role.

• Strong communication and influential skills and the ability to work alongside multiple departments, local authorities, councils, regulators and MPs.

• Excellent data interpretation skills, reflecting the need to use the data to inform and influence stakeholders.

• Proficient with the use of GIS and spatial data analysis tools.

• Full, clean driving licence and ability to travel across Company region/areas as required

• Good knowledge of catchment restoration or agricultural sector

• Experience in land use planning, environmental management, or sustainable development.

• Strong understanding of water resource management planning, water quality and environmental regulations.

• Proven track record of strategic leadership, data-driven decision-making, and stakeholder engagement.

It will be a bonus if you have:
Skills / Qualifications / Experience

• Degree ideally in a scientific discipline or relevant work related area

• Chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or other appropriate organisation.

• A working knowledge of integrated catchment management planning systems and approaches.

• Working knowledge of planning applications and legislation.

• Ability to work with uncertainty and plan adaptively as a self-starter.

• Understanding of Source-Pathway-Receptor models and conceptualisation

• Experience of working with Local Planning Authorities, National Park Authorities, Councils and developers.

We want to be the water company people want to be supplied by and want to work for.

We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That’s 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.

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.

What can you expect from your recruitment?

• To apply for this position, please submit your CV on our career’s website.

• It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water.

• Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks.

If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been looking for, apply now!

South East Water kindly asks that recruitment agencies refrain from submitting CVs to our employees or associates without explicit invitation from our HR Resourcing team. CVs sent on a speculative basis will not be acknowledged and will not assume any responsibility for fees or commissions in the event that we hire a candidate who applied directly or subsequently introduced by an instructed agency.

Compensation package:

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

About Us

We supply top-quality drinking water to 2.3 million customers in the southeast of England.

Through a network of 9,000 miles of pipe, we deliver 544 million litres of water every day. It\’s the skill and expertise of our employees that ensures our water meets the highest standards.

We make sure we can meet the needs of our customers both now and in the future.

What you get from working with us:

• Grow a career with a meaningful purpose.
• Come to work to be safe, valued, and trusted.
• We’ll encourage you to create and pursue new opportunities for personal growth.
• A place to be the real you, build deeper connections and enjoy a sense of belonging.
• Be invested in helping us to create a sustainable water supply for now, and in the future.

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