EIR Lead

Closing Date

Role: Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) Lead

Location:Hybrid working with two days per week at our Durrington office. Tuesday is the team day with flexibility around the second office day.

Contract Type:Permanent

Hours:37 hours per week Monday - Friday

Salary:Up to 62000 depending on skills and experience

About the role

Were looking for an Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) Lead to provide strategic and operational leadership for Southern Waters EIR service and act as our senior specialist for complex and high-risk environmental information matters.

Youll oversee the triage prioritisation allocation and quality assurance of requests using your professional judgement to guide the most complex sensitive or high-profile cases. As the principal point of escalation youll provide expert advice to Legal Services senior leaders and teams across the business helping us meet our statutory obligations while managing legal regulatory reputational and operational risk.

This is a senior individual contributor role rather than a people management position. Youll provide day-to-day direction technical guidance and oversight for the EIR function helping the team organise priorities maintain quality and surface issues quickly. Youll also lead cross-functional improvements that strengthen information ownership accessibility transparency and response efficiency.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced EIR or Freedom of Information professional who combines strong technical expertise with strategic thinking sound judgement and the ability to influence at senior level. Water-sector experience would be valued but we also welcome relevant experience from other complex regulated or public-interest organisations.

What youll be responsible for:

• Leading the triage prioritisation allocation and quality assurance of EIR requests

• Acting as the senior point of escalation for complex sensitive novel and high-risk cases

• Interpreting EIR legislation ICO guidance legal precedent and disclosure obligations to provide clear defensible recommendations

• Advising on disclosure exceptions public interest tests and regulatory risk

• Building effective relationships with Heads of Function information owners Legal Services Corporate Affairs and operational teams

• Leading cross-functional improvement projects covering information governance transparency process design and self-service access to information

• Overseeing internal reviews ICO complaints investigations and regulatory challenges ensuring evidence and legal rationale are robust

• Providing guidance coaching and training that strengthens EIR understanding and ownership across the business

• Analysing demand requestor behaviour regulatory developments and performance information to identify trends and improvement opportunities

What youll bring to the role:

Essential

• Significant experience managing Environmental Information Regulations or Freedom of Information requests within a complex organisation

• Advanced knowledge of EIR legislation and/or Freedom of Information including ICO guidance decision notices and relevant case law

• Demonstrable experience interpreting legislation and applying legal and regulatory requirements to complex situations

• Exceptional judgement analytical thinking and decision-making in ambiguous contentious or high-profile cases

• Experience providing specialist advice and influencing senior stakeholders

• Experience leading organisational improvement initiatives projects or programmes

• Excellent written communication with the ability to prepare clear legally robust and defensible responses and recommendations

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience

Desirable

• Experience within a regulated utility infrastructure or public-interest environment

• Experience working closely with legal functions on complex disclosure issues

• Significant experience within the water sector

About Southern Water

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britains water industry investing significantly to improve services protect the environment and deliver lasting value for our customers and communities.

You will be joining at a time of significant change working with skilled colleagues and senior leaders who share a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where experienced professionals can make a meaningful impact influence important decisions and improve how we serve the public.

Our mission is to protect and enhance life through water and we need passionate people to help us achieve it. If youre inspired by our purpose and believe you can contribute apply today. You dont need to meet every criterion; what matters most is your drive to make a difference.

If this role isnt quite what youre looking for but you are keen to hear about opportunities at Southern Water you can register your details through our careers site.

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 Waters security requirements successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity eligibility to work in the UK a 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.