Scientist - Microbiology - 15 Month Fixed Term Contract

Affinity Water; Staines-upon-Thames; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water service provider in Staines-upon-Thames seeks an enthusiastic scientist to join their microbiological team. You will be responsible for analyzing water samples to ensure compliance with UKAS and DWTS standards, report results, and engage in continuous learning. The ideal candidate will hold a relevant degree in microbiology, show attention to detail, and have a proactive attitude toward safety and quality standards. Competitive salary and extensive benefits are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Learning and development opportunities

Annual bonus scheme

Annual leave plus additional days

Celebration day for personal occasions

Double match pension scheme

Family benefits

Access to Wellbeing Centre

Volunteering days

Life Assurance

Qualifications

• Recognized degree in a relevant science-based subject, preferably microbiology.
• Attention to detail and enjoys working in a routine environment.
• Positive attitude to health, safety and environmental protection.
• Ability to work well under pressure and solve problems.

Responsibilities

• Ensure samples are analyzed according to documented methods.
• Comply with Internal Quality Control procedures.
• Report results of Proficiency Testing Scheme samples.
• Initiate action when samples fail to meet quality standards.
• Use the laboratory information management system (LIMS).
• Participate in internal and external training courses.
• Maintain up-to-date CPD records.
• Comply with Health and Safety procedures.
• Drive innovation and process improvements.
• Participate on OOH Lab Analysis standby.
• Conduct routine analyses in a fast-paced environment.

Job description

The Role

Come and join our team of innovative scientists at our modern, well equipped laboratory in Staines-upon-Thames. We are looking for an enthusiastic, confident and motivated scientist to work within a fast paced, high-throughput UKAS accredited laboratory. Reporting to the Principal Scientist-Microbiology, you will be an integral part of the Microbiological team that ensures delivery of operational excellence whilst maintaining continual compliance with the ISO17025 and Drinking Water Testing Specifications (DWTS) standards.

What you'll be doing

• Ensuring routine and non-routine samples are analysed in accordance with documented methods and to UKAS (DWTS) requirements, within appropriate timescales.
  • Complying with Internal Quality Control procedures and reporting in the appropriate manner.
  • Analysis of Proficiency Testing (PT) Scheme samples and reporting results in a timely manner.
  • Initiating appropriate action when samples fail to meet the required water quality standards or other agreed notification standards.
  • Basic use of the laboratory information management system (LIMS) to register samples, produce worksheets and enter analytical results in a timely manner.
  • Participation in internal and external training courses identified as appropriate to your continued development.
  • Maintaining up to date and accurate CPD records.
  • Complying with all relevant Health and Safety procedures at all times.
  • Active involvement in driving innovation and process improvements.
• Participate on OOH Lab Analysis standby (Claimed as aseparate payment, 1in5 frequency)

What you need

• You will have a recognised degree in a relevant science-based subject, preferably microbiology.
  • You are an individual with attention to detail that enjoys working in a routine environment.
  • You will possess a positive attitude to health, safety and environmental protection.
  • You can follow strict procedures time after time without deviation
  • You have the ability to work well under pressure, and a common-sense approach to problem solving.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary dependant on skills and experience
• Learning and development opportunities, including mentoring and a range of formal courses and open learning resources.
• Entry into the company annual bonus scheme.
• Annual leave from 23-27 rising with length of service, and the option to purchase up to 5 extra days.
• A ‘Celebration Day’ in addition to public holidays that people can use to celebrate a religious festival or other occasion that is important to them.
• A generous 'double match pension scheme' that doubles the contributions you make (company contribution capped at 12%)
• We offer a range of family benefits including enhanced Maternity, Adoption, Paternity, Shared Parental Leave, Fertility Support Leave and up to 5 full or 10 half days of paid Carers Leave.
• Menopause policy and Reasonable Adjustment policy to help everyone perform at their best.
• Access to our Wellbeing Centre with support for looking after your physical and mental health.
• Discounts at a Range of Retail Outlets and on Dental and Medical Insurance through our Tap4Perks scheme.
• Up to 4 Affinity days a year to volunteer in the community.
• Life Assurance.
• Disability confident: if you need to apply in a different format, please contact us

Disability Confident Employer

Disability Confident is a voluntary government scheme which Affinity Water has signed up to. It means we are committed to employing, fairly assessing, and supporting our disabled employees through reasonable adjustments and an inclusive culture.

Offer an interview scheme

As a Disability Confident employer, we commit to offering interviews to disabled candidates who evidence that they meet the essential criteria for the role and who opt in on the application form. To see all the essential criteria please contact the Talent Acquisition lead to request the full job description.

Please note that in some situations where we have a very high volume of applications, it may not be practical to offer interviews to everyone, in which case we commit to take through a fair and proportionate number, offering interviews to those disabled candidates who best meet the criteria.

What is a disability?

A disability is a long-term physical or mental health condition that has a substantial impact on someone’s day-to-day activities.

What if I need adjustments during the recruitment process?

Please contact the Talent Acquisition lead mentioned on the job advert if you need any adjustments during the process.

Affinity Water recognises the benefits of greater diversity in our workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We are committed to building a more inclusive culture where every member of our workforce can thrive.

You can find out what it’s like to work at Affinity Water through our career site https://www.affinitywatercareers.co.uk/ where our colleagues share their career development stories and you can get a feel for our company culture.