Water Quality Specialist

Mace; Leiston; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Mace is undertaking a major SZC project and seeks a Water Quality Specialist to support the Environmental Services Lead. You will act as the SZC Subject Matter Expert on water quality, discharges, flood risk, water resources and management during construction, developing and accepting water management arrangements on SZC’s behalf.

You will collaborate with environmental management experts, support permit applications, delivery teams and contractors, and engage with regulators and stakeholders on

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of water management, discharges, flood risk and permit compliance.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements related to water quality and management.
• Ability to prioritise workload and work independently.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder influencing skills.
• Experience with engagement of regulators and external bodies.
• Attention to detail and ability to deliver from start to finish.
• Proven assurance and challenge skills with clear reporting.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist advice relating to water management and discharges to Environmental Services Lead and wider project.
• Review and challenge new and existing permits, identify risks and gaps.
• Maintain oversight of compliance and identify high-risk activities.
• Review monitoring strategies, data quality, returns and trends.
• Ensure completeness and compliance with Environmental Monitoring Schedule requirements.
• Review plans and mitigation measures; create arrangements where appropriate.
• Provide technical notes on incidents and risks.
• Undertake risk-based inspections and produce assurance notes where required.

Skills

Water management

Water discharges

Flood risk

Permit compliance

Regulatory requirements

Stakeholder engagement

Independent work

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Education

Degree in environmental science or related discipline

Job description

Mace combines construction expertise with consultancy to unlock potential in every person or project and redefine the boundaries of ambition. Our values shape the way we consult and define the people we want to join us on our journey.

The project:

Are you looking for a career which is rewarding, at the cutting edge of project development and where you can really make a difference? Come and join our expanding Sizewell C (SZC) team and work on one of the most exciting and largest megaprojects in the UK, whilst being at the forefront of the UK's climate change agenda and energy policy. Sizewell C (SZC) will be a 3.2‑gigawatt power station generating low‑carbon electricity for around 6 million homes, playing a key role in our energy future, supplying reliable, clean electricity for at least 60 years.

The Water Quality Specialist will support the SZC Environmental Services Lead with technical subject matter expertise and assurance activities in the SZC construction phase. The Water Quality Specialist will function as the SZC Subject Matter Expert in water quality, water discharges, flood risk, water resources and management activities on the construction site and support assurance activities related to water management. The role will also involve developing, reviewing, and accepting water management arrangements on SZC’s behalf.

The Water Quality Specialist will also support other areas of the SZC project, working along other subject matter experts in environmental management and support Permit Applications, delivery teams and contractors with advice. This will include attendance at working groups such as the water management working group.

The role will be a supporting interface with the environment agency, internal drainage board, and other external regulators, as well as stakeholders on site and in the local area and will also involve working closely with the civil works alliance and associated project teams to define processes and procedures for the management of environmental compliance as part of site‑based activities.

You’ll Be Responsible For

• SME support: Provide specialist advice relating to water management and discharges to Environmental Services Lead and wider project.
• Water licence, permit and consent assurance: Review and challenge new and existing permits, identify risks and gaps.
• Compliance of Water Management Systems and Risk Oversight: Maintain oversight of compliance and identify high‑risk activities.
• Water Monitoring Assurance: Review monitoring strategies, data quality, returns and trends.
• Environmental Monitoring Schedule Assurance: Ensure completeness and compliance with requirements.
• Technical Assurance of Water Management Arrangements: Review plans and mitigation measures. Create arrangements, where appropriate.
• Incident and Exceedance Technical Review: Provide technical notes on issues and risks.
• Assurance Checks and Inspections: Undertake risk‑based inspections and produce assurance notes where required.

You’ll Need To Have

• Strong understanding of water management, water discharges, flood risk and permit compliance.
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements and national and international legislation related to Water quality, flood risk, water resources and management.
• Strong problem solving and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workload effectively.
• Must be able to work independently and demonstrate excellent communication/interpersonal and influencing skills.
• A well‑developed skillset with regards to the communication with a variety of stakeholders.
• Accuracy and attention to detail, with the ability to see projects through from start to finish.
• Strong assurance and challenge skills with excellent communication/interpersonal skills notably with various levels of the organisation and externally.
• Experience managing water quality issues on a large infrastructure/engineering project.
• Experience developing relationships or working with regulators.
• Experience in water/hydrogeological modelling.
• Degree qualified or equivalent in an environmental, science or related discipline.

Our values

• Safety first - Going home safe and well: We champion a safe, diverse and inclusive working environment, understanding the importance of wellbeing in every team.
• Client focus - Deliver on our promise: We own the quality of deliverables, strategic outcomes and build long term relationships with our clients.
• Integrity - Always do the right thing: We influence positive outcomes within our industry, while always aligning with our compliance obligations.
• Create opportunity - For our people to excel: We champion a continuous improvement culture throughout all activities, inspiring our people and teams to develop.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. Even if you feel you do not fulfil all the criteria, please apply as you may still be the best candidate for this role or another role within our organisation.

We are also open to discussing part time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable with‑in the role.