EIR Officer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Pension

Life assurance

Health benefits

Volunteer days

Annual leave

Occupational health

Discount app

Job summary

Southern Water is seeking an Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) Officer to join the ESG team. You will manage EIR requests from receipt through to response, ensuring lawful disclosure and applying exemptions where required.

You will advise stakeholders, coordinate with Legal Services, and support internal reviews and ICO investigations. This hybrid role combines legal governance with practical information management across the water sector.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience of Environmental Information Regulations or Freedom of Information, including interpreting legislation and guidance.
• Strong analytical judgement and the confidence to make clear, evidence-based recommendations on complex information requests.
• Excellent written communication, stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to explain complex requirements clearly.
• Strong organisation and resilience, with the ability to work autonomously across multiple priorities and statutory deadlines.

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 relevant 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 and Corporate Affairs teams.
• Produce clear guidance, training and management information.

Skills

EIR / FOI experience

Analytical judgement

Written communication

Stakeholder management

Autonomy

Job description

**Job Title: Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) Officer**Location: Hybrid working, with two days per week at our Durrington office. Tuesday is the team day, with flexibility around the second office day.Contract Type: 12 month Fixed-term contract with potential to extendHours: 37 hours per week, Monday - FridaySalary: Up to £42,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience**About the role**We're looking for an Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) Officer to join our ESG team and help Southern Water respond effectively and lawfully to a growing volume of environmental information requests.You'll manage requests from receipt through to response, assessing what information we are legally required to disclose and applying sound judgement where exceptions, confidentiality or public interest considerations arise. The work is varied, deadline-driven and often complex, with decisions carrying legal, regulatory and reputational importance.Working closely with Legal, Information Governance, Corporate Affairs and teams across the business, you'll gather information, advise stakeholders and produce clear, well-reasoned responses. You'll also support internal reviews, regulatory complaints and improvements to the way we manage EIR activity.This could suit an experienced EIR or Freedom of Information professional, or someone with strong water-sector knowledge who is ready to develop specialist expertise. You'll need to be organised, resilient and comfortable working autonomously while building trusted relationships across the business.**What you’ll be responsible for:*** Managing EIR requests end to end and ensuring responses meet statutory timescales* Interpreting legislation, ICO guidance, case law and regulatory precedent to determine our disclosure obligations* Assessing disclosure positions, identifying relevant exceptions and supporting public interest tests with Legal Services* Advising stakeholders and senior leaders on EIR and Freedom of Information requirements* Building effective relationships across Legal, Information Governance, Corporate Affairs and operational teams* Supporting internal reviews, ICO investigations and regulatory complaints* Monitoring regulatory developments and translating them into practical policy and process improvements* Producing clear guidance, training, compliance reporting and management information* Helping identify practical opportunities to improve administration, information gathering and team efficiency**What you’ll bring to the role:*****Essential**** Demonstrable experience of Environmental Information Regulations or Freedom of Information, including interpreting legislation and guidance* Strong analytical judgement and the confidence to make clear, evidence-based recommendations on complex information requests* Excellent written communication, stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to explain complex requirements clearly* Strong organisation and resilience, with the ability to work autonomously across multiple priorities and statutory deadlines* Water-sector, regulated-sector, legal or information governance experience would be advantageous* For internal applicants with significant experience in other areas of the water industry, we can support in upskilling in EIR.**About Southern Water**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.Our mission is to protect and enhance life through water and we need passionate people to help us achieve it. If you’re inspired by our purpose and believe you can contribute, apply today. You don’t need to meet every criterion; what matters most is your drive to make a difference.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 (myworkdaysite.com- 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.**Additional information**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 pre‐employment 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.### Interested in the role?* 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.### Our Benefits* Company and performance-related bonus* Generous pension* Life assurance payment equal to four times your annual salary* Health benefits through a Cash Plan* Two paid community volunteering days a year* 28 days annual holiday* Occupational health service* Retail discount app* We offer competitive maternity leave, and flexible return to work options### Everybody Welcome* 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.### Need flexibility in your work?* 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?