Catchment Officer

Closing Date

Job Title :
Catchment Officer – Farming and Land Management

Location: We are looking for candidates to fill roles across our region, within Sussex, Hants & Kent (a valid UK driving licence is required)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37 hours per week

Salary : £39-42,000 (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 portfolio has rapidly expanded from £50million to over £2 billion in the next 10-year period. This is a fast-paced team that is now expanding to deliver a larger programme of sustainable and innovative solutions.

Catchment First is one of the transformational programmes being delivered by our team. This is our commitment to put the wellbeing of the environment and communities at the centre of what we do. Through our projects and partnerships, we protect and maintain natural processes in the landscape, providing clean, fresh drinking water to homes and businesses.

Three brand new positions have been created to support delivery of our Catchment First Programme within the Environment & Innovation team as Catchment Officers – one for Hampshire, Sussex and Kent.

As a Catchment Officer, you’ll play a key role enabling land management solutions to secure long‑term resilience of our drinking water supplies. On a day‑to‑day basis this will involve coordinating surveys to understand land management and water quality priorities, supporting on‑farm trials, reviewing sites for environmental enhancement and delivering engagement events to raise awareness and enthusiasm for soils, water and natural processes.

A key part of the role involves close working with farmers and land managers. Working collaboratively on a series of scientific projects with leading experts and farmer groups to understand the fate of nitrogen and other substances in soils and the water environment.

• Support and coordinate surveys and monitoring in our drinking water catchments, gathering observation data on land management and drinking water quality priorities in the landscape.
• Maintain survey records on Arc GIS online digital media.
• Support farmer liaison and engagement on key projects and initiatives.
• Deliver and facilitate on farm surveys (such as grain sampling, tissue testing, VESS score) to support our trials and demo activity.
• Support our team at country show events and ploughing matches. Raising the profile of sustainable land management, soil and water interactions.
• Facilitate delivery of soil biology training via local workshops and our environmental education programme for learners of all ages.
• Support grant funding queries and farm visits to review funding proposals.
• Provide regular written content for newsletters, websites and other publications.

We’re looking for candidates with demonstrable interest in the farmed environment, particularly if you have experience :

• Running and attending events, workshops and group meetings.
• Working in the farmed environment or on rural issues.
• Delivering on‑farm surveys, for example soils, crops, habitats or water quality monitoring.
• Report writing and presentation skills.
• Data analysis, GIS Mapping and any scientific trials you may have been involved in professionally.

If you have an interest in soil, water and the farmed environment; and if you have experience in farming or environmental management, we’d love to hear from you.

Training and mentoring can be provided for the right candidate, building your skills and experience in soils, agronomy, environmental monitoring and resolving environmental priorities.

This role will be full time Monday to Friday with a hybrid approach to working between our Falmer / Chichester / Chatham office and home. We are offering a salary between £39-42,000 as well as other benefits including :

• 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
• Full funded eye tests
• Two paid volunteering…