Head of Pollution Performance

Closing Date

2026-11-13

Job Title: Head of Pollution Performance

Location: Flexible within our region; with regular visits to sites

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37 hours per week

Salary: £competitive (commensurate with skills and experience) + car allowance

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

Reporting directly to the Director of Wastewater Operations, the Head of Pollution Performance will lead the development and execution of a comprehensive, end-to-end pollution reduction strategy for the organisation. This leadership role is responsible for driving a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and proactive risk management related to pollution reduction.

What you will be responsible for

• Develop and implement a unified pollution reduction plan across the organisation.
• Establish and promote a culture of continuous learning and improvement related to pollution management.
• Monitor, analyse and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to pollution reduction.

• Enhance digital tools and platforms to ensure clear visibility of risks and opportunities. Build predictive capabilities to anticipate and prevent pollution incidents before they occur.

• Lead cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and collaboration in achieving pollution reduction goals.
• Oversee the funding of the pollution reduction plan, drive investment in key areas, and ensure alignment with budgetary and strategic priorities.

What you’ll bring to the role

• A track record of delivering major multi-disciplinary change programmes and projects at senior level.
• Ability to create and secure business case approval at Executive level.
• Strong coordination and team working skills, engaging with operational, compliance, engineering and project management teams to ensure seamless and rapid due diligence to project delivery.
• The ability to provide visionary leadership and connect multiple strategic agendas and translate them into successful delivery.
• Track record at improving change competency in your previous organisation / organisations.
• The post holder will be required to demonstrate a thorough understanding of project management techniques for small through to large change portfolios.
• High level strategic planning and organisational skills, including forward planning and forecasting with the ability to respond appropriately to all requirements of the programme.

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 mission is to protect and enhance life through water—and we need passionate people to help us achieve it. If you’re inspired by our purpose and believe you can contribute, apply today. You don’t need to meet every criterion; what matters most is your drive to make a difference."

If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here: Introduce Yourself (myworkdaysite.com- Introduce Yourself)

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.

Welcome

Our purpose is big. Our impact is huge. And we know that every single one of us has the power, through our actions, to positively change society and the environment for good. It’s why careers with us have real meaning. Because, if you’re driven and ambitious, we can offer you huge opportunities for personal growth, professional development and constant innovation. Forever evolving. Forever focused on doing the right thing, we empower and encourage everyone to play to their strengths and to help us shape a fair and positive future for all. We believe in Water for Life. If you do too, Dive Right In.

We succeed together

Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose. To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support – because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority. That’s why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve. Joining the Southern Water family means you’ll become part of our incident support team. During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that apply to your position.

Need flexibility in your work?

Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?