At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape asset planning and protect infrastructure for future growth.
- Company: Join Affinity Water, a leader in sustainable water management.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on community planning and environmental sustainability.
- Qualifications: Degree in relevant field and experience in planning or land strategy.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 39000 £ per year.
Affinity Water has an exciting opportunity to join us as an Asset Scientist – Strategic Planning.
The Role: As an Asset Scientist – Strategic Planning, you will play a pivotal role in shaping how our assets, land use, and infrastructure are protected and planned for future growth. Acting as the main point of contact for Local Planning Authorities (LPAs), you will help guide planning policy, support development management, and ensure our Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) objectives are embedded across the region. You’ll lead the coordination of our land use strategy, working collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to ensure the best value and outcomes for our land assets. With regular engagement across communities, councils, developers, and internal stakeholders, this role is central to driving positive planning outcomes for Affinity Water.
What you’ll be doing:
- Act as the main point of contact for Local Planning Authorities, supporting planning policy and development management matters.
- Coordinate and deliver our LPA Engagement Programme, including guidance materials and webinars.
- Review site allocations and planning policies to ensure protection of our assets and alignment with WRMP objectives.
- Provide specialist planning advice across the business, including responding to planning applications and issuing formal objections where necessary.
- Lead and maintain the company’s Land Strategy, chairing the sub-land group and guiding site allocation decisions.
- Work with developers and internal teams to manage planning enquiries and identify opportunities for asset or environmental improvements.
What you’ll need:
- A relevant degree and chartered membership with RICS or RTPI (or working towards this).
- Strong experience in planning, development management, or land strategy, ideally within our supply area.
- Excellent communication, engagement, and stakeholder-management skills.
- Ability to interpret planning policy, technical information, and site allocation impacts.
- Highly organised, confident, and comfortable working across multiple teams and external partners.
- A project management qualification is desirable.
Advert closes 4/01/2026
Benefits:
- Salary: £30,000 - £39,000 (salary dependant on skills and experience)
- Hours of work: 8.30-5.00pm (Mon - Thurs) and 8.30 - 4.30pm (Friday)
- Learning and development opportunities, including mentoring and a range of formal courses and open learning resources.
- Entry into the company annual bonus scheme.
- Annual leave from 23-27 rising with length of service, and the option to purchase up to 5 extra days.
- A ‘Celebration Day’ in addition to public holidays that people can use to celebrate a religious festival or other occasion that is important to them.
- A generous 'double match pension scheme' that doubles the contributions you make (company contribution capped at 12%)
- We offer a range of family benefits including enhanced Maternity, Adoption, Paternity, Shared Parental Leave, Fertility Support Leave and up to 5 full or 10 half days of paid Carers Leave.
- Menopause policy and Reasonable Adjustment policy to help everyone perform at their best.
- Access to our Wellbeing Centre with support for looking after your physical and mental health.
- Discounts at a Range of Retail Outlets and on Dental and Medical Insurance through our Tap4Perks scheme.
- Up to 4 Affinity days a year to volunteer in the community.
- Life Assurance.
Disability Confident: As a Disability Confident employer, we’re committed to offering interviews to disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria and opt in on the application form. Ask the Talent Acquisition lead for the full job description to see all the criteria. If we have a very high volume of applicants and we’re not able to offer interviews to all, we’ll take a fair and proportionate number of disabled candidates through.
Affinity Water recognises the benefits of greater diversity in our workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We are committed to building a more inclusive culture where every member of our workforce can thrive.
You can find out what it’s like to work at Affinity Water through our career site here where our colleagues share their career development stories and you can get a feel for our company culture.
Asset Scientist – Strategic Planning in Hatfield employer: Affinity Water
Contact Detail:
Affinity Water Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Asset Scientist – Strategic Planning in Hatfield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those connected to Affinity Water. Attend events, webinars, or even local meet-ups to get your name out there and show your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Affinity Water’s projects and values. Be ready to discuss how your skills align with their goals, especially around land use and planning policies. Show them you’re not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! As an Asset Scientist, you'll need to engage with various stakeholders. Role-play potential interview questions with friends or family to boost your confidence and clarity.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Affinity Water team.
We think you need these skills to ace Asset Scientist – Strategic Planning in Hatfield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience in planning and development management. We want to see how your skills align with the Asset Scientist role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!
Show Off Your Communication Skills: Since this role involves a lot of stakeholder engagement, it’s crucial to demonstrate your excellent communication abilities. Use examples from your past experiences where you’ve successfully collaborated with teams or managed external relationships.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read. Avoid jargon unless it’s relevant to the role, and make sure to proofread for any typos or errors.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us without any hiccups. Plus, you can find more information about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Affinity Water
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of planning policies and land strategy. Familiarise yourself with Affinity Water's Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) objectives, as you'll need to demonstrate how your expertise aligns with their goals.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since the role involves a lot of communication with Local Planning Authorities and other stakeholders, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed stakeholder relationships in the past.
✨Showcase Your Organisational Skills
Being highly organised is key for this position. Think of specific instances where you've coordinated projects or managed multiple tasks effectively. Be ready to discuss your project management experience and any relevant qualifications.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the company's land use strategy and community engagement initiatives. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you understand how you can contribute to Affinity Water's mission.