Job Description

Closing Date

2027-01-04

Job Title: Senior Authorised Person

Location: Across our Southern Water regions; Sussex, Hampshire (and IOW) and Kent

Department: MEICA Technical Team

Salary: around £50,000 depending on experience

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Authorised Person to join Southern Water’s MEICA Technical Team.

This is a highly technical and safety-critical role, responsible for helping ensure the safe operation and maintenance of our High Voltage and Low Voltage electrical systems. You’ll play a key role in implementing safe systems of work, maintaining compliance with statutory regulations and providing specialist technical support across Operations.

What you’ll be doing

• Acting as a subject matter expert on electrical safety, standards and procedures.
• Assessing and appointing Authorised Persons and Competent Persons and supporting the ongoing assessment of competency.
• Creating and maintaining switching schedules for High Voltage and complex Low Voltage sites.
• Carrying out switching operations up to 11kV.
• Auditing electrical work, installations and safe systems of work to ensure compliance with company standards and statutory requirements.
• Investigating electrical and mechanical safety incidents, near misses and hazards and recommending improvements.
• Providing specialist technical advice and support to operational teams.
• Working closely with contractors, Network Operating Companies and internal stakeholders to establish safe working arrangements.
• Supporting training, familiarisation and refresher training for Authorised Persons.
• Participating in a standby rota to provide 24/7 technical support to the business.

About you

You’ll bring significant electrical engineering experience gained within an industrial environment, alongside strong knowledge of electrical safety, risk management and statutory requirements.

Ideally, you’ll have:

• Proven engineering experience within the water industry.
• Strong experience working within the electrical discipline in an industrial environment.
• Experience of High Voltage equipment.
• Detailed knowledge of electrical standards, processes and relevant statutory regulations.
• An advanced engineering qualification to HNC level or equivalent.
• Current or previous certification in High Voltage operations training.
• Training to Authorising Engineer level in Safe Control of Operations.
• Previous experience as an Authorised Person or Senior Authorised Person would be advantageous.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• The confidence to provide clear technical advice and promote high standards of safety across the business.

Why this role?

This is an opportunity to take on an influential technical role where your expertise will directly support the safe operation of Southern Water’s electrical systems. You’ll work across the business, helping shape safe working practices, develop competency and continually improve the way electrical risks are managed.

Our Commitment to Diversity

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Additional information:

In line with Southern Water’s security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years.

Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all pre‑employment checks, including security vetting.

Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment. Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.