Process Scientist - Water (10 month opportunity) in Highland

Together we are Trusted to Serve Scotland. Most people don’t think too much about how clean water reaches their taps. Or what happens to their water. But Scottish Water does. In fact, it’s all we think about. Want to help? As a Process Scientist, you’ll be on the front lines of making sure Scotland’s water is totally, dependably pure. An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the East Process Science Team on a Fixed-Term opportunity for up to 10 months, and support delivery of excellent customer service and great water quality. We are recruiting for a role in the East region (Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen).

What you’ll do

• You’ll join our team of Process Scientists who provide operational, scientific and technical advice from source to tap, across the water network in the East of Scotland.
• Together, you’ll make sure we sail far beyond the compliance and regulatory requirements – all in the name of great water quality.
• You’ll carry out root cause analysis and problem solve issues at our water assets.
• You’ll also identify potential efficiencies or innovations to make things better.
• Safeguarding public health and the environment.

What you’ll bring

• A strong understanding of water treatment processes and scientific principles.
• Delivering great customer service.
• Commitment to always improving processes.
• Willingness to get stuck in, ask questions and innovate while keeping our regulatory requirements in mind.
• An ability to work with a wide range of people across Scottish Water, including sharing ideas and support with a team covering the West of Scotland and wider.
• Independence and planning skills.

What you’ll need

• A science background and understanding of water treatment processes.
• Experience on an operational water treatment site and maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.
• A full UK driving licence.

Looking out for you

While the work we do is important, we know it’s not the only thing that matters. That’s why we make sure you have everything you need to find a good work-life balance. You’ll get plenty of time to recharge with 38 days (Pro-rata) of holiday every year (including public holidays). And you can even buy five more if you need a little extra time. You can also take time off to volunteer in your community. When it comes to major life events we have family-friendly policies around adoption, maternity, and parental leave. And for the everyday? We embrace flexible working. For your future, there’s our pension (the ‘know-what-you’ll-get-when-you-retire’ kind), and life assurance. As for some nice extras? You can expect an annual company bonus. Not to mention access to SW Splash – handy rewards that can save you money on holidays, bills, and shopping.

The not-so-small print

This role will be a Grade 6. If you’re new to Scottish Water, you’ll join us on a starting salary of £37,815 (Pro-rata). Performance-driven pay progression would then allow you to move through the range to a maximum of £48,395 (Pro-rata). If you’re interested in this role – or know someone else who might be - we’ll be accepting applications until midnight on 5th August 2026. Job offers at Scottish Water are conditional, and will be confirmed on completion of our pre-employment screening, e.g. referencing, criminal record checks, license checks, etc. Screening is conducted on our behalf by a third party, and must be completed before your start date. Don’t worry - we’ll only start these checks once you’ve accepted an offer.

A few final things worth knowing… Research shows that some people avoid applying for jobs unless they can meet every single criteria. If you’re interested in this job, but don’t tick all the boxes, apply anyway! We hardly ever hire people who can do every part of a job from Day One. Everyone has a learning curve. So don’t rule yourself out! Let us know if there are any changes we can make to our recruitment process to help you perform at your best. Lots of our people have disabilities or neurodiverse conditions (including some of our recruiters!). We're also aware that some people might be experiencing temporary challenges because of life events, like menopause. We’re very used to making adjustments, so please don’t be afraid to ask.

As part of our commitment to developing a flourishing Scotland, it’s important that all our employees are Scottish taxpayers. If you join us, your home address will need to be in Scotland. If you don’t already live here, you'll need to commit to moving here within your first three months. Please note, Scottish Water takes the safety, health and wellbeing of our employees, colleagues and customers very seriously.