Major Water Projects Environmental Lead

Hello! Thanks for stopping by. Let us tell you about all the great reasons to join us here at Yorkshire Water: 

• We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience, 3b, circa £60,000 - £70,000
• A company car lease scheme (£3,720 cash allowance) 
• Annual incentive related bonus (up to 10% of annual salary) 
• Private health care 
• Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution) 
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary 
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays – plus an extra wellness day! 
• 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: Bradford, hybrid working (1-2 office days / week)

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

Why Join Yorkshire Water?

We’re not just a water company. We’re a force for good in Yorkshire—protecting the environment, supporting communities, and delivering essential services to over 5.4 million people. Now, as we invest in the future through a portfolio of major water resources and resilience projects , we need a passionate Environmental Lead to help shape it.

Take a pivotal leadership role in driving the Major Projects programme forward. You will lead the environmental strategy and delivery plan for a £2.5Bn programme of complex, high-impact infrastructure projects that will transform water resources across Yorkshire. This role is about more than technical excellence—it’s about uniting Yorkshire Water’s business needs with the strategic priorities of regulators to deliver successful, sustainable outcomes.

Your mission

• Own and drive the environmental strategy and delivery plan for all major project schemes (having a total c£100m development budget including environmental over AMP8), ensuring compliance and championing innovation. The major project portfolio includes three Strategic Resource Options (SROs) and one resilience scheme.
• Provide strong technical leadership while understanding and balancing the strategic needs of both regulators and the business.
• Work in a multi-disciplinary team to scope, commission, and deliver environmental workstreams supporting the SRO programme.
• Engage with EA, DWI, Ofwat, and RAPID on key submissions (and ensuring alignment with Price Reviews, Water Resources Plans and WINEP programmes), ensuring environmental excellence is at the core of every project.
• Shape governance, risk, and assurance frameworks for environmental activities, aligning with Yorkshire Water's processes.
• Identify and coordinate key environmental dependencies across the major projects programme , ensuring opportunities for enhancement through design, mitigation, and innovation.
• Represent Yorkshire Water in joint SRO projects with partner companies, acting as the environmental voice at the table.
• Influencing national environmental policy relating to major water projects through representation at sector wide groups.
• Manage risks, issues, and opportunities across the environmental workstream, escalating key risks and driving solutions.
• Be a key member of the DPC Leadership Team, facilitating programme meetings and driving decisions on environmental matters.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven leadership in UK water-sector programmes with regulatory complexity, especially in environmental strategy.
• Strong technical capability, with the ability to translate complex technical requirements into strategic outcomes for both regulators and the business.
• Experience of delivering successful outcomes with EA, Ofwat, and DWI.
• Professional certifications and a degree in a relevant discipline (postgraduate degree and professional body membership are a plus).
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with a track record in major capital programmes across the asset lifecycle.
• Detailed understanding of UK water policy, environmental legislation, and the SRO process (including RAPID Gated requirements).
• A positive, problem-solving attitude and the ability to work across teams and business units.

We’re Flexible & Inclusive

We support flexible working and job share options. If you need adjustments during the recruitment process, we're here to help-just let us know.

Ready to Make a Splash?

If you're a strategic thinker with a passion for environmental strategy and sustainability, and you thrive on technical leadership and strategic influence, this is your chance to lead one of the UK's most exciting water programmes. Apply now and help shape Yorkshire's future.

Do we sound like your cup of tea?

If you've got experience in environmental strategy and want to help us deliver great service for our customers whilst looking after the environment, then be sure to apply today to find out what a career with Yorkshire Water can offer 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.

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 (November 11th), should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

No agencies please