Closing Date
Job Title: Graduate Aquatic Ecologist
Location: Falmer (Hybrid Working
Salary: from £35k
We are seeking a motivated Graduate Aquatic Ecologist to join our Enabling Team within ETS. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to ecological risk management across a diverse portfolio of design, maintenance, and construction projects. You'll support ecological surveys, project delivery, and compliance activities, while helping to identify opportunities to enhance the natural environment.
Key Responsibilities
Safety & Environment
* Take responsibility for your own health and safety in line with industry standards and company policies
* Follow procedures to ensure safety, sustainability, and environmental compliance are upheld
Technical Delivery
* Support Project Ecologists in managing aquatic ecology risks for large-scale infrastructure and permitting projects
* Assist in the ecological risk management of small to medium-sized projects.
* Conduct aquatic ecology surveys and assessments, including fieldwork and report writing
* Collect, analyse, and interpret ecological data to inform assessments
* Engage in continuous professional development under the guidance of your line manager
* Travel across Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight will be required
* Fieldwork may involve early mornings and evening hours
Collaboration & Teamwork
* Work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary project teams
* Contribute ideas and support team members to improve project outcomes
Project Delivery
* Ensure work is delivered on time and to agreed standards
Customer Focus
* Adhere to procedures that ensure deliverables meet customer expectations and commitments
Qualifications & Experience
* Undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a relevant ecological or marine discipline
* Academic or professional experience in aquatic ecology
* Understanding of:
o Electric fishing surveys
o Aquatic macroinvertebrate sampling
o Macrophyte surveys
o UK environmental legislation, planning policy, and permitting regulations
* Experience working within a team environment
Skills & Abilities
* Full UK driving licence
* Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel)
* Working knowledge of GIS software
* Strong report writing and data analysis skills
* Excellent organisational and communication skills
* Ability to explain team roles and objectives clearly
* Analytical thinking to prioritise and resolve issues
* Willingness to learn from others and contribute to team improvements.
* Effective listener and collaborator
* Commitment to personal development and performance improvement through measurable goals
Package
This role will be full time Monday to Friday 37 hours a week.
Southern Water operate a hybrid approach to working between our offices/sites and home.
We are offering a salary from £35k per annum depending on skills and experience as well as other benefits including:
• Company and performance-related bonus
• 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 days a year
• Occupational health service
• Discounts with over 800 popular retailers
• Digital GP service
• Study support may be available for job-related qualifications
• Competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options
• Cycle to work scheme
Does this opportunity excite you but you're not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that 'normal' office hours aren't possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can't accommodate every flexible working request, we'll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose. To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support – because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority. That's why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve. Joining the Southern Water family means you'll become part of our incident support team. During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that apply to your position.
Privacy Statement:
Please note: If you are an existing Southern Water employee, you will need to confirm within your application that your Manager is aware of your application.
All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility (e.g. a passport or long birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months), will be required as part of the recruitment process. If you do not meet these criteria, your application will not be considered.
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