Senior Drinking Water Safety Scientist

Portsmouth Water Ltd; Havant; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK water supplier is seeking a Senior Drinking Water Safety Scientist to manage their Drinking Water Safety Plans and evaluate water quality risks. This role involves both office work and field visits. The ideal candidate will have a relevant degree, strong scientific knowledge, and experience in environmental science. The company offers a generous pension scheme, life assurance, and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

Non-contractual bonus

Enhanced leave and pay

Life assurance

Comprehensive wellbeing support

Exclusive discounts at retailers

Qualifications

• Full valid UK driving licence required.
• Knowledge of Regulation 27 and 28 of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016.
• Understanding of catchment hydrology and land use impacts on water sources.

Responsibilities

• Manage Drinking Water Safety Plan system and ensure risk scores are updated.
• Prepare reports for monthly Regulation 28 submissions to DWI.
• Conduct site audits required by Regulation 27 and evaluate water quality risks.

Skills

Scientific and technical knowledge

Strong report writing skills

Attention to detail

Strong IT skills

Effective planning and prioritisation

Education

BSc in Earth-related or Environmental Sciences, Chemistry, Biology

Tools

Excel

Power BI

GIS mapping systems

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Drinking Water Safety Scientist to join the Water Risk Team at Portsmouth Water. In this role, you will support daily and regulatory tasks by maintaining and developing Water Safety Plans and assessing water quality risks from catchment to consumer. Our Drinking Water Safety Plans have been developed in accordance with the World Health Organisation’s Water Safety Plan Manual 2023. This diverse role involves both office work and field visits to various sites. You will regularly interact with staff from different teams, especially operational ones. Reporting to the Water Risk Manager, your responsibilities include reviewing water quality hazards, conducting site visits and inspections, auditing assets, analysing water sample data, evaluating risk controls, tracking and reviewing risks, and promoting water quality awareness and best practice across the business.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Company’s Drinking Water Safety Plan (DWSP) system for all assets, ensuring risk scores and statuses are kept up to date.
• Prepare reports for monthly Regulation 28 submissions to DWI and the annual submission.
• Lead in preparing and conducting site audits required by Regulation 27 and carry out focused investigations to evaluate water quality risks.
• Contribute to internal DWSP risk status reports, respond to data requests from inset companies (NAVs), and assist in drafting responses to the DWI and addressing related notices and recommendations.
• Help develop, review, and maintain DWSP policies, procedures, standards, and best practices, continually improving and refining the system by identifying efficiencies and ensuring the methodology is up to date.
• Liaise with colleagues for updates on risk mitigation controls and support the Water Risk Manager in identifying and assessing new or emerging risks to water supply, quality, and sufficiency.

Qualifications and Experience

• BSc (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (e.g., Earth-related or Environmental Sciences, Chemistry, Biology).
• Strong scientific and technical knowledge, skills, and experience.
• Knowledge of Regulation 27 and 28 of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016.
• Strong understanding of water quality risk across all stages of the water supply chain and the ability to apply this to the risk assessment process.
• Experience in environmental and water science.
• Understanding of catchment hydrology, land use impacts on water sources, and the interconnectivity of water supply system assets from catchment to consumer.
• Knowledge of water treatment processes, water distribution networks, or similar industrial processes.
• Understanding of the regulatory framework associated with the water industry and water fittings regulations.
• Awareness and understanding of Health and Safety.
• Full valid UK driving licence.

Skills and Attributes

• Strong report writing skills, with the ability to translate and summarise technical information for communication with the Water Risk team, Water Quality, and the wider business.
• Exceptional record-keeping skills to maintain audit trails.
• Strong IT skills, particularly in Excel, Power BI, and GIS mapping systems.
• Effective planning and prioritisation skills.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.

Additional Information

We’re making a difference: Together, we can ensure that there is enough water for everyone, now and in the future. This role is known as Senior Water Risk Assessor internally.

We recognise people want to work in a variety of different ways, so we’re happy to consider flexible working arrangements. Please discuss your flexibility preferences at interview. We may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of applications, so please apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out. We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and actively encourage applications from all sections of society. The Company has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If your application is of interest, we’ll usually be in touch within 4 weeks of receiving it.

What Portsmouth Water offers

At Portsmouth Water, we reward our people. Here’s a taste of what’s waiting for you:

• Generous pension scheme, contributing up to 15% of salary.
• Non-contractual bonus of up to 6% of basic salary, linked to company performance.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave and pay.
• Life assurance with a 4x salary lump sum.
• Comprehensive wellbeing support, including confidential mental health and wellbeing advice 24/7 and health services (Virtual GP available 8am–10pm, 7 days a week for you and your immediate family).
• Employee benefits via HealthHero app.
• Exclusive discounts at retailers, plus benefits such as Electric Vehicle Scheme (after 1 year), Cycle to Work Scheme, Health Cash Plan, and more.