Graduate/Project Environmental Scientist (Water Quality)

SLR Consulting Limited; Hempstalls; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global sustainability consultancy is seeking a Graduate Environmental Scientist to assist in water quality projects. This role offers the opportunity for professional development under expert mentorship in a collaborative environment. Candidates with relevant degrees and a passion for environmental science are encouraged to apply. The role provides flexibility with hybrid working options and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Excellent healthcare offering

Travel and life insurance

Structured career framework

Flexible bank holidays

Qualifications

• Relevant academic qualifications in environmental sciences or chemistry.
• Field experience in collecting water samples is advantageous.
• Knowledge of water quality issues and physicochemical processes is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the technical delivery of water quality projects.
• Conduct water monitoring and sampling for various projects.
• Undertake risk assessments and compliance checks for environmental permits.

Skills

Communication

Analytical skills

Teamwork

Fieldwork

Education

Relevant undergraduate degree in geological or environmental sciences

Chemistry qualification at A-Level or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Graduate/Project Environmental Scientist (Water Quality) (Grade A/B)

Employment Type: Permanent

Contract Type: Full Time

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated graduate Environmental Scientist to join our busy Hydrology and Hydrogeology (H&H) team to assist in the delivery of water quality work in Stoke on Trent or Shrewsbury.

Working under the expert mentorship of our industry leading professionals, you will have a great opportunity to build your skills both on and off site supporting the delivery of work for our clients across the power, waste management, property and infrastructure sectors.

Your projects will include water quality monitoring and reporting, water quality risk assessments to support environmental permit applications, Water Framework Directive Assessments and Environmental Impact Assessments. As well as working alongside the hydrologists and hydrogeologists in the H&H team, you will also work with colleagues from our ecology, land quality, permitting and planning teams to support the delivery of multi-disciplinary projects where your water quality expertise is needed.

This position is an opportunity for you to further develop your knowledge of water quality gained in tertiary education, and a sound knowledge of the legislative requirements and guidance underpinning our work, whilst helping our clients to successfully complete their projects and developments in a way that is fully compliant with water quality legislative requirements and best practice.

We are ideally looking for a Graduate for this appointment, however we would also consider candidates with 1 - 2 years relevant post-graduate experience.

You will have outstanding opportunities to progress within SLR's structured career framework and twice yearly self-nominating promotion rounds.

The role

With support from senior colleagues, you will work on technical delivery of a wide range of water quality and other hydrology projects, including the following:

• Water monitoring including sampling of both surface water and groundwater for baseline and construction-related monitoring programmes, as well as monitoring surface water flows and groundwater levels where it is required, prior to formalising your findings in reports.
• Following chemical analysis by a laboratory, screening of water quality data against relevant water quality standards for baseline conditions and any evidence of pollution.
• Undertaking quantitative risk assessment methodologies including Specific Substance (H1) Assessments to aid applications for discharge permits for the construction and linear infrastructure (power and utilities distribution sector). This will involve working alongside SLR's Permitting team to achieve successful outcomes for our clients.
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and/or Water Framework Directive (WFD) Assessments for new developments of a significant scale that impacts to the water environment are possible for water quality and aquatic ecology. The aim of this work will be to aid our clients in ensuring that any risks to the water environment are identified and appropriate mitigation identified for the development.

In addition, we do significant quantities of work for major infrastructure companies as water specialists, which can involve provision of best practice advice and permitting assistance.

SLR often receives enquires about bespoke water quality problems that require investigation as well as a good working knowledge of hydrochemistry and a willingness to research a specialist water quality area.

Through your other duties you will:

• Support our team members on the design / implementation of water quality monitoring, laboratory analysis requirements and quality control of water quality data;
• Collate, analyse and interpret surface water and groundwater quality datasets;
• Formalise the results of water quality investigations in reports and technical notes;
• With time, assist members of our team and other internal teams by scoping up technical sections for proposals;
• Be able, with appropriate supervision and training, to undertake site work;
• Work on site unsupervised from time to time (depending on the type of activity being undertaken).

The nature of the role and the locations of our clients mean that there would be site work that would require you to be away from home for short periods.

For recruitment at Graduate (entry) level we will provide on the job training and guidance, so there would be opportunity to develop new skills and capabilities over time.

The role is full time although flexible and hybrid working options are available and part time working arrangements would be considered.

About us

SLR is a global leader in Sustainability Solutions, helping clients achieve their sustainability goals. We are a consultancy with 4000+ employees across 6 regions in over 125 countries. Our 'one team' culture is at the heart of our business, providing a collaborative and supportive environment for professional development. Along with competitive salaries, our staff enjoy a comprehensive benefits package with a company pension plus excellent healthcare offering, travel and life insurance and a structured career framework with regular reviews offering outstanding opportunities for progression. Alongside 25 day's annual leave, with additional flexible bank holidays, we offer flexible, agile and hybrid working which enables staff to tailor hours worked around core hours, with family friendly policies help balance the needs of professional and home life.

What you will need:

If you are interested in applying, we would love to hear from you. We envisage that you would be able to demonstrate:

• Relevant academic qualification(s) including a Chemistry qualification at A-Level (or equivalent) and/or completion of university modules in chemistry or environmental geochemistry.
• Field experience of (or willingness to learn) the collection of water samples and field measurements.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with water quality issues and chemical or physico-chemical processes affecting different substances is an advantage.
• A relevant undergraduate degree in the geological or environmental sciences, or similar.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts and findings to audiences with different levels of hydrochemistry understanding through written reports and meetings (both on-line and in-person);
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as on your own initiative.

You will hold a full, current driving licence valid in the UK.

Culture & Inclusion at SLR

We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer, and our expectations go beyond purely complying with legislation. Through our Regional C&I Committees, Global Council and Employee Networks, we foster an inclusive environment where all people regardless of their background can thrive.

We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of their background, including those from groups that are currently under-represented at SLR, such as people identifying as 2SLGBTQI+, Indigenous peoples, ethnic minority groups, women, and people with visible or invisible disabilities, including those who are neurodivergent.

Should you require any special adjustments throughout the recruitment process with us, please let us know. As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we seek to ensure all applicants have equitable support when applying to SLR.

SLR Commitment - All applicants with a disability who meet the essential requirements for the job will be guaranteed an interview in line with our Disability Confident Committed status.