Catchment Scientist 2025

Are you enthusiastic about environmental science?

Are you a reliable and highly motivated individual? If so, then don’t let this opportunity pass you by…

We want to be the water company people want to be supplied by and want to work for.

As a catchment scientist, you’ll perform investigation activities associated with South East Water’s commitments to the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP). This is an important pledge for us, setting out how we contribute to improving the natural environment.

You’ll help us to deliver a monitoring programme in our Western region by coordinating and conducting our catchment management monitoring activities in groundwater and river catchments. This means working alongside other water companies, Environment Agency, Natural England and other key stakeholders to help quantify and manage pollution risks within our drinking water production areas and safeguarded zones.

In this role, you’ll complete a mixture of field based and desk based activities to capture data, assess and build a picture on the pollution hotspots within your designated catchment. This means you’ll bring attention to detail along with a highly organised, methodical approach. This will enable you to work closely with our catchment advisors so that the best solutions and engagement activities are identified.

This is a great opportunity to build a career whilst helping us to deliver against our environmental and sustainability promises. You’ll have room to develop within the role with a clear progression structure and opportunity to make a real impact on our environmental and business performance.

Main responsibilities

• You’ll collect samples from South East Water catchments including rivers and boreholes in line with all Water Industry National Environment Programme requirements.
• You’ll download and manage hydrometric data from borehole loggers, rain gauges etc.
• You’ll collate, analyse and interpret monitoring data to accurately determine sources of pollution.
• You’ll represent South East Water at relevant external events and conferences.
• You’ll help to produce reports on our catchment management activities.
• You represent the Environmental Team at meetings.

You'll need

Skills / qualifications / experience

• You’ll either have a relevant environment /scientific focused degree or relevant work experience and an interest in science.
• You’ll have a good understanding and/or some experience either through work or study of environmental and management and factors contributing to the pollution of drinking water.
• You have an awareness of water quality standards and regulations.
• You’re methodical and conscientious in your approach.
• Being highly organised, you’ll be able to respond to change and show flexibility in managing your workload.
• You have a clean driver’s licence.

Benefits package

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

We want to be the water company people want to be supplied by and want to work for.

We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That’s why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.