Job Title: Process Scientist
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 37
Salary: From £34,100 based on skills and experience
Location: Chatham, Kent
About The Role
The role of the Process Scientist is to review and anticipate compliance risks, protect the environment and drive capex investment at the Wastewater Treatment Works. The Process Scientists are technical experts that drive Wastewater compliance at Southern Water, mitigating the risk of future compliance breaches. They investigate pollution incidents at Wastewater Treatment Works and collaborate with Operators to Protect the Environment, and with Field Performance Managers, Area Operational Managers and the Pollution Team to minimise and prevent any future pollutions. This role comes with the requirement to be part of a standby rota. A clean driving licence and access to a vehicle are also required.
Accountabilities / Responsibilities
* Identify and make recommendations for new ways of working, driving continuous improvement at an operational level and flagging the need for change to manager.
* Serve as key point of technical expertise, advice and recommendations for Field Performance Managers and Regional Operational Managers.
* Drive capital investment as an output of recommendations.
* Play a critical role in the Company’s compliance, with activities having a potentially huge impact on protecting the environment and health and safety issues.
* Complete Compliance Assessment programme, identify risks and resolve them with managers.
* Provide technical advice to Operations on the operation of Wastewater Treatment processes, including setting individual site operating plans, site process activity manual, monitoring of compliance, power and chemical costs, investigating and advising on corrective actions.
* Carry out pollution investigations, inform stakeholders of the outcomes and liaise with the Environment Agency.
* Carry out professional reviews of exceptional data and wastewater trends, taking appropriate action to ensure any process problems or possible breaches are pre‑empted and to proactively highlight early warning triggers.
* Conduct full investigations including root cause analysis in case of a breach, produce site investigation reports or process audits, make recommendations and follow up on scientific actions, flagging all other issues to the manager.
* Analyse samples and make recommendations to mitigate risks and issues.
* Review UV data for Environment Agency submission.
* Identify key capital investment requirements to keep Wastewater Treatment works compliant and meeting serviceability targets; attend HAZOP and ALM meetings for capital schemes.
* Provide technical and procedural expertise to on‑site contractors, being integral to capital schemes or remedial work, and ensure compliance during contractor implementation.
* Attend commissioning meetings.
* Review and advise on operator schedules and tankering.
* Carry out yearly descriptive site assessments according to Environment Agency procedures and provide reports.
* Train plant operators on the theory and practice of technical aspects of plant and laboratory processes to ensure they possess the knowledge and understanding required.
What You’ll Bring To The Role
* Understanding of a relevant area of specialism (wastewater, sludge, R&D, trade and waste).
* Good communication skills – able to translate technical requirements into layman’s terms for plant operators and other parts of the business.
* Ability to influence and persuade others.
* Experienced user of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
* Ability to utilise company‑specific information systems (e.g. Pi Process Book, process management system).
* A Levels, HND or first degree in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline.
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.
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