Water Treatment Scientist

South Staffs Water; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Family-Friendly Leave

Pension Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Career development opportunities

Inclusion networks

Annual salary review

Job summary

South Staffordshire Water in the West Midlands is seeking a Water Treatment Scientist to safeguard public health by ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality drinking water. You will work with Operations, Engineering and Water Quality teams to provide technical guidance, analyse data, and support improvements across sites.

The role offers a hands-on, regulated environment with responsibilities to lead investigations, develop procedures, and train colleagues.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., Chemistry, Environmental Science, Microbiology).
• Experience in drinking water treatment or water quality preferred.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation abilities; clear written and verbal communication.
• Solid IT skills and ability to use data analysis/reporting tools.
• Knowledge of water treatment processes, regulations and risk management is advantageous.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to participate in standby rota.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with Drinking Water Quality Regulations and standards.
• Analyse water quality and process data, including SCADA information, to optimise treatment.
• Investigate incidents and regulatory breaches with detailed reporting and recommendations.
• Identify risks in treatment processes and develop improvement plans.
• Provide specialist technical advice to operational teams and projects.
• Develop and maintain water treatment procedures and guidance.
• Support Water Quality team day-to-day activities and cross-functional projects.
• Design and deliver training on water quality and treatment processes.
• Undertake reactive risk assessments and assist in incident investigations.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives for water quality and efficiency.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication skills

IT skills

Full UK driving licence

Education

Degree in Chemistry / Environmental Science / Microbiology

Job description

Salary: £35,000 per annum | Company Benefits | Standby Allowance

Location: Seedy Mill, Lichfield | Regular Travel Required

Contract: Full-Time | Permanent | 37.5 hours per week

About Us

South Staffordshire Water, which operates across two regions as Cambridge Water and South Staffs Water is a privately-owned regulated water only company.

South Staffs Water supplies a population of nearly I.3 million. The area of supply stretches from the edge of Ashbourne in the north, to Halesowen in the south, and from Burton on Trent in the east, to Kinver in the west.

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.

What You’ll Get

• Family-Friendly Leave: Enhanced Maternity, Adoption, Paternity & Shared Parental Leave, Fertility Support, and up to 5 paid Carer’s Days
• Financial & Life Assurance: Company Pension Scheme with salary sacrifice options
• Health & Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme and 24/7 Virtual GP access for you and your dependents
• Lifestyle & Perks: Cycle to Work Scheme and My Premier Benefits discounts, cashback, and vouchers
• Professional Development: Hands-on training and ongoing career development opportunities
• Inclusion & Belonging: Active People Networks – Disability & Neurodiversity, Unity+, Women’s Network, Parent & Carer Networking Group and more
• Performance & Recognition: Annual salary review, Reward & Recognition Scheme, and Long Service Awards.

At South Staffordshire Group, inclusion matters. We have a wide range of employee networks which are employee-led communities that bring our people together, support different perspectives and create a strong sense of belonging. Our people are encouraged to get involved as members or allies.

We are committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.

We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including all genders, ethnicity, sexual orientations, and physical and neurodiverse abilities.

We are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and encourage you to let us know how we can best support you throughout the recruitment process.