Principal Catchment Scientist

Are you a motivated individual who is looking for a role where you can make a real difference in improving the local environment? If so, we have a great opportunity to join our team as a Principal Catchment Scientist.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead and manage our Catchment Science team's work in delivering scientific services and support to the business in terms of catchment data collection, collation and analysis, modelling and reporting.

The team provides the scientific evidence base for catchment risks to water quality and for the effectiveness of catchment management in improving water quality. We also quantify the baseline loadings of diffuse pollutants to water and the effectiveness of diffuse pollution mitigation measures, which is a vital service required by the business.

You will manage and guide members of the team, acting as catchment science lead for the business, ensuring that catchment science tasks, projects and programmes are delivered safely to quality, time and budget.

What you'll do

You will manage catchment science projects and manage the provision of scientific services and support to the business. This will involve:

• designing, delivering and reporting the company's catchment science requirements and projects, which are required to meet license and permit requirements and for responding to operational incidents
• managing the Catchment Science team and line management of individuals, providing monitoring services, information and advice to other departments, regulators and other stakeholders
• managing and guiding team members undertaking in-field monitoring, including soil and water sampling
• leading a high-performing team to ensure that team members continually learn and have opportunities for progression and development within a technical area
• managing programmes of projects to ensure the delivery of outputs safely and to quality, time and budget requirements
• Data management, including quality control and assurance
• Scoping potential catchment management opportunities
• developing and assessing diffuse pollution mitigation measures in liaison with the Catchment Delivery team, and developing monitoring and modelling approaches to assess the impacts of these measures
• quality assurance and the analysis of existing data and data collected in the field and reporting the results of work to regulators
• being responsible for financial forecasting catchment science programmes of work, adhering to budgets and obtaining financial approval for project spend
• procuring equipment and support services and overseeing contractors delivering catchment science-related projects
• the presentation of projects to internal and external audiences
• the development of the profile of our catchment management approach internally and externally.

What you'll need

• Established catchment/environmental scientist with five years of workplace experience.
• Strong scientific skills and experience with advanced data management skills.
• A degree or higher in environmental science, natural science, soil science or similar subject, ideally at Masters level or above.
• Highly numerate with excellent data analysis and statistical skills.
• IT skills including GIS packages, R, spreadsheets and word processing.
• Experience line managing/supervising staff.
• The ability to plan your own workload and organise your team's workload.
• Strong communication skills including the ability to write detailed reports and present compelling arguments to a range of internal and external audiences.
• The ability to work mainly in an office environment, but also in the field when required.
• Motivated and enthusiastic about environmental and sustainable land management issues.
• Knowledge of catchment processes and land management practices, environmental legislation and issues relating to water abstraction/wastewater discharge/diffuse water pollution.
• Experience with tools and models available for diffuse water pollution quantification, water quality, hydrology, hydrogeology, monitoring and data interpretation and sourcing.
• A full UK driving license.

What you'll receive

• Total pension contributions up to 20%.
• Career progression and professional development opportunities.
• 25 days' holiday rising to 28 with length of service.
• The opportunity to buy up to ten days' holiday and sell up to five every year.
• A healthcare package that allows you to claim back healthcare costs.
• Life assurance of up to eight times your salary.
• Cashback and discounts from more than 3,000 retailers.
• One paid volunteering day each year.
• Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements.
• An interactive health and wellbeing platform.
• Support from mental health first aiders.
• A £1,000 referral fee if you recommend someone to work for us.

Who we are

We are one of the top-performing water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, serving 2.9 million people across the South West.

The work we do goes beyond providing an essential public service. We also aim to have a positive impact on the communities we serve and the natural environment.

Our people tell us Wessex Water is a great place to work, which is why so many of them stay with us! You will have the opportunity to develop and progress your career, while also receiving health and wellbeing support.

We also continue to promote diversity and inclusion – with that in mind, all applicants are welcome. We are delighted to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a Disability Confident Employer.

This is an exciting opportunity to join us and if you would like to be part of our journey, we would love to hear from you. Please do not hesitate to let us know about any additional support you may need.

Sound interesting? Click Apply now