Senior Water Quality Process Scientist

Southern Water; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK water utility company seeks a Senior Water Quality Process Scientist to monitor and optimize drinking water quality. You will ensure compliance with regulations and handle water quality risk assessments. The ideal candidate has a background in science or engineering and a good understanding of water treatment principles. This is a permanent position offering competitive salary and numerous benefits.

Benefits

25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays

Free annual flu jab and eye test vouchers

Pension contributions up to 11%

Employee assistance program

Discounts with over 800 popular retailers

Qualifications

• Good understanding of water chemistry and biology principles.
• Knowledge of how the UK water supply industry operates.
• Ability to analyze data to draw conclusions.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and optimize drinking water quality.
• Ensure compliance with UK and EC legislation.
• Conduct water quality risk assessments.

Skills

Water chemistry/biology understanding

Knowledge of regulatory principles

Data analysis in Excel

Mathematical fluency

Self-motivated and assertive

Education

Graduate in science or engineering

Job description

Closing Date 2025-10-31

Job Title: Senior Water Quality Process Scientist

Location: Otterbourne - Hampshire - Driving licence essential due to site visit requirements

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37 hours p/w

Salary: From £44,000 per annum depending on skills and experience

There has never been a better time to join our organisation as we build towards a greener future, tackling climate change, minimising our environmental impact and reducing our carbon footprint!

Job Overview

Here at Southern Water, we are looking for a Senior Water Quality Process Scientist, covering Otterbourne, Hampshire area for our Water Performance team.

As a Senior Process Scientist, you will be responsible for monitoring and optimising drinking water quality from source to tap to ensure we meet our customer promise of a constant, high-quality supply.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that all relevant UK and EC legislation is adhered to, in particular those relating to drinking water quality
• Monitoring and analysis of telemetry and laboratory data
• Routine process audits on the Water Supply Works in your area of responsibility
• Working closely with field operations staff regarding operation and optimisation of treatment processes to ensure compliance with regulations is maintained for best value
• Undertake water quality risk assessments to ensure risks to quality and production are mitigated, including advising on service recovery during water quality events.
• Undertake detailed investigations into the root cause of water quality compliance failures and incidents and produce reports with recommendations for remedial and preventative actions
• Provide input to planned and reactive reporting to the Drinking Water Inspectorate
• Participate in a standby roster on a minimum 1/12-day basis

About You

• Good understanding of water chemistry/biology and the principles of water treatment
• Knowledge of the regulatory principles and framework governing the UK water supply industry
• Graduate in science or engineering or equivalent business experience
• Confident in collecting and analysing data to investigate scientific issues and drawing out conclusions and recommendations
• Excellent IT skills including data analysis in Excel
• Good mathematical fluency
• Self‑motivated, assertive, and independent thought whilst being a good team worker working within a reactive environment

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays
• Free annual flu jab and eye test vouchers
• Pension contributions up to 11% (depending on your contribution)
• An employee assistance program
• A network of sports and social clubs
• Company and performance‑related bonus
• Life assurance equal to 4x salary
• Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months service)
• Health Cash Plan
• Two paid volunteering days a year
• Occupational health service
• Discounts with over 800 popular retailers
• Digital GP service
• Study support may be available for job‑related qualifications.
• Competitive maternity & paternity leave and flexible return to work options
• Cycle to work scheme.

Join our Water Performance team and see how far your career could progress with a company committed to career progression, training and development opportunities, our customers and the environment.

Does this opportunity excite you but you're not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that 'normal' office hours aren't possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can't accommodate every flexible working request, we'll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?

Privacy Statement

Please note: If you are an existing Southern Water employee, you will need to confirm within your application that your manager is aware of your application.

All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility (e.g. a passport or long birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months), and will be required as part of the recruitment process. If you do not meet these criteria, your application will not be considered.