Principal Drinking Water Scientist

Salary: Circa £85,000 per annum dependent on skills and experience 
Hours: 37 hours per week 
Contract: Permanent 
Location: Across the Anglian Water Region, covering areas such as Ipswich, Norwich, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Bedford, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Grantham, Lincoln

Are you ready to lead scientific excellence in drinking water quality and make a real impact on public health and environmental compliance for our customers?

We are looking for a Principal Drinking Water Scientist to lead our technical Drinking Water Process and Network Science team.  Your team of 39 water quality professionals will ensure the safety and quality of our drinking water by working alongside our operational colleagues to deliver safe, wholesome water to our customers.  This is a pivotal leadership role within our Quality, Environment and Assurance business unit, reporting directly to the Head of Science.

At Anglian Water our Scientific Department are combined to create a centre of Scientific Excellence.   Where our operational scientists, laboratory function and strategic science come together. This role provides a fantastic opportunity to exploit the Scientific knowledge within our Department, as you focus your team on value-adding interventions and risk mitigation. Collaboration with the Science Leadership team and wider leadership teams, as well as external engagement, will be essential to ensure learning and actions benefit both our customers and the business. Your effective leadership and close working relationship with our Operational colleagues will ensure we embed positive proactive interventions across our Operations.

You will lead the team in maintaining scientific rigor, assurance, and innovation to provide wholesome water to our customers 24/7 efficiently. The development, engagement, safety, and well-being of your team are crucial in making Science a fantastic place to work and progress. This role will require significant travel leading a field team based across the Anglian Water region.

In this role, you will:

• Showcase your leadership and technical skills and knowledge equally, understanding that this team plays a pivotal role protecting drinking water quality across our Operations

• Lead your team to build efficiency through our processes so that they can focus on proactive interventions that generate tangible benefits for our customers

• Enable the team to effectively lead investigations into water quality incidents, providing root cause analysis and implementing learning to ensure future mitigation

• Drive the safety of the team forwards, putting safety at the heart of what we do

• Collaborate and positively challenge to deliver desired business outcomes and meet customer demands now and in the future

• Build trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including the DWI and public health agencies

• Act as escalation for our Regional Standby

• Own and audit technical procedures to ensure regulatory alignment

• Champion training, development, and competency across scientific and operational teams

We invest in our people - as a valued employee, you’ll be entitled to: 

• Personal private health care  

• Generous double match pension – contribute 7% and Anglian Water will contribute 14%, giving a total contribution of 21%

• 24-hour Virtual GP service for you and your household 

• 26 days annual leave – rising with length of service and the ability to buy more 

• Life assurance (up to 8 x salary) 

• Personal accident cover (up to 5 x salary)

• Excellent family friendly policies, such as 26 weeks full pay for maternity / adoption leave, as well as 4 weeks paid paternity / partner leave. Opportunity for shared parental pay 

• Bonus scheme  

• Flexible benefits and working culture to support your wellbeing and lifestyle

We’re looking for someone with:

• Inspirational leadership and team development experience

• Strategic thinking and stakeholder engagement

• Excellent communication and reporting

• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 tools (Excel, PowerBI, Teams)

• Customer-focused mindset and adaptability

• A background in operational or drinking water science

• Understanding of health, safety, and wellbeing systems

• Degree in a scientific discipline

Inclusion at Anglian Water

At Anglian Water, we are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone feels they belong. We proudly hold the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award, are a Disability Confident employer, and champion initiatives to support diversity, equity and inclusion.

Why join us?

You’ll be joining a team where leadership, collaboration, and service excellence are at the heart of everything we do. We’re passionate about developing our people and helping them thrive. If you're looking for a role where your leadership can make a real impact—on our teams and every new joiner—this could be your next move.

Closing date: 12th November  

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