Environmental Lawyer

Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose

At Pennon Group, we're proud to serve communities while protecting the environment. Together with our subsidiaries, South West Water, Bristol Water, Bournemouth Water, SES Water, Pennon Water Services and Pennon Power, we're leading the way in water and renewables.

We're proud to be recognised as 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.

Ready to make a splash?  Join our team today.
In-House Environmental Lawyer

Location:

Exeter or Bristol with hybrid working
Salary:  Competitive + excellent benefits package

Contract:

Permanent, full time
Be Part of Protecting and Enhancing Our Environment
At Pennon, we're committed to delivering essential water and wastewater services while protecting the environment and supporting the communities we serve. We're looking for an experienced  In-House Environmental Lawyer  to join our Legal team and play a key role in advising on some of the most significant environmental and regulatory issues facing the UK water sector.

Reporting to the Environmental Legal Manager, you'll work closely with senior stakeholders across the Group, helping to shape legal strategy, manage regulatory risk and support the delivery of Pennon's environmental, operational and business objectives.

This is a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of environmental law within a highly regulated industry, influencing major projects, compliance initiatives, enforcement matters and environmental litigation.
What You'll Be Doing
As our In-House Environmental Lawyer, you will:  Provide expert legal advice on environmental compliance and regulation across the business.
Advise on environmental permitting, licensing and statutory consents.
Support the business on regulatory compliance and enforcement matters, including environmental prosecutions.
Advise on Enforcement Undertakings and regulatory engagement strategies.
Provide legal support on water resources, abstraction, drought planning, drought permits and drought orders.
Work closely with operational, engineering, environmental and regulatory teams to deliver practical and commercially focused legal solutions.
Advise on access to environmental information and compliance with the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
Support environmental investigations and risk management activities.
Manage and oversee external legal counsel where required.
Deliver training, guidance and mentoring to colleagues on environmental legal matters and regulatory developments.
Monitor legislative and regulatory changes, ensuring the business remains informed and compliant.
What We're Looking For
We're seeking a legal professional who combines strong technical expertise with commercial awareness and a collaborative approach.

You'll bring:  Qualification as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive.
Demonstrable experience in environmental law, regulatory law or a closely related field.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal matters into clear, practical advice.
The ability to communicate legal risks and opportunities in a way that supports effective business decision-making.
Sound judgement and the ability to balance legal risk, regulatory expectations and operational priorities.
Strong research, analytical and problem-solving skills.
The confidence to engage with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
Experience managing complex legal issues in a fast-paced environment.
Desirable   Experience working with environmental regulators such as the Environment Agency.

Experience with in utilities, infrastructure, environmental services or another regulated industry.
Familiarity with environmental litigation and regulatory enforcement processes.
Why Join Pennon?
At Pennon, you'll have the opportunity to work on challenging and high-profile environmental matters that directly impact the sustainability of the UK's water infrastructure. You'll join a collaborative team where your expertise will help shape important environmental outcomes while supporting business success.

In return, we offer a competitive reward package, flexible and hybrid working arrangements, career development…