Environmental Planning: Water Quality Specialist

Environment Agency; Otterburn; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental organization in Northumberland is seeking a Water Quality Specialist to enhance local water quality. The role involves reviewing proposals, collaborating with water companies, and responding to environmental incidents. Candidates should have a degree in an environmental discipline and relevant professional experience. The position offers a salary of £41,617, generous benefits, and opportunities for career growth, with options for hybrid or flexible working.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme up to 19%

27 days holiday plus bank holidays

Overtime opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in a relevant environmental discipline, e.g., consultancy, regulatory roles.
• Understanding of pressures facing the water environment.
• Experience presenting technical information.

Responsibilities

• Review and shape water company proposals based on regulations.
• Collaborate with local Water Company to drive improvements.
• Respond to incidents and provide support during incidents.

Skills

Technical background in water quality

Ability to analyse technical information

Effective influencing skills

Education

Degree in relevant environmental discipline

Job description

Environmental Planning: Water Quality Specialist

Location: Northumberland, North East England, UK, NE19 1NR

Salary: £41,617

Staff Grade: 5

Type: Permanent / Full Time

About Us

The Environment Agency has a broad and varied remit to protect and enhance the environment, with a goal to create a cleaner, safer and healthier environment for people and wildlife. Water is at the heart of all we do; drinking, washing, recreation, industry and health, our environment and economy depends on this precious resource. Clean and available water is essential and as water becomes an increasingly scarce resource, we need to do more to ensure we protect it. Water companies must invest billions of pounds over the next five years to protect the environment from pollution. This scale of investment has not been seen for more than a generation. We need your knowledge and experience to help us advise water companies on their plans and hold them to account for their protection of the water environment. Come be a part of the teams that ensure our environment is protected now and for future generations.

What’s in it for you

• A salary up to £41,617.
• A generous pension scheme of up to 19%.
• Overtime opportunities through standby and incident pay.
• 27 days holiday + 8 bank holidays for full-time employees.
• Two additional days for paid environmental outcomes giving you the opportunity to take part in community activities.
• Great career opportunities.
• Maternity, paternity, and adoption leave scheme.
• Options for hybrid, flexible and/or part-time working.

What will you do

We are looking for Water Quality Specialists in our Area Integrated Environment Planning Teams in a variety of roles. These water planning teams drive improvements in local rivers, lakes and coastal waters. You will work on a variety of aspects of water quality planning to understand the pressures, find solutions, and work with those who can deliver change. Given the scale of future investment by water companies in England, and the record number of improvements required by the Environment Act, many of these roles will be dedicated to reviewing and shaping water company proposals. For this, you will work closely with the local Water Company, reviewing the data and information they provide. You will need to communicate with them and be able to influence them to go further against competing priorities. Within the Environment Agency, you will work with National colleagues, who provide guidance, and technical support. You will also work with other local Area Teams with specialist knowledge in different aspects of the local environment, and environmental regulations. Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.

What you’ll need

We are looking for candidates who can review data and information and communicate requirements clearly to ensure proposals meet the latest environmental standards and provide the maximum environmental benefit.

• Essential: Degree/equivalent qualification in a relevant environmental discipline (e.g., Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Engineering, GeoScience, Ecology, Environmental science, Sustainability, Data science and analytics) OR substantial relevant professional experience.
• Work experience in a relevant environmental discipline (e.g., work for Water companies, Environmental or Engineering consultancy, regulatory roles, research, education, environmental charities).
• A technical background in water quality and an understanding of current pressures facing the water environment and the solutions that can overcome these problems.

Desirable: Ability to analyse technical information. Experience presenting technical information to a wide audience. Strong organisational skills and the ability to plan, track, deliver and evaluate work to standards and timescales. Effective influencing skills and ability to persuade external partners. Experience working with water companies and knowledge of their operations. Membership of or progress toward membership of a relevant professional institute (e.g., CIWEM/IEMA).

Additional Information

Please note that a reserve list will be held for up to 12 months, and you may be offered other roles in other locations including temporary roles. We strive to reflect the communities we serve and welcome applications from all backgrounds. This role must be undertaken from within the UK and does NOT qualify for sponsorship. See UK Government guidance on visas and immigration for the right to work in the UK. Candidates selected for interview will be notified by email at least five days in advance. Check inbox and junk mail folders to ensure you don’t miss our message.

Closing date for applications: Monday 22nd September

Interview Dates: w/c 13th and 20th October 2025