Environmental Lead Advisor (Storm Overflows)

Protect Rivers. Restore Nature. Shape the Future of Yorkshire’s Water.

•    We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience £41,948 to £52,176. 

•    Annual incentive related bonus (£1000 maximum bonus opportunity for the performance year).

•    Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution).

•    Development opportunities in line with the Environmental Lead Advisor progression plan.

•    25 days annual leave plus bank holidays – plus an extra two wellness days.

•    Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary.

•    A great benefits package – choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.

 
•    Retail savings scheme.

•    Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Location: This role will initially be based in Bradford but we’re moving our office to Leeds Valley Park in summer 2026, so you’ll be based there in the future / Hybrid Working (two to three office a week – Bradford/Leeds).

Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday.

At Yorkshire Water, river health and environmental protection are at the heart of everything we do. We’re looking for an Environmental Lead Advisor (Storm Overflows) to join our Environmental Regulation and Permitting Team and play a vital role in safeguarding Yorkshire’s rivers, coastal waters, and communities—now and for generations to come.

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of one of the biggest environmental programmes Yorkshire Water has ever delivered. Over the next five years we will be investing £1.5 billion in our storm overflow programme to bring improvements to 482 storm overflows across the region.

You will be right at the heart of this work, helping shape the permitting that unlocks real environmental improvement for our rivers and coastal waters. The role offers hands on experience in permitting and environmental legislation and the chance to work closely with the Environment Agency.

If you are curious, ambitious or want to develop your skills in a high profile and meaningful area of our work, this is an exciting moment to get involved.

Your Opportunity to Make an Impact.

As our Environmental Lead Advisor, you’ll be a trusted environmental specialist across the business, influencing how we design, permit and deliver improvements at over 600 wastewater treatment works across Yorkshire.

You’ll lead environmental permitting for approximately 300 major water quality improvement schemes, representing over £700 million of investment, focused on reducing phosphorus, ammonia and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and improving outcomes under the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, Water Framework Directive and Environment Act.

Your work will directly contribute to:

•    Healthier rivers and streams

•    Improved bathing water quality

•    Reduced pollution risk

•    Greater ecosystem resilience

You’ll also play a key role in delivering our Nature First ambition, working closely with the Environment Agency and internal teams to enable Nature Based Solutions that deliver long term environmental benefits.

What You’ll Be Doing!

In this highly influential role, you will:

•    Act as a centre of excellence for wastewater treatment environmental permitting, compliance and regulation.

•    Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with the Environment Agency, helping to achieve positive regulatory outcomes through constructive negotiation at local, regional and national levels.

•    Lead the assessment and application of new and evolving environmental legislation, ensuring Yorkshire Water holds the right permits, licences and exemptions to achieve 100% compliance, 100% of the time.

•    Support the transition from traditional water resource licences to modern environmental permits, working closely with operational, asset and regulatory colleagues.

•    Provide authoritative advice on wastewater treatment compliance, river water quality monitoring and flow monitoring requirements.

•    Represent Yorkshire Water at national industry forums, regulator working groups and research initiatives, shaping best practice across the sector.

•    Support and mentor colleagues, helping to build environmental capability across the business.

Why Join Yorkshire Water?

Everyone knows we supply clean water and take wastewater away—but we do so much more than that.

We protect communities, support biodiversity, and look after Yorkshire’s water environment 24/7, 365 days a year. From the Peak District to the coast, our work underpins the region’s health, prosperity and natural beauty.

At a time of unprecedented environmental ambition, legislative change and investment, this role offers the chance to make a lasting contribution to river recovery and environmental resilience across Yorkshire.

We’re looking for someone who is;

•    Passionate about environmental protection and river health.

•    Comfortable interpreting complex legislation and regulatory guidance.

•    Confident influencing colleagues, regulators and stakeholders at all levels.

•    Motivated by turning regulation into real world environmental improvement and you’ll need to be analytical, collaborative and credible—able to balance regulatory rigour with practical delivery.

Skills & Qualifications;

Essential

•     Degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant discipline (e.g. environmental sciences, geography, environmental management or law).

•    Strong knowledge of environmental legislation and regulatory policy within the water industry.

•    Experience applying environmental regulation to operational or capital activities.

•    Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills.

•    Ability to coach, mentor and support the development of others.

Desirable

•    Understanding of water or wastewater treatment operations.

•    Experience securing environmental permits or licences.

•    Membership of a relevant professional institution.

Be Part of Something Bigger.

This is more than a regulatory role—it’s a chance to protect rivers, enable nature recovery, and shape how Yorkshire Water delivers environmental change.

If you want your expertise to matter—and to see the real world impact of your work on Yorkshire’s rivers and communities—we’d love to hear from you.

If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third-Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance.

All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required.

Closing date will be 26th May.

We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.

Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

No agencies please.