Senior Water Resources Planner

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Water Resources Planner to lead the strategic planning and management of water resources for South West Water based in either Exeter or Bristol. This is a pivotal role ensuring long‑term water supply resilience, regulatory compliance, and delivery of key programmes including the Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP), regional planning through WCWE, and drought planning.

You will provide technical expertise, strategic direction, and stakeholder leadership – working across the business and with external partners to shape sustainable water resource solutions for the future.

• Strategic Leadership & Planning – support the development and ongoing delivery of the WRMP, develop and monitor long‑term water resource strategy aligned with regulatory requirements, conduct annual reviews of the water resource position, and identify emerging risks.
• Develop future supply options, strategies and investment plans.
• Technical & Analytical Oversight – oversee modelling, data analysis, and forecasting of water availability and demand, use data‑driven insights to inform strategic decisions, ensure modelling capability meets current and future regulatory planning needs, and guide consultants supporting strategic planning delivery.
• Programme & Delivery Management – oversee WRMP improvement commitments, report progress to senior leadership, support delivery of Drought Plans and environmental programmes (e.g. WINEP), develop business cases, and support investment planning processes.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships – build and maintain strong relationships with regulators (Environment Agency, Ofwat, Natural England), collaborate with regional groups, local authorities and industry partners, represent South West Water in regional planning forums, identify risks such as drought, environmental impact and infrastructure challenges, and develop mitigation strategies to ensure resilient and sustainable water supply.

• Strong background in water resources management, environmental planning or similar.
• Proven experience delivering strategic planning programmes and working within a regulated environment (ideally water industry).
• Demonstrated leadership or management experience, strong project and stakeholder management skills.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical capability, excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, ability to manage multiple priorities and complex projects, high attention to detail and organisational skills, collaborative approach with the ability to influence at senior levels.

• Degree in Science, Environmental, Engineering or a related discipline (required).
• Professional membership (e.g. CIWEM) desirable.

• Delivery of a robust, compliant and forward‑looking WRMP.
• Strong partnership with regulators and regional stakeholders.
• Clear, data‑driven investment decisions supporting long‑term resilience.
• A high‑performing, collaborative water resources planning function.

Closing date: 1st July 2026.