Fresh Water Pollution Governance & Performance Lead

Southern Water; Chatham; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Water is recruiting for a Fresh Water Pollution Governance & Performance Lead. This role is the single accountable point for governance, reporting and improvement of Fresh Water Pollution across multiple teams.

Hybrid work is available with travel to sites and access to a vehicle is essential. You will own performance reporting, regulatory assurance, and improvement planning, ensuring timely data delivery to executives and operational leaders while driving value from improvement plans

Qualifications

• Experience in water industry or environmental performance reporting.
• Proven ability to manage governance and assurance activities.
• Experience producing executive-level performance reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead Fresh Water Pollution performance reporting, KPI management and insight generation for operational and executive stakeholders.
• Govern the governance framework, documentation control, audits and assurance activities for Fresh Water Pollution.
• Monitor regulatory compliance per Environment Agency requirements and internal processes.
• Oversee delivery of improvement plans and regulatory action trackers to realise value.
• Act as Product Owner for Fresh Water Pollution systems, reporting tools and dashboards.

Skills

Water Operations

Environmental Performance

Operational Excellence

Regulatory Compliance

Performance Management

Governance Frameworks

KPI Management

Executive Reporting

Stakeholder Engagement

Job description

Closing Date

2026-11-13

Job Title: Fresh Water Pollution Governance & Performance Lead

Location: Flexible within our region (hybrid 2 days a week with travel to sites across the region. Access to a vehicle is essential for this role).

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37 hours per week

Salary: £50-58,000 depending on skills and experience

There has never been a more important time to join Southern Water. As we move through AMP8, we are delivering one of the most ambitious capital investment programmes in the industry, focused on improving environmental performance, service resilience and long-term affordability for customers.

About the role

The role will act as the single point of accountability for Fresh Water Pollution performance reporting, governance, regulatory assurance, improvement planning and programme delivery. Working across Water Networks, Water Production, Operational Control, Environmental teams, Digital & Data and Operational Excellence, you will ensure that Fresh Water Pollution processes are effectively governed, risks are proactively managed, regulatory obligations are met, and performance improvement activities deliver measurable outcomes.

What you will be responsible for

• Lead Fresh Water Pollution performance reporting, insight generation and KPI management, ensuring accurate and timely information is available to operational leaders and executive stakeholders.
• Lead the governance framework, documentation control, audit requirements and assurance processes for Fresh Water Pollution activities.
• Lead regulatory compliance monitoring against Environment Agency requirements, WIRI guidance, reporting standards and internal process obligations
• Own delivery oversight of all Fresh Water Pollution improvement plans, PIRP commitments and regulatory action trackers, ensuring actions remain on track and value is realised.
• Act as Product Owner and business lead for Fresh Water Pollution systems, reporting tools, dashboards and digital developments.

What you'll bring to the role

• Experience within Water Operations, Environmental Performance, Operational Excellence, Regulatory Compliance or Performance Management.
• Experience of managing governance frameworks and assurance activities.
• Experience producing executive-level performance reporting.
• Proven ability to lead improvement initiatives and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Strong understanding of KPI management, reporting and data analysis.
• Experience engaging regulators, auditors or assurance functions.
• Understanding of Fresh Water Pollution processes and Environment Agency requirements highly 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.

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.