National Monitoring Team Assistant Scientist

We are recruiting for a full time, Dingwall based National Monitoring Team Assistant Scientist on a fixed term basis until 17th March 2027.

Here at SEPA, we’re connected by a passion that drives us to be purposeful in every action we take – to protect our environment. Through our expertise, we lead projects that make a difference for Scotland, and our workplaces are grounded in respect for that expertise.

As National Monitoring Team Assistant Scientist, you’ll discover enriching benefits, meaningful support, and opportunities to learn every day. That’s what it means to be Passionately Purposeful – for our environment, and for your career.

Experts at what we do, we work in a professional way towards our shared goals, knowing the work we do makes a genuine, lasting difference on the environment. As National Monitoring Team Assistant Scientist, that involves:

• Role will be primarily field-based, supporting the delivery of SEPA’s National Monitoring Plan (NMP). This will involve collecting aqueous samples across a range of environments, including rivers, lochs, coastal waters and licensed discharges
• Be responsible in the scheduling of your own work, such as planning, prioritisation of workload and respond to changing pressures or requirements
• Be responsible for maintaining and updating sampling point descriptors, carry out dynamic risk assessments, and ensure all work is conducted safely. The role also requires completion of relevant training, including safe driving and working near swift water
• The post plays a key role in supporting evidence collection to assess and ensure compliance, while communicating effectively with customers and external stakeholders
• Support the wider delivery of the National Monitoring Programme (NMP), working collaboratively with colleagues across Ecology, Hydrometry and Regulation to meet their sampling requirements
• May be called upon to support environmental sampling during pollution incidents. Applying your sampling skills, you will assist response teams in collecting quality samples that may be used as evidence in any enforcement actions
• This role involves significant driving; therefore, a full UK driving licence is essential. Sampling is carried out year-round, often in challenging conditions and at varied hours, requiring physical effort, movement across uneven terrain and, at times, working within watercourses

This is a highly important role within our portfolio, which means you’ll need:

• HNC or equivalent in a relevant Science related subject is essential e.g. Chemistry, Environmental Science
• Good interpersonal, oral and written communication skills as well as good organisational skills, such as planning, prioritisation of workload
• Have knowledge of the planning for and sampling of the water environment, this includes an understanding of H&S requirements relevant to the role
• Have an understanding of operating, maintaining and troubleshooting environmental monitoring equipment
• Comfortable working with multiple systems and databases, maintaining high levels of accuracy and attention to detail

We’re cultivating a workplace that supports not only your passion and your professional lives, but your personal life. So, you’ll find benefits that make a difference at work and h as:

• Hybrid and Flexible working opportunities
• Up to 35 days annual leave and 7 additional public holidays each year (pro rata)
• Paid time off to support your Wellbeing and enable you to Volunteer in your community
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Progressive Family Friendly policies
• Training & development to enable colleagues to improve their skills, competencies and knowledge to perform at their best.

Plus, many more lifestyle benefits such as 24/7 access to an online employee discount platform, credit union facilities and access to a Cycle to Work Scheme.

SEPA is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and good relations in everything it does – as a community leader, as a provider and commissioner of services, and as an employer.

Protecting our environment, promoting our work,…