Senior Water Quality Scientist

This position is available as either full-time and part-time and can be based in any of our office locations.  Our largest team presences are in: Birmingham, Bristol, Derby, Edinburgh, Epsom, Glasgow, Oxford, Peterborough, Swansea and Warrington.  However, we have offices in many other locations across the UK where you could be based.

Could you take a key role in water quality services within our friendly and successful water management consultancy?  This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate looking to progress their career at an exciting time for the industry. Our Water Management Consultancy operates at the interface between people and the water environment, with specialisms including water quality, water resources planning, flood risk, sustainable river management, and aquatic ecology.

AtkinsRéalis’ business is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering, and project management consultancies, with over 36,000 employees worldwide. At AtkinsRéalis, we offer more than just a job. We offer an opportunity to make a difference and shape the world to benefit future generations and the natural environment.  Our Water Management Consultancy Practice covers a wider range of specialisms – including environmental chemistry, water quality, catchment management, hydrology/water resource planning, and geomorphology.

We pride ourselves on the quality of our work and the depth of our technical expertise.  We currently have a number of new exciting and technically challenging projects in the wider quality area.  We welcome applications from enthusiastic scientists in this field.  As a Water Quality Specialist, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping our water management solutions. Collaborating with a friendly and accomplished team, you’ll contribute to projects that safeguard our environment, enhancing water quality. This is an exciting opportunity to make a difference in an industry that’s evolving rapidly.

Recent projects delivered by our water quality team include simulating the whole of the freshwater River Thames to support strategic water resource options, updating catchment models used as the standard for regulatory planning across the England and Wales, developing and implementing a new approach to drainage and wastewater management, working with regulators and the water industry to improve bathing water quality and exploring the presence of emerging contaminants in drinking water.

You will join a team of nearly 200 water management specialists, supporting our clients in making the right strategic investment decisions for critical infrastructure, in changing futures and climates. We work for clients across the UK, including central government, regulators, the water industry, NGOs, and local authorities. Beyond the UK, we play an important role in supporting major international development banks and private clients in driving forwards sustainable water management solutions for irrigation, potable water supply and wider infrastructure schemes.

Responsibilities:

• You will be joining an established and successful team, working with our water quality Technical Authority on the coordination and delivery of water quality investigations. 
• You will work effectively as part of a team and with other professionals (environmental scientists, engineers, planners) throughout AtkinsRéalis to provide a consistent and integrated service to our clients.
• You also will champion high standards of performance, influence project development and deliver sustainable outcomes.
• You will undertake your own work to an excellent standard, and review the work of others, leading on projects and frameworks as appropriate.
• You will additionally work closely with our clients to develop trusted relationships, supporting them in a confident, professional manner. 
• You will support on bid preparation and help develop new areas of business for the team. 
• We will support and train you with all of this and make sure that you can undertake Continual Professional Development in accordance with requirements of a professional institute.

The individual:

• We are looking for someone flexible, prepared to take on new challenges and learn new skills.
• Experience in water quality (river, coastal and/or drinking water quality) is essential.
• You will have a degree or higher in an environmental or science subject; you will ideally be chartered or working towards chartership. 
• You will have good numerical and data analysis skills and good writing skills.
• You will have a good knowledge of environmental water quality regulation; for example the Water Framework Directive, Bathing Water Directive, Drinking Water Directive, Storm Overflow Assessment Framework (SOAF).  
• You will have an ability to develop innovative approaches in new technical areas and in data-poor environments to support clients in decision-making.
• You will be highly self-motivated, possessing strong enthusiasm, commitment to delivering sustainable outcomes and focussed on delivering technical excellence.  
• A skilled collaborative worker, you will have great interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate effectively with different teams, clients, and stakeholders. 
• You will be well-organised, able to plan ahead and deal with multiple projects running in parallel.

Read more about how you can thrive with us: Equality, diversity & inclusion in the UK & Europe (atkinsrealis.com) 

Why work for AtkinsRéalis? 

We're ranked as one of LinkedIn's Top 25 Companies, where UK professionals want to work and stay once, they join. We've also made the Times Top 50 employers for women. 

Our Infrastructure team uses innovation, new approaches and the power of data to help our clients deliver end-to-end projects and programmes for essential future infrastructure. And as the work becomes ever more complex, our employees continue to challenge the status quo. 

We're committed to engineering better for people and our planet, from our global Engineering Net-Zero programme to creating social value through EDAROTH community housing. We're proud of our active employee networks creating awareness and allyship for our under-represented groups. Not to mention programmes supporting communities outside AtkinsRéalis, including schools, charities, ex-forces and professionals returning after career breaks. 

Security clearance: 

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance.  If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance. 

We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop. To help embed inclusion for all, from day one, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee networks to support staff from different backgrounds. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. 

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