Water Treatment Scientist

South Staffs Water; Lichfield; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

South Staffs Water is seeking a Water Treatment Scientist to safeguard public health by ensuring safe, high-quality drinking water across our sites. You will work with Operational, Engineering and Water Quality teams to provide expert guidance, investigate issues, and support improvements to treatment processes.

You will analyse water quality data, contribute to risk assessments, and develop improvements in regulatory compliance and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in Chemistry, Environmental Science, Microbiology, or related field.
• Experience in drinking water treatment or water quality preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with data interpretation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; IT skills for reporting.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with Drinking Water Quality Regulations and standards.
• Analyse water quality, process and operational data to optimise treatment.
• Investigate incidents and prepare reports with recommendations.
• Identify risks and develop mitigation plans for treatment processes.
• Provide specialist technical advice to operations and projects.
• Design and deliver water quality training to staff.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Data interpretation

Communication skills

IT & data tools

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry/Environmental Science/Microbiology

Tools

SCADA systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The Role:

As a Water Treatment Scientist, you will play a critical role in safeguarding public health by helping to ensure the consistent delivery of safe, high-quality drinking water to our customers. Working closely with Operational, Engineering and Water Quality teams, you will provide expert technical guidance, investigate water quality issues, and support the continuous improvement of treatment processes across our sites. This is an excellent opportunity for a scientifically minded professional who enjoys problem-solving, data analysis, and driving improvements within a regulated operational environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with Drinking Water Quality Regulations, company policies, and industry standards across treatment facilities.


• Analyse and interpret water quality, process, and operational data, including SCADA information, to optimise treatment performance.


• Investigate water quality incidents, regulatory breaches, or operational performance issues, producing detailed reports and recommendations.


• Identify risks within treatment processes and control measures, developing effective mitigation and improvement plans.


• Provide specialist technical advice and support to operational teams, engineers, and investment projects.


• Develop, review, and maintain water treatment procedures, policies, technical standards, and operational guidance.


• Support the day-to-day activities of the Water Quality team and represent the department in cross-functional meetings and projects.


• Design and deliver specialist water quality and treatment process training to operational colleagues.


• Undertake reactive risk assessments and support incident investigations when required.


• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance water quality, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency.

What You’ll Need:

• Degree, HND, or equivalent qualification in a relevant scientific discipline, such as Chemistry, Environmental Science, Microbiology, or a related subject.


• Experience within drinking water treatment, water quality, environmental science, or a similar technical field (preferred).


• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex operational and water quality data.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical information clearly to a range of audiences.


• Strong IT skills, including experience using data analysis and reporting tools.


• Knowledge of water treatment processes, water quality regulations, and risk management principles would be advantageous.


• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple teams and build effective working relationships.


• Full UK driving licence.


• Willingness to participate in an out-of-hours standby rota.