About the role
We’re currently seeking a passionate and knowledgeable Water Quality Scientist to join our busy Water Quality team at Northumbrian Water. This is an exciting opportunity to play a vital role in safeguarding public health and ensuring we continue to meet our regulatory commitments for drinking water quality.
In this role, you’ll act as a technical expert, assessing risks to public health across both planned and reactive work. You’ll investigate a wide range of issues that can affect water quality, preparing clear, robust technical reports and carrying out detailed technical audits of water treatment processes and network assets. Your expertise will be central to ensuring our assets and systems operate to the highest standards.
You’ll be accountable for water quality performance at assigned treatment works and assets, using data and insight to assess performance, identify improvement opportunities and promote best practice across the business. A strong understanding of water quality legislation will be essential as you support its effective integration into day-to-day operations.
Protecting public health is at the heart of this role.
You’ll provide trusted technical advice to internal teams and external partners, building strong working relationships with key stakeholders such as Local Authorities, the UK Health Security Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate. Collaboration and clear communication will be key as you help influence positive outcomes and maintain confidence in our water quality.
The role also includes participation in a standby rota, where you’ll provide expert support and advice on water quality matters as they arise. If you’re motivated by making a real difference, enjoy solving complex technical challenges and want to be part of a team dedicated to delivering safe, high‑quality drinking water, we’d love to hear from you.
About you
This is a wide‑ranging and varied role that will suit someone who is adaptable, organised and confident in managing competing priorities. We’re looking for a candidate with a strong background in regulations and risk assessment, underpinned by a degree in a relevant scientific discipline. A good understanding of drinking water regulations, along with knowledge of water treatment and distribution systems, would be a strong advantage.
You’ll bring proven experience of working with, consulting and influencing a range of stakeholders, and you’ll remain effective and level‑headed when working in pressurised or fast‑moving situations. Confidence in presenting technical information to large audiences is desirable, as this will form an important part of the role.
Clear and concise report writing is essential, as is the ability to communicate complex information in a way that can be understood by people at all levels of the organisation and beyond. If you enjoy variety, thrive on responsibility and are motivated by protecting public health through high‑quality science and collaboration, this role offers a rewarding and impactful career opportunity.
Here at Northumbrian Water, we embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, and encourage all colleagues to bring their most authentic self to work.
Our colleague network groups include our Rainbow Support Network (LGBTQIA+), REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), WiSTEM (Women in STEM) and Thisability (disability and neurodiversity) networks. They provide a safe space for colleagues from diverse backgrounds, welcoming all colleagues regardless of their personal characteristics to participate in valuable conversation that improves our organisational awareness, understanding and inclusivity.
We encourage and welcome all applications, as we strive to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to having diverse communities represented within all our teams, structures, and organisation.
Please note this role will require a DBS to be completed prior to employment
NWG are an inclusive employer who support the rehabilitation of offenders, we will not, however consider candidates who have certain unspent convictions to ensure our commitment to fostering a safe and secure working environment for all OR colleagues, suppliers, customers and third parties.
About us
Here are NWG we strive to make Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) a Great Place to Work, for all. We embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity and encourage you to bring your full self to work. As an equal opportunity employer we’re committed to having a diverse community represented across our business.
We’re aware that not everyone will have every skill listed in the job description, however if you have some of the skills listed, we'd encourage you to apply
NWG at a glance:
Our purpose at NWG is caring for the essential needs of our communities and environment, now and for generations to come.
We do this by providing reliable and affordable water and wastewater services for our customers.
We make a positive difference by operating efficiently and investing prudently, to maintain a sustainable and resilient business.
Our vision is to be the national leader in the provision of sustainable water and wastewater services. To support us in achieving our vision, we have five core values which are the guiding principles, defining who we are, what we do and how we do it.
Our benefits
We’re a Great Place to Work because of the amazing people who work for us, and to say thank you we offer a range of benefits to colleagues. Our ‘Tap Into’ benefits include:
1. Generous holiday entitlement, starting at 26 days, plus bank holidays and additional time off on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. There’s also the option to buy or sell holidays.
2. Company pension scheme, where we’ll double match your contributions up to an employer contribution of 10%.
3. Free access to local attractions.
4. A fantastic discount scheme, with savings on days out, shopping, travel and more.
5. Award winning ‘Living Well’ wellbeing support, including access to a digital GP service for you and your family members.
6. Support with sustainable travel – through salary sacrifice cars and a cycle to work scheme.
7. Financial wellbeing support – access our community savings scheme, financial education and low cost loans through Salary Finance. We also provide 4 x Life Assurance and an Income Protection Scheme.
8. Support with your development – we offer a range of development opportunities, can support you through an interest free qualification loan and we’ll even pay for any relevant professional body subscription.
This role has also been defined as a safety or security critical role and as a condition of a formal offer of employment you’ll be required to undergo a drug and alcohol test.
Prospective employees and agency workers in defined safety and security critical roles will be required to undertake a drug and alcohol test after the job offer has been made. This will be prior to or within four weeks of their start date.
Prospective employees and agency workers who fail a pre-employment urine drug screen will have their sample analysed by the Company appointed laboratory as a matter of course. Failing a pre-employment drugs or alcohol test may lead to the job offer being revoked