Water Treatment Scientist

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

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.

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.

• 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.

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

• 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…