Water Resources Business Partner

South West Water Limited; Lower Blandford St Mary; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Holiday buy & sell scheme

Company bonus scheme

Pension scheme with company match

Life assurance

Group income protection

Enhanced family leave policies

Employee share schemes

Job summary

South West Water seeks a Water Resources Business Partner to drive efficient, sustainable management of water resources across the Pennon Group. The role supports Bristol, Bournemouth and SES Water areas, with the flexibility to travel between sites and regions.

You will lead development of operational strategies, provide expert guidance on licences and risk, and collaborate with regulators, internal teams and stakeholders to ensure reliable water supplies for customers and communities.

Qualifications

• Experience in the water industry and water resources operations.
• Ability to develop and implement operational strategies.
• Experience working with regulators and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, numeracy and data interpretation skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Ability to balance regulatory requirements with cost efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and continuous improvement of water resources strategies.
• Provide guidance on water resource management and licences.
• Collaborate with operations to optimise resource use.
• Develop decision-support tools to improve performance.
• Monitor licencing compliance and report performance.
• Build relationships with regulators including Environment Agency.
• Identify and mitigate risks affecting operations.
• Support and train colleagues on procedures and strategies.
• Collaborate across teams to align with objectives and regs.

Skills

Water resources

Regulatory liaison

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Strategic planning

Communication

Job description

Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose

South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK's most stunning landscapes.

We're proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we're working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.

Whether you're starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.

About the Role

At South West Water, water is one of our most valuable resources. As a Water Resources Business Partner, you will play a key role in ensuring the efficient, sustainable, and resilient management of water resources across the Pennon Group.

This role supports operations across our Bristol, Bournemouth and SES Water areas, working closely with local operational teams to optimise water resource performance, maintain regulatory compliance, and support long-term resilience planning. As a result, the successful candidate can be based in Bristol, Bournemouth, or within the SES Water region, with flexibility to travel as required.

Acting as the link between Water Resources and Operations, you will lead the development of operational strategies that balance water availability, abstraction licence requirements, operational risk, environmental obligations, and cost efficiency. You will provide expert guidance, influence decision-making across the business, and work closely with internal teams, regulators, and external stakeholders to help secure reliable water supplies for our customers and communities.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of water resources operational strategies.
• Providing expert advice and guidance on water resource management, abstraction licences, and operational risk.
• Working with operational teams to ensure effective decision-making and efficient use of water resources.
• Developing and implementing decision-support tools that improve operational performance.
• Monitoring compliance with abstraction and impounding licences and providing performance reporting.
• Building strong relationships with regulators, including the Environment Agency, and acting as a key business contact.
• Identifying and mitigating risks that could impact water resource operations.
• Supporting and training colleagues on operational procedures and water resource strategies.
• Collaborating across multiple teams to ensure alignment with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and industry best practice.

What We're Looking For

Essential

• Experience working within the water industry.
• Strong understanding of water resources operations and management.
• Experience developing and implementing operational or business strategies.
• Ability to work effectively with regulators, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and support business decisions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• High level of numeracy and attention to detail.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Why Join South West Water?

At South West Water, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in creating an environment where everyone can thrive, bring their best every day, and feel truly valued.

Benefits Include

• 26 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), increasing with length of service
• Holiday buy & sell scheme
• Company bonus scheme
• Competitive pension scheme with company contribution matching
• Life assurance
• Group income protection
• Enhanced family leave policies
• Employee share schemes, including share matching opportunities
• Health cash plan
• Free annual flu vaccination
• Employee Assistance Programme providing 24/7 support
• Cycle to work scheme
• Car share scheme
• Give as You Earn charitable giving scheme
• Paid volunteering day
• Access to thousands of retail discounts and offers

Closing Date: 29th October 2026

Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.

Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.

Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:

• Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.
• Be You - We want you to bring your best everyday. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.
• Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.