At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead investigations into drinking water quality and resolve customer concerns.
- Company: Join Southern Water, a leader in environmental sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Comprehensive training provided; flexible working arrangements available.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in public health while building your career.
- Qualifications: Degree in a scientific field; customer service experience is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 28500 - 28500 £ per year.
Location: Durrington (Worthing) Hybrid working - 2 days in the office
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 37 hours a week
Salary: From £28,500 depending on skills and experience
There has never been a better time to join our organisation as we build towards a greener future, protecting drinking water quality, tackling climate change, minimising our environmental impact and reducing our carbon footprint!
This role, within our Water Quality Customer Care Team (within Water Quality and Compliance department), involves taking ownership of customer cases of drinking water quality concerns through to resolution as well as acting as the Scientific Subject Matter Expert (SME) for all things drinking water related.
The Water Quality Customer Care Team have an extremely important job here at Southern Water, ensuring the protection of public health by providing advice and guidance to customers in relation to drinking water quality.
Job Overview
Working within a team of scientists, you’ll take ownership for case management for customer concerns about drinking water quality – liaising with both external customers and internal stakeholders to arrange site investigation visits and/or testing of water. You will offer advice to others on science-related matters, acting as the SME.
Day to day you’ll be responsible for:
- Leading investigations including arranging water sample collection and investigations
- Keeping customers updated with the progress of their case via email, telephone and letter
- Liaising with other internal departments where necessary to move forward investigations
- Champion continuous improvement in the team
- Escalate queries when required to ensure closure of the case
- Taking full ownership of your case load: ensuring cases are fully resolved
- Work to KPIs in regard to case management
About You
You will be degree educated in a Scientific, Environmental or Engineering related discipline with ideally some customer service experience and a team working ethos (but full training will be given). We are happy to consider graduates with no work experience as well as experienced professionals who are keen to move into this role (e.g. Environmental Health Officer or other similar profession). Experience of water science would give you an advantage but is not essential.
To be suitable you will have:
- Degree (BEng or BSc) qualified in relevant discipline
- Keen interest to work towards Chartered Status (we will support this journey)
- Excellent communication skills
- Ideally awareness of the associated risks in relation to drinking water quality
- Ideally some experience of working in Customer Service industry (retail, sales, working with the public etc)
Southern Water will provide comprehensive training on the job, so if you don’t feel you meet all the criteria but are keen to work in this role, please apply – the only requisite is the Degree Qualification.
Package
This role will be full time Monday to Friday with a hybrid approach to working between our Durrington (Worthing) office and home. The general rule is 2 days on site, with 3 days from home; however, when you first start, there will be a requirement to be onsite more for training, then with time will come more flexibility. If you prefer to work in the office all the time that is fine.
Southern Water Benefits include:
- Generous pension up to 10% company contribution
- 28 days annual leave
- Life assurance equal to 4x salary
- Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months service)
- Health Cash Plan
- Fully funded eye tests
- Two paid volunteering days a year
- Occupational health service
- Discounts with over 800 popular retailers
- Digital GP service
- Study support may be available for job-related qualifications
- Competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options
- Cycle to work scheme
Join our Water Quality Customer Care Team and see how far your career could progress with a company committed to career progression, training and development opportunities, our customers and the environment.
If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here: Introduce Yourself (myworkdaysite.com)
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose. To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support – because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority. That’s why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve.
Joining the Southern Water family means you’ll become part of our incident support team. During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that may apply to your position.
All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility (e.g. a passport or long birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months), which will be required as part of the recruitment process. If you do not meet these criteria, your application will not be considered.
Water Quality Case Scientist in Worthing employer: Southern Water
Southern Water is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that values innovation and collaboration in the heart of Falmer, Brighton. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will have access to ongoing training and growth opportunities while working on impactful infrastructure projects that contribute to the community. The hybrid working model promotes a healthy work-life balance, making it a rewarding place for professionals seeking meaningful employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Water Quality Case Scientist in Worthing
✨Get Involved in Local Environmental Initiatives
Dive into your local environmental scenes, like community clean-up projects or eco-focused events. Not only will you meet like-minded people, but it's a surefire way to showcase your passion and skills in environmental engineering tech.
✨Join Industry-Specific Organisations
Check out organisations like the Institution of Environmental Engineers for networking opportunities and resources. They often host events and seminars that can help us connect with key players in the industry, including potential employers like Southern Water.
✨Show Off Your Projects and Passion
Create a portfolio that highlights any relevant projects, whether it's coursework, internships, or personal initiatives. Share this online, perhaps even on platforms like GitHub or your own website, to grab the attention of hiring managers looking for talent like us.
✨Utilise Environmental Job Boards
Take advantage of niche job boards dedicated to environmental careers. Sites like Green Jobs, Environmental Career and EcoJobs often feature openings from companies like Southern Water and can help us land that full-time gig.
We think you need these skills to ace Water Quality Case Scientist in Worthing
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for a role in environmental engineering tech, make sure to highlight your technical skills like CAD software proficiency, data analysis, or modelling techniques. These are essential for the job and should stand out in your CV and cover letter, showing how you can contribute to projects at Southern Water.
Demonstrate Your Passion for Sustainability:In this field, showcasing your passion for sustainability and environmental protection can set you apart. Include any relevant projects, volunteer experience, or courses that underline your commitment to these causes. Southern Water will appreciate candidates who genuinely care about making a difference.
Tailor Your Application to the Role:Don't just send a generic CV and cover letter. Make sure to tailor your application to the specific role of Water Quality Case Scientist at Southern Water. Highlight experiences that align directly with the job description and give concrete examples of your work to demonstrate that you’re the right fit for a full-time position.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have certifications related to environmental engineering or technology, like LEED Accreditation or any relevant software certifications, make sure to mention them. These qualifications can boost your application and show that you’re serious about your professional development in this competitive field.
How to prepare for a job interview at Southern Water
✨Brush Up on Environmental Regulations
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest environmental regulations and standards. In an environmental engineering tech role at Southern Water, you might be asked specific questions about compliance measures, so understanding these will definitely give you an edge.
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your proficiency with relevant tools and software, such as AutoCAD or GIS. You might be given a practical problem to solve during the interview, so it’s a great idea to brush up on these skills and perhaps even bring a portfolio of your projects to showcase your technical prowess.
✨Highlight Your Passion for Sustainability
In a full-time role, employers are looking for commitment and enthusiasm. Share your experiences, studies, or projects that reflect your passion for environmental sustainability. This will show Southern Water that you're not just qualified but genuinely invested in the field.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Be ready for behavioural questions that assess how you handle teamwork, conflict, and project management. Think of examples from your studies or practical experiences where you tackled challenges effectively, showcasing both your technical and interpersonal skills.
