Restoring Sustainable Abstraction Advisor (12 mth FTC)

South East Water; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stakeholder pension (10%)

5 weeks holiday

Flexi leave buy/sell

Volunteer days

Cycle to work

Health cash plan

Life insurance

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

South East Water is seeking an RSA Advisor to lead the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction element of the WINEP programme. You will guide external consultants, review outputs, and design catchment monitoring strategies with the catchment scientists to ensure robust, defensible evidence.

You will engage in regulatory discussions as a technical expert and coordinate high-quality reports, with a 12-month fixed-term contract.

Qualifications

• Technically qualified environmentalist with a degree or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in water resources or regulatory environments.
• Excellent data interpretation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proficient with GIS and spatial data analysis tools.
• Full, clean driving licence and willingness to travel across the region.

Responsibilities

• Support RSA WINEP investigations and options appraisal by consultants.
• Develop catchment monitoring strategies and coordinate with sub-contractors.
• Represent the organisation in regulatory discussions and meetings.
• Critically review consultants' technical reports and challenge outputs.
• Prepare technical reports and regulatory documents to deadlines.
• Check and review work prepared by others.

Skills

GIS skills

Data interpretation

Communication

Regulatory experience

Travel willingness

Education

Degree in environmental science

Tools

GIS software

Job description

As an RSA Advisor, you will play a pivotal role in delivering the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction element of our WINEP programme.

In this role, you will guide and oversee the work of external consultants, using your specialist technical expertise in areas such as hydrogeology, hydrology, geomorphology, or aquatic ecology to critically review and constructively challenge their outputs.

Working alongside our catchment scientists, you will help design and implement robust data collection strategies across catchments to ensure our RSA schemes are built on evidence that thoroughly withstands scrutiny.

Additionally, you will represent the organisation in regulatory discussions, serving as a technical subject matter expert who can confidently contribute to high-level meetings and debate complex environmental findings.

***Please note this is a 12 month fixed term contract***

Main responsibilities

• Supporting the delivery of RSA WINEP investigations and options appraisal delivered by consultants
• Working alongside consultants to develop catchment monitoring strategies for sustainable abstraction and supporting our catchment scientists and sub-contractors with the deivery of these catchment monitoring strategies. Negotiating land access for surveys.
• Contributing and inputting into regulatory meetings and technically challenging key areas of the discussion to ensure that our abstractions are sustainable and the right outcomes are progressed though to the end.
• Critically reviewing and challenging consultants technical reports through their own sound knowledge of a specialist area. Skills and Expertise.
• Sound decision making skills based on evidence and understanding of evidence collected and modelled.
• Write and coordinate technical reports, communication documents to a high standard to meet robust internal and regulatory deadlines.
• Check and review work prepared by others.

You’ll need

• Technically qualified environmentalist (with a degree, HND or equivalent work related experience) and at least 5 years work experience.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work alongside multiple departments and regulators.
• Excellent data interpretation skills, reflecting the need to use the data to inform and influence stakeholders.
• Proficient with the use of GIS and spatial data analysis tools.
• Full, clean driving licence and ability to travel across Company region/areas as require.d
• Experience of working in water resources/water industry/environmental regulation.

Bonus

• Degree ideally in a scientific discipline or relevant work related area (e.g. hydrogeology, hydrology, geomorphology, aquatic ecology).
• Member of professional Chartership or working towards.
• Knowledge of Water Industry Water Resource Guidance.
• Specialism in one of the following: hydrogeology, hydrology, hydro- ecology, water industry water resource planning.
• Experience of designing catchment monitoring to answer questions related to abstraction impacts / sustainable abstraction.

Employees are required to be flexible and to be prepared to perform duties and other tasks within their capabilities.

Grow a career with a meaningful purpose.

We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That's why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

Legal Requirements

• It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water.
• Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks.

Compensation package

up to £40,000.p.a