EIR & FOI Compliance Specialist

Southern Water; Durrington; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Water is seeking an Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) Officer to join our ESG team. You will manage information requests from receipt to response, applying legislation and public interest tests, with significant legal and regulatory implications.

You will work closely with Legal, Information Governance and Corporate Affairs, providing clear guidance and influencing stakeholders while maintaining high standards of governance and service delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience with Environmental Information Regulations or Freedom of Information, including interpreting legislation and guidance.
• Strong analytical judgement and ability to make evidence-based recommendations on complex information requests.
• Excellent written communication, stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Proven organisational skills and resilience, able to work autonomously across priorities and deadlines.
• Water-sector/regulated-sector knowledge or information governance experience is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Manage EIR requests end to end and ensure responses meet statutory timescales.
• Interpret legislation, ICO guidance, case law and regulatory precedent to determine disclosure obligations.
• Assess disclosure positions, identify exceptions and support public interest tests with Legal Services.
• Advise stakeholders and senior leaders on EIR and FOI requirements.
• Build relationships across Legal, Information Governance, Corporate Affairs and operational teams.
• Support internal reviews, ICO investigations and regulatory complaints.
• Monitor regulatory developments and translate them into policies and processes.
• Produce clear guidance, training, and management information.

Skills

EIR/FOI experience

Analytical judgement

Written communication

Organisation and resilience

Job description

Southern Water is seeking an Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) Officer to join our ESG team. You will manage information requests from receipt to response, applying legislation and public interest tests, with significant legal and regulatory implications.

You will work closely with Legal, Information Governance and Corporate Affairs, providing clear guidance and influencing stakeholders while maintaining high standards of governance and service delivery.