Salary FROM £45,220 - £53,200 (depending on experience)
Location Hanningfield, Chelmsford
This is a , full time vacancy that will close in 2 days at 23:59 BST.
About the role
Water Quality Technical Specialist
Working hours - Full time 36 hours per week
Permanent
Salary Range - £45,220 - £53,200 per annum
Location - Hanningfield, Chelmsford, Essex (Hybrid)
We’re open to discussing flexible working
About the role
We are currently looking for a Water Quality Technical Specialist (known internally as a Water Quality Scientist) to join our busy and dedicated Water Quality team. This team plays a critical role in ensuring that Essex & Suffolk Water consistently meets all regulatory requirements for drinking water quality.
In this role, you will be responsible for assessing risks to public health for both planned and reactive work. Acting as a technical expert, you’ll investigate a wide range of issues affecting water quality, preparing detailed technical reports and carrying out audits of water treatment processes and network assets.
A key part of the role involves safeguarding public health by providing expert technical advice and guidance to both internal teams and external stakeholders. You will build and maintain strong working relationships with organisations such as Local Authorities, the UK Health Security Agency, and the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
You’ll use data to drive insight, collating and interpreting information to identify areas for improvement and assess performance. You will also take ownership of water quality at your assigned treatment works and assets, helping to develop and embed best practice while ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.
As part of the team, you will also participate in a standby rota, offering support and advice on water quality matters as required.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to make a meaningful impact, using their technical expertise to help protect public health and ensure the highest standards of water quality.
About you
This is a varied and wide-ranging role, so we’re looking for someone with a flexible and adaptable approach who can confidently prioritise a busy and changing workload. You’ll bring experience of working with regulations and risk assessment, supported by a degree in a science-based discipline.
Ideally, you’ll have knowledge of drinking water regulations, along with an understanding of water treatment and distribution systems, although this is not essential.
You’ll be a confident communicator with proven experience of influencing and engaging stakeholders at all levels, and you’ll be comfortable working in a fast-paced, sometimes pressurised environment. Experience of presenting to larger groups would be an advantage, as this will form part of the role.
Strong written communication skills are essential, with the ability to produce clear, concise reports and convey technical information effectively to a wide range of audiences.
A full driving licence is required, as the role involves travel across multiple sites within the Essex & Suffolk and Northumbrian regions.
Here at Northumbrian Water, we embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, and encourage all colleagues to bring their most authentic self to work.
Our colleague network groups include our Rainbow Support Network (LGBTQIA+), REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), WiSTEM (Women in STEM) and Thisability (disability and neurodiversity) networks. They provide a safe space for colleagues from diverse backgrounds, welcoming all colleagues regardless of their personal characteristics to participate in valuable conversation that improves our organisational awareness, understanding and inclusivity.
We encourage and welcome all applications, as we strive to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to having diverse communities represented within all our teams, structures, and organisation.
About us
Here are NWG we strive to make Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) a Great Place to Work, for all. We embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity and encourage you to bring your full self to work. As an equal opportunity employer we’re committed to having a diverse community represented across our business.
We’re aware that not everyone will have every skill listed in the job description, however if you have some of the skills listed, we'd encourage you to apply
Please note:
This role has been defined as a safety or security critical role and as a condition of a formal offer of employment you’ll be required to undergo a drug and alcohol test. Prospective employees and agency workers in defined safety and security critical roles will be required to undertake a drug and alcohol test after the job offer has been made. This will be prior to or within four weeks of their start date.
Prospective employees and agency workers who fail a pre-employment urine drug screen will have their sample analysed by the Company appointed laboratory as a matter of course. Failing a pre-employment drugs or alcohol test may lead to the job offer being revoked.
Please note this role will require a DBS to be completed prior to employment.
NWG at a glance:
Our purpose at NWG is caring for the essential needs of our communities and environment, now and for generations to come.
We do this by providing reliable and affordable water and wastewater services for our customers.
We make a positive difference by operating efficiently and investing prudently, to maintain a sustainable and resilient business.
Our vision is to be the national leader in the provision of sustainable water and wastewater services. To support us in achieving our vision, we have five core values which are the guiding principles, defining who we are, what we do and how we do it.
Our benefits
We’re a Great Place to Work because of the amazing people who work for us, and to say thank you we offer a range of benefits to colleagues. Our ‘Tap Into’ benefits include:
Generous holiday entitlement starting at 26 days, plus bank holidays and additional time off on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. There’s also the option to buy or sell holidays.
Company pension scheme, where we’ll double match your contributions up to an employer contribution of 10%.
Free access to local attractions.
A fantastic discount scheme, with savings on days out, shopping, travel and more.
Award winning ‘Living Well’ wellbeing support, including access to a digital GP service for you and your family members.
Support with sustainable travel – through salary sacrifice cars and a cycle to work scheme.
Financial wellbeing support – access our community savings scheme, financial education and low cost loans through Salary Finance. We also provide 4 x Life Assurance and an Income Protection Scheme.
Support with your development – we offer a range of development opportunities, can support you through an interest free qualification loan and we’ll even pay for any relevant professional body subscription.
About us
NWG (Northumbrian Water Group) provides water and sewerage services to 2.7 million people in the North East of England as Northumbrian Water, and water services to 1.5 million people in the South East of England as Essex & Suffolk Water.
We are proud to serve our customers and we're committed to delivering great service, putting our customers at the heart of everything we do.
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Our values
Our values describe our main principles, qualities and attributes. They are the guiding principles which define who we are, what we do and how we do it. They make us different from our competitors and guide our decisions and actions to drive us towards our vision.
Our values are:
Results Driven
We take responsibility for achieving excellent business results.
Ethical
We are open and honest and meet our commitments with a responsible approach to the environment and our communities.
Customer Focused
We aim to exceed the expectations of our internal and external customers.
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Innovative
We continuously strive for innovative and better ways to deliver our business.
One Team
We work together consistently, promoting co-operation, to achieve our corporate objectives.
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Colleague benefits
We’re the great company we are because of you – our people. As our way of saying thanks, you'll be eligible to some of our wide range of benefits and discounts to take advantage of.
To find out more about our benefits, see our benefits booklet attached to this advert.
Eyecare
Discounted Medicals
Employee Assistance Programme
Cycle2work
Buying & selling annual leave
Long service awards
Salary sacrifice car scheme
Computer
Loans
Award winning wellbeing site
NWG savings scheme
Company pension scheme
Pre-retirement workshops
Life assurance
Christmas savings club
Discounts & cashback offers
Qualification loan
Documents
Business Plan 2025-30 - Essex & Suffolk Water - DownloadBusiness Plan 2025-30 - Main Report - DownloadBusiness Plan 2025-30 - Northumbrian Water - DownloadRestore and Regenerate - Our Environment Strategy to 2050 - DownloadJD Water Quality Scientist June 2026.docx - Download
