Wastewater Investigations Lead — Drive Environmental Impact

South West Water Limited; Exeter; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Bonus

Private Healthcare

Company car or cash for car allowance

Pension scheme

Share-save scheme

Health & wellbeing programmes

Group discounts

Cycle to Work

Financial support services

Job summary

South West Water Limited is seeking an experienced Wastewater Investigations Lead to provide technical and programme leadership across our wastewater investigations portfolio. You will shape outcomes that protect rivers, estuaries and coastal environments while translating complex findings into clear, regulatory-ready recommendations.

You will manage multidisciplinary teams, review methodologies, and collaborate with regulators and stakeholders to influence future investment and long‑term DWMP

Qualifications

• Significant experience delivering complex wastewater or environmental investigations.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary programmes and consultant-delivered studies.
• Strong analytical capability with environmental data, reports and modelling outputs.
• Experience working with environmental regulators and external stakeholders.
• Ability to influence decision-making through credible technical evidence and recommendations.
• Passion for environmental improvement and sustainable outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate a portfolio of wastewater and environmental investigations, ensuring delivery to regulatory commitments, budgets and timescales.
• Provide technical leadership and assurance across investigation programmes, driving consistency, quality and best practice.
• Review and challenge technical methodologies, modelling outputs and investigation findings to ensure robustness.
• Manage specialist consultants and technical delivery partners to achieve high-quality environmental outcomes.
• Build strong relationships with environmental regulators, industry partners and key stakeholders.
• Translate complex technical findings into clear recommendations that influence future investment and environmental programmes.
• Support the development of long-term plans, including DWMPs and future regulatory programmes.
• Champion initiatives that reduce the impact of wastewater systems on the natural environment.

Skills

Wastewater investigations

Environmental data interpretation

Regulatory stakeholder engagement

Program leadership

Education

Degree in Environmental Science or related field

Job description

South West Water Limited is seeking an experienced Wastewater Investigations Lead to provide technical and programme leadership across our wastewater investigations portfolio. You will shape outcomes that protect rivers, estuaries and coastal environments while translating complex findings into clear, regulatory-ready recommendations.

You will manage multidisciplinary teams, review methodologies, and collaborate with regulators and stakeholders to influence future investment and long‑term DWMP