Senior Nature Based Solutions Specialist
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Closing Date: 2026-01-02
Job Title: Senior Nature Based Solutions Specialist
Location: Flexible (ideally West Sussex or Hampshire) – 1 day a week in Durrington, West Sussex
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 37 hours per week
Salary: circa £55,000 depending on skills and experience
The Environment & Innovation team is at the forefront of Southern Water’s drive to enhance and protect the environment. Deploying the latest innovative solutions and working in partnership with our customers and stakeholders, the team takes a holistic approach to managing water quality and flow across the region.
Job Overview
* Support delivery of the regulatory programme, working with the Principal Nature Based Solutions Specialist to manage implementation, delivery and reporting of regulatory investigations, impact assessments, ecological schemes and compliance requirements. Responsible for managing projects through a full lifecycle and delivering outcomes within given timescales.
* Engage with key stakeholders including our regulators (EA and NE), other Water Companies, the Water Industry, Catchment Partnerships, and internally within SWS to promote the Catchment First Programme and contribute to industry technical working groups.
* Provide Nature Based Solutions advice to the wider business in relation to ecology, planning and development, environmental policy etc. Contribute to industry forums promoting the Catchment First approach. Assist and mentor the professional development of the Nature Based Solutions Specialists.
* Support how we can best deliver in each catchment, balancing the opportunities for specialist consultants, catchment partnership working and direct delivery by the in‑house team.
About You
* Demonstrable expertise in ecology, river / wetland restoration, biodiversity enhancement, planning and development.
* Proven expertise of project management, including planning and permitting requirements.
* Ability to demonstrate completion of quality multi‑disciplinary tasks on time to a consistent & high standard.
* Experience managing delivery of technical work via sub‑contracted consultancy teams.
* Experience translating regulatory environmental requirements into deliverable and manageable work streams.
* Degree in a relevant environmental discipline or equivalent experience. A master’s degree such as Hydroecology is desirable. Chartership or working towards it is highly desirable.
Benefits
* Generous pension up to 11% company contribution
* 25 days annual leave
* Life assurance equal to 4x salary
* Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months service)
* Health Cash Plan
* Fully funded eye tests
* Two paid volunteering days a yearIf you are an existing Southern Water employee, you will need to confirm within your application that your Manager is aware of your application.
All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility (e.g. a passport or long birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months). If you do not meet these criteria, your application will not be considered.
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