Closing Date
16/10/2025
Job Title:
Quality Scientist (Water)
Location:
Otterborune
Package:
Up to £45,000 depending on skills and experience, 30 hours Monday to Thursday. – Salary will be prorated on this basis.
Are you passionate about science and public health? Do you want to play a key role in ensuring clean, safe water for communities? As a
Quality Scientist
, reporting to the
Water Quality Monitoring Manager
, you'll be at the heart of a vital public service—delivering high-quality analytical support that meets both regulatory standards and business needs.
This is more than just a technical role—it's a chance to make a real difference. You'll be part of a collaborative, purpose-driven team, working across functions to uphold excellence and help us meet our strategic goals. If you thrive in a dynamic environment and want to contribute to something bigger, this could be the perfect opportunity.
Responsibilities Will Include
* Manage the day-to-day interface with laboratories and interpret scientific results.
* Act as a key liaison between the business, service providers, and laboratories.
* Provide expert advice and ensure sampling and analytical requirements are met.
* Maintain quality through a robust, risk-based audit programme.
* Conduct and follow up on audits to ensure procedures are fit for purpose.
* Monitor daily compliance and ensure timely reporting and resolution of breaches.
About You
* A degree in a scientific discipline, with excellent analytical and incident management skills.
* Membership (or willingness to join) a professional body such as CIWEM, RSC, IRCA, IOW, or RSoB.
* Solid knowledge of Water Regulations, EU/WHO standards, and DWI, EA, UKAS requirements.
* Experience in risk identification and management, with an understanding of the impact on Southern Water.
* A proactive, can-do attitude and the ability to work effectively with internal stakeholders.
* Strong communication skills and the ability to present solutions clearly.
* Exceptional time management and organisational skills.
* Operational experience in water supply and the ability to build strong relationships with colleagues.
* A clear understanding of regulatory frameworks and statutory obligations.
Package
* 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.