Assistant Water Quality Scientist/Water Quality Scientist

Job Description

Overview

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 modelling the River Thames or addressing emerging chemical risks, 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 and part‑time and is based in our Oxford office, but you would also work with specialists from our other national office bases as required (including Epsom, Bristol, Birmingham, Derby, Peterborough, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Swansea).

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.

AtkinsRéalis business is one of the world's most respected design, engineering, and project management consultancies, with over 36,000 employees worldwide. At AtkinsRéalis, we offer more than just a job. We offer an opportunity to make a difference and shape the world to benefit future generations and the natural environment. Our Water Management Consultancy Practice covers a wider range of specialisms – including environmental chemistry, water quality, catchment management, hydrology/water resource planning, and geomorphology.

We pride ourselves on the quality of our work and the depth of our technical expertise. We currently have a number of new exciting and technically challenging projects in the wider quality area. We welcome application from enthusiastic scientists in this field. The post can be full‑time or part‑time; with flexibility to make this work for you. As a Water Quality scientist, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping our water management solutions. Collaborating with a friendly and accomplished team, you'll contribute to projects that safeguard our environment, enhancing water quality. This is an exciting opportunity to make a difference in an industry that's evolving rapidly.

Recent projects delivered by our water quality team include simulating the whole of the freshwater River Thames to support strategic water resource options, updating catchment models used as the standard for regulatory planning across the England and Wales, developing and implementing a new approach to drainage and wastewater management, 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 forwards sustainable water management solutions for irrigation, potable water supply and wider infrastructure schemes.

Your role

• 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.
• This role will involve a mixture of fieldwork, (for example, water quality sampling, flow surveys, site walkovers), and desk-based work, providing hands on support for a variety of environmental and water quality related projects.
• 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 also 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 make sure that you can undertake Continual Professional Development in accordance with requirements of a professional institute.

About you

• We are looking for someone flexible, prepared to take on new challenges and learn new skills.
• A full UK driving licence (or equivalent) is essential.
• You will be flexible to travel to different project sites as required.
• Experience in water quality sampling/fieldwork and data analysis methodologies is desirable.
• 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 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‑organized, able to plan ahead and deal with multiple projects running in parallel.
• You will enjoy working outdoors, be detailed-orientated, and have a strong interest in environmental / water quality science.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are 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 ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

Worker Type

Job Type

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.