SuDS Programme Lead - East in Chatham

Closing Date: 2026-02-27

Location: Kent (Hybrid; with travel to regional sites)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37, Monday to Friday

Salary: circa £65,000 depending on skills and experience

Storm overflows are very provocative and not acceptable to our customers and stakeholders. We want to lead the charge in resolving the current situation. That’s where our Clean Rivers & Seas Task Force comes in, implementing pioneering and industry-leading solutions to reduce spills and reliance on overflows whilst also enhancing the environment for our communities. We’ve already delivered a £45m pathfinder programme and are now scaling up to a £1.5bn initiative over the next decade. This is your chance to join the taskforce’s technical team, solving complex problems, and see your insights shape one of the most critical environmental programmes in the country.

A position has become available to join our Clean Rivers and Seas team as a SuDS Programme Lead.

About The Role

You will be responsible for building excellent partnerships with Local Authorities and partners, to deliver sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) which manage surface water in communities, for the purpose of storm overflow reduction, prevent community flooding and to provide wider environmental benefits such as climate adaptation, biodiversity and placemaking. You will drive the programme in the Kent region to deliver SuDS at scale, taking each catchment from technical overview through to feasibility, designs and construction. You’ll be the key contact for the Local Authority and partners on this programme and liaise directly with our technical and delivery colleagues and decision makers to ensure the right solution is installed in the right place and the right time.

What You Will Be Responsible For

• Drive the implementation of SuDS in your region.
• Work expertly with internal and external stakeholders to deliver solutions that reduce storm overflows, prevent flooding and offer a host of additional benefits.
• Lead workshops, decision making, driving new agreements and ensuring surveys and designs are completed to requirements and communicated to all parties.
• Problem solving within the Regional Leads group to ensure solutions achieve appropriate cost, quality and time.
• Build and maintain an excellent working relationship with Local Authorities in the region.
• Work closely and collaboratively with Technical and Delivery colleagues to ensure the solutions being delivered as part of the SuDS Programme are the right solution, in the right place, at the right time.
• Ensure budgets, governance and progress are being tracked/managed successfully and programme hits key milestones and KPIs.

What You’ll Bring To The Role

• Great knowledge, understanding and/or passion for SuDS.
• Experience working with local authorities, suppliers and stakeholders.
• Programme management / project delivery experience, including managing a budget and adhering to governance.
• Experience in the installation of SuDS and awareness of surveys, designs, considerations required.
• Able to review approaches objectively and openly testing and challenging assumptions and beliefs.
• Strong engagement skills and relationship building for the long-term.
• Ideally experience working in a water company or with water companies (or a regulated business) and/or experience in an environmental and/or delivery role.

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With over £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.

Our Commitment to Diversity

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.