Carbon and Climate Change Insight Specialist

As part of Southern Water’s drive to enhance and protect the environment, the Environment & Innovation team are deploying the latest innovative solutions and working in partnership with our customers and stakeholders. The team takes a holistic approach to managing water quality and flow across the region, with a portfolio that has rapidly expanded from £50 million 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 new and sustainable solutions.

A brand-new position has been created to join our Environment & Innovation team as a Carbon & Climate Change Insight Specialist.

The role holder will lead on greenhouse gas emissions accounting, reporting and assurance, delivering high‐quality internal and external disclosures to ensure regulatory compliance and demonstrate progress towards Net Zero. The role will translate complex emissions, climate and performance data into actionable insight, enabling teams to prioritise and deliver measurable carbon reduction and climate adaptation outcomes.

• Deliver internal and external carbon and climate change reporting (including mitigation and adaptation) to ensure regulatory compliance and demonstrate progress towards Net Zero and resilience to climate impacts.
• Be responsible for the collection, analysis, assurance and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions data across Scope 1, 2 and 3, including leading annual audit and verification processes.
• Monitor performance against Scope 1, 2 and 3 targets and climate adaptation metrics, providing teams with critical performance data and actionable insight to drive delivery of Net Zero and resilience plans. Lead the review and optimisation of reporting to support continuous improvement and decision‐making.
• Deliver high‐quality insight from carbon, climate and performance data by identifying trends, risks, dependencies and prioritised opportunities. Quantify potential impacts where possible and influence the business to deliver actions. Benchmark performance and bring external best practice.

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant discipline such as environmental science, climate change, sustainability, engineering, data science, mathematics, statistics, physics or similar.
• Strong experience in emissions data analysis, Net Zero and climate or carbon modelling and reporting.
• Experience in greenhouse gas accounting, forecasting and reporting (Scopes 1–3), carbon reduction levers, abatement modelling and benefits tracking as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and plans.
• Project management experience (desirable).
• Formal training or certification in carbon and climate standards (e.g. GHG Protocol, PAS 2080, SBTi, TCFD, relevant ISOs) (desirable).

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.

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.

In line with Southern Water’s security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years. Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all preemployment checks, including security vetting. Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment. Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so if you are interested in the position please do send your application over today to ensure consideration. We truly appreciate every application. Please note, that due to the volume of interest, we may not be able to provide personalised feedback to all applicants.

• Company and performance-related bonus
• Generous pension with up to 11% company contribution
• Life assurance payment equal to four times your annual salary
• Health benefits through a Cash Plan
• Two paid community volunteering days a year
• 25 days annual holiday
• Occupational health service
• Retail discount app
• We offer competitive maternity leave, and flexible return to work options

We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to facilitate your participation in the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?