Water Sampling Officer

Uisce Éireann; Donegal; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Uisce Éireann in Ireland is seeking a Water Sampling Officer to support the delivery of high‑quality accredited water and wastewater sampling. The role involves collecting samples, performing on-site analysis, and ensuring regulatory compliance with ISO17025 and related standards.

You'll work outdoors, use instruments like pH and chlorine meters, and collaborate with data analysts to provide context to sampling data.

Qualifications

• Relevant third level qualification or accreditation desirable.
• Minimum 1 year relevant experience in water/utility sector advantageous.
• Proactive, able to work on their own and in a team.

Responsibilities

• Collect water and wastewater samples according to sampling plan, safely and accurately.
• Transport samples to designated drop-off points following required standards.
• Carry out on-site analysis and record all relevant information.
• Use on-site testing equipment (e.g. pH meters, chlorine meters) and ensure equipment is calibrated.
• Adhere to ISO17025 and regulatory quality requirements for sample integrity.

Skills

Water sampling

Regulatory compliance

On-site testing

Data recording

Team collaboration

Health and safety

Communication

Education

Third level qualification desirable

Tools

MS Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

We are Uisce Éireann. Every day, we are responsible for the delivery of secure, safe, and sustainable water services for the people of Ireland. As Ireland’s national regulated water utility, our vision is a sustainable Ireland where water is respected and protected, for the planet and all the lives it supports.

Our purpose at Uisce Éireann is to rise to the challenge of delivering transformative water services that enable communities to thrive. That means we are proud to take on the responsibility of protecting our water supply and passing on a safe and secure water system to a rapidly growing population and empowering Ireland’s social and economic growth.

We are passionate about empowering our people, enabling them to make a positive impact on communities across Ireland. We are guided by a shared vision and purpose, grounded in values that define who we are and shape how we work, where we deliver for customers and communities, we work better together, we do the right thing, we aim high, and we keep each other safe. Our behaviours define how we interact, communicate, and succeed together. These values and behaviours apply to each one of us, across every role, location, and level.

Our goal is to attract and develop skilled and talented people from diverse backgrounds, who bring a dynamic range of expertise and insights to our work. With a strong, values-driven workforce, we ensure Uisce Éireann can continue advancing Ireland’s water services and meeting the needs of the communities we serve for generations to have.

The Role:

The Environmental Regulation function is responsible for the day-to-day management of environmental regulation and compliance. The function monitors the compliance of the water and wastewater network and treatment works, influences external environmental policy and manages environmental stakeholder relationships. Environmental Regulation provides expertise to the Uisce Éireann business on influencing environmental policy and managing stakeholders around environmental regulation affecting Uisce Éireann’s practices. The function provides regulatory expertise to the business, including the Senior Leadership Team, in all aspects of environmental regulation. The team provides support on legislative and regulatory changes that will affect Uisce Éireann policies in the future.

The Scientific Services functional area is responsible for the national provision of operational support services to include sampling and laboratory analytics, ensuring that activities are performed in accordance with regulatory obligations to protect public health and the environment. The Sampling sub-area is responsible for taking regulatory and operational samples and facilitating the transportation of these samples to the laboratory for analysis. This is a centrally managed service which is certified and audited to accredited ISO17025 standard.
The sampling teams also drive compliance with relevant water and wastewater testing standards and other relevant regulatory requirements to ensure accreditation is attained and maintained for all appropriate services.
Reporting to the Water Sampling Supervisor, the Water Sampling Officer will be responsible for supporting the delivery of high-quality accredited water and wastewater sampling.

Full training will be given in all aspects of carrying out sampling duties.

Standard working hours for this role are 7a.m. to 6p.m, totaling 39 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Out of hours work may be required and will be renumerated at the appropriate rates.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for collecting water and wastewater samples according to sampling plan, safely and accurately in compliance with ISO 17025, QMS and other relevant regulatory requirements.
• Transporting of samples to the relevant drop off point in accordance with necessary standards.
• Carry out on-site sample analysis and accurately record all relevant information.
• Responsible for the use of on-site testing equipment, e.g. chlorine meters, pH meters and hand held data entry devices
• Report any deviations from the scheduled sampling plan and/or methods used
• Ensure all sampling equipment used is documented, maintained, calibrated correctly and all equipment is fit for purpose.
• Responsible for ensuring that sampling equipment and materials is efficiently planned e.g. collecting adequate sampling bottles and equipment for a given week
• Effective use of geographic knowledge to plan efficient sampling collection route on a given day within the constraints of the sampling schedule.
• Responsible for assessing the condition of the sample site, and integrity of remote assets, surroundings and apparatus e.g. reservoirs, and reporting any observed defects or unsafe conditions.
• Comply with security requirements in relation to site and sampling location access including securing the facility after access.
• Ensure compliance with Uisce Éireann operating procedures ISO17025, regulatory quality compliance updates and other relevant standards in relation to sample quality.
• Adhere to allocated sampling schedule, standard operating procedures and close out work orders on handheld devices on completion of task.
• Register and input all relevant information into Uisce Éireann using technology systems provided, ensuring chain of custody of samples at all times.
• Initiate the reordering process for stocks of bottles, reagents or other materials as necessary.
• Responsible for operating and maintaining assigned Uisce Éireann vehicles, as required, in a responsible manner in line with all relevant Uisce Éireann vehicle, health, safety and security policies.
• Providing input on the development of new and existing methodologies to promote continuous improvements in the sampling process.
• Support the development of standard operating procedures when required
• Responsible for adhering to all HSQE plans, policies and procedures
• Participate in out of hours working in response to incident notifications
• Monitor environmental conditions during sampling to provide context to collected data
• Collaborate with data analysts to provide context and insights into sampling data
• The role will involve working outdoors and all required PPE will be provided.
• Responsible for carrying out any other duties which the Water Sampling Supervisor may reasonably request

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaboration with key internal stakeholders across the UÉ business
• Responsible for promoting and delivering health and safety commitments across UÉ and its supply chain, reinforcing positive behaviours and delivering health and safety objectives and requirements to the highest industry standards
• Support the delivery of the Uisce Éireann Transformation Programme, driving results required within the Directorate and supporting organisation-wide objectives
• Conducts duties and responsibilities in accordance with Uisce Éireann’s Information Security policies, standards, processes and controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of UÉ business information and delivery of critical services, in accordance with the NIS Directive and any other relevant cybersecurity regulation
• Other duties as required

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Relevant third level qualification and or accreditation is desirable and or relevant experience
• Minimum 1-year relevant experience in a similar role in the water, utilities or similar industry would be an advantage but not essential
• Provision of a copy of a full, clean, Irish class B driving licence
• Proactive with ability to work on own initiative and with others to ensure success in the performance of a team
• Proven effective time management skills with the ability to prioritise and remain focused
• Proven ability to create and develop good working relationships by sharing knowledge and working closely with colleagues to achieve shared goals
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to convey messages in a clear and concise manner
• Ability to abide by processes and procedures relating to the collection and review of data and provide feedback as required
• Flexible with regard to working in a changing environment and the ability to adjust to new work structures, processes and requirements as necessary
• Proactively identify new areas of learning and using newly gained knowledge and skills on the job
• Experience in following safety rules, contributing to a safe working environment
• Striving for quality and ensuring consistent high standards of work to deliver for our customers and communities
• Proven experience in demonstrating respect and professionalism in work and complying with organisational policies
• Strong Computer skills with a proficient working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

The closing date for receipt of applications for this vacancy is XXX.

Please note that applications submitted after this closing date will not be accepted.

*Please be advised that if successful you will be placed on the salary range based on your skills and experience. Please note the Market reference point (midpoint) of the range is generally the upper end of the offer where someone is deemed to be fully competent to take on the duties of the role, and leaves room for the employee to progress through the pay range as their experience develops further.

Uisce Éireann is an equal opportunities employer.

We are committed to providing a diverse and inclusive place of work and have a robust strategy and framework called ibelong to enable this. We are an equal opportunity employer and through our recruitment process we welcome and encourage applications from interested and suitably qualified individuals regardless of gender, age, racial or ethnic origin, membership of the traveller community, religion or beliefs, family or civil status, sexual orientation/gender identity or disability.