Drinking Water Safety Plan Analyst

South West Water; Exeter; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Annual Bonus Scheme

Pension Scheme

Healthcare Benefits

Professional Development

Employee Discounts

Generous Annual Leave

Job summary

South West Water in Exeter is seeking a Drinking Water Safety Plan (DWSP) Analyst to protect drinking water quality from catchment to consumer.

You will combine technical analysis, risk assessment and stakeholder engagement to support the development and continuous improvement of Drinking Water Safety Plans across our operations, ensuring regulatory compliance and robust governance.

Qualifications

• Degree, equivalent qualification, or relevant experience in a scientific, environmental, engineering or related discipline.
• Understanding of water quality science, risk management principles or regulated environments.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and draw evidence-based conclusions.
• Experience producing technical reports and documentation.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and review Drinking Water Safety Plans in line with regulatory requirements and industry best practice.
• Identify, assess and monitor risks to drinking water quality across catchments, treatment works, storage and distribution networks.
• Analyse water quality data, operational information and emerging trends to support evidence-based decision making.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and resilience of control measures and recommend improvements where needed.
• Work closely with operational and technical teams to understand risks and verify performance.
• Support governance reporting and regulatory submissions to the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of risk assessment methodologies, guidance and best practice across the business.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Time/priority management

Education

Degree or equivalent in science/environment/engineering

Tools

Excel

Power BI

GIS

Job description

Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK’s most stunning landscapes.

We’re proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we’re working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife. Whether you’re starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.

Join our team today.

Help Protect Public Health Through Safe, High-Quality Drinking Water

Are you passionate about water quality, environmental protection and evidence-based risk management? Do you enjoy analysing complex information, identifying trends and working collaboratively to solve problems?

We're looking for a Drinking Water Safety Plan (DWSP) Analyst to play a key role in protecting drinking water quality from catchment to consumer. This is an exciting opportunity to join a specialist team responsible for identifying, assessing and managing risks across the entire water supply chain, helping to safeguard public health while ensuring regulatory compliance.

As a DWSP Analyst, you'll combine technical analysis, risk assessment and stakeholder engagement to support the development and continuous improvement of Drinking Water Safety Plans across our operations.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develop, maintain and review Drinking Water Safety Plans in line with regulatory requirements and industry best practice.
• Identify, assess and monitor risks to drinking water quality across catchments, treatment works, storage and distribution networks.
• Analyse water quality data, operational information and emerging trends to support evidence-based decision making.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and resilience of control measures and recommend improvements where needed.
• Work closely with operational and technical teams to understand risks and verify performance.
• Support governance reporting and regulatory submissions to the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of risk assessment methodologies, guidance and best practice across the business.

What We Are Looking For

You’ll be someone who enjoys working with complex information and can communicate technical findings clearly and confidently.

Essential

• Degree, equivalent qualification, or relevant experience in a scientific, environmental, engineering or related discipline.
• Understanding of water quality science, risk management principles or regulated environments.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and draw evidence-based conclusions.
• Experience producing technical reports and documentation.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable

• Experience within the water industry or another regulated utility environment.
• Knowledge of drinking water regulations and water quality risk management.
• Understanding of pollution pathways, water treatment or distribution systems.
• Experience using Power BI, GIS systems or other data visualisation tools.
• Experience supporting audits, assurance activities or compliance programmes.Relevant postgraduate qualifications or professional membership.

Why join us?

Make a real impact on public health by helping protect drinking water quality. You'll work with experts across the business, develop specialist risk management expertise, and use data-driven insights to influence key decisions in a supportive, forward-thinking team.

• Competitive Salary – Based on experience and skills
• Annual Bonus Scheme – Rewarding your performance
• Pension Scheme – Helping you plan for your future
• Healthcare Benefits – Access to private healthcare and employee assistance programs
• Professional Development – Support for career growth with training opportunities
• Employee Discounts – On various products and services
• Generous Annual Leave – Take time to recharge with our holiday entitlement

Closing Date:24th Aug 2026

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.

Be yourself, we like it that way.

Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.

Our core values, which are essential