Water Quality Scientist in City of Westminster

Do you want to make a lasting impact on the health of our rivers, estuaries, and communities? Join us in tackling one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time: water quality. Whether it’s assessing water quality issues of new reservoirs or addressing emerging chemical risks from water recycling schemes, your work will help protect ecosystems, influence national policy, and secure clean water for future generations. Be part of a passionate, nationally leading team committed to creating a more resilient and sustainable world.

This position is available as either full-time or part-time and can be based in any of our office locations. Our largest team presences are in Birmingham, Bristol, Derby, Edinburgh, Epsom, Glasgow, London, Oxford, Peterborough, Swansea, and Manchester; 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 in water quality, water resources planning, flood risk management, and climate analysis. Our team thrives on solving complex challenges related to water quality, resources, and climate resilience.

Your role as a Water Quality Specialist will involve shaping our water management solutions. Collaborating with a friendly and accomplished team, you'll contribute to projects that safeguard our environment, enhancing water quality. Recent projects delivered by our water quality team include Strategic Resource Options for Thames Water, Southern Water, and Anglian Water, river restoration schemes, and working with regulators and the water industry to improve bathing water quality.

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, in areas as diverse as water resources, natural capital, mature-base solutions, flood management, green infrastructure, energy, and transportation. 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 forward sustainable water management solutions for irrigation, potable water supply, and wider infrastructure schemes.

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 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 ensure that you can undertake Continual Professional Development in accordance with requirements of a professional institute.

We are looking for someone flexible, prepared to take on new challenges and learn new skills. Experience in water quality data analysis and risk assessment methodologies 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, Storm Overflow Assessment Framework (SOAF), and Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plans (SODRP). You will have experience of emerging water quality contaminants, including PFAS, including assessment to ensure regulatory compliance and protection of environmental and human health. 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 focused 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-motivated, able to plan ahead and deal with multiple projects running in parallel.

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive - at every stage of your life and your career:

• Competitive salaries
• Employee rewards
• A brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial, and lifestyle choices
• Opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise
• Hybrid working culture
• Flexible holiday allowances

We're committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive, and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family-friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria.