EIR Specialist: Environmental Information Requests (Hybrid)

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

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.