Environmental Scientist (Data Analyst)

Are you passionate about using data to understand and improve the environment? Do you enjoy working with complex time series datasets and turning raw information into meaningful insights?

We're looking for an Environmental Scientist specialising in data analysis to join our Smart Waters team and play a key role in analysing continuous water quality data from one of the largest environmental monitoring programmes in the UK.

The Smart Waters programme is an exciting new programme that requires the installation of around 2,000 continuous water quality monitors upstream and downstream of our outfalls into rivers and coasts across our region by 2035. 

These sensors will generate high‑resolution datasets that help us understand environmental conditions, storm overflow behaviour and long‑term trends.

Your work will directly support evidence‑based decision‑making, operational improvements, and the development of a public‑facing water‑quality dashboard by 2030.

This will be an office-based role in our Bath office with occasional home working, with the possibility to work from our Smart Waters hub in Trowbridge.

Over time, as more monitors are installed, some fieldwork may also be required to help characterise the monitoring sites to develop an understanding of the behaviour of the sites during events. 

What you'll do

In this role, you'll be reporting to the Principal Environmental Scientist and will be mainly responsible for the review, quality checks and interpretation of the data from the continuous water quality monitors. 

As this is a new programme, there is also the opportunity to help identify, develop and embed data analysis methodologies, tools and procedures. You will also be involved with helping to generate the required regulatory reporting for the Smart Waters programme.

The data collected will create an evidence base to help us make informed decisions to reduce harm from our assets. The data insights will need to inform our investment strategies and opportunities for operational efficiencies. 

We must also develop and implement a public-facing dashboard by 2030 to communicate a clear message to the public and stakeholders about the water quality of the water environment and what happens when storm overflows operate.

You will help identify, develop and implement creative ways to automate data validation and analysis to understand what the data means and how best to visualise it graphically (and geospatially, working alongside a geospatial technician) to convey the appropriate and succinct messages to enable effective decisions that lead to positive environmental and stakeholder outcomes.

Initially, this will involve:

• data review of water quality, hydrometry and storm overflow time series data
• interpretation of environmental and wastewater process data
• data checks and validation (to be automated where possible, working alongside the Data Engineering team in our IT department
• detecting anomalies (eg, pollution spikes, sensor drift)
• trend analysis to assess long-term changes
• correlating water quality data with rainfall, discharge events, or land use
• generating reports
• supporting calibration validation by comparing field and lab data
• helping to develop standardised procedures
• using the data to inform operational and investment.

The role will require engagement with other departments to ensure we identify and maximise potential data analysis synergies with existing projects and the available data sources.

Data engineering support will be provided by the IT department, presenting a significant opportunity for development.

What you'll need

Essential experience for the role:

• a degree in a natural science, environmental science, data science, or related field
• demonstrable experience analysing environmental or sensor‑based datasets, including experience working with time-series data
• strong data management and problem‑solving skills
• the ability to communicate analytical findings to technical and non‑technical audiences
• proficiency with Excel and experience using R or Python for data processing
• an understanding of water‑quality parameters (eg, ammonia, turbidity, dissolved oxygen)
• familiarity with environmental datasets, hydrology or wastewater processes.

Desirable experience for the role:

• experience with statistical modelling, anomaly detection or predictive analytics
• experience with GIS tools (preferably ArcGIS) or geospatial Python/R libraries
• an understanding of environmental regulation and catchment management
• experience with version control (Git), reproducible reporting or workflow automation.

What you'll receive

• A combined pension contribution of up to 20%.
• Career progression and professional development opportunities.
• 25 days' holiday rising to 28 with length of service.
• The opportunity to sell up to five days of holiday every year.
• The opportunity to buy up to ten days of holiday each year (subject to conditions).
• A healthcare package that allows you to claim back healthcare costs.
• Life assurance of up to eight times your salary.
• The opportunity to lease a new electric car through salary sacrifice (subject to conditions).
• Cashback and discounts from more than 3,000 retailers.
• One paid volunteering day each year.
• Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements.
• Access to an interactive health and wellbeing platform.
• Support from trained mental health first aiders.
• A £1,000 referral fee if you recommend someone who is successfully recruited by us. 

Who we are

YTL UK is part of the international YTL Group based in Kuala Lumpur. The UK companies include:

• Wessex Water – one of the top-performing water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, serving 2.9 million people across the South West
• YTL Developments – a major UK developer currently redeveloping a 350-acre former airfield into an award-winning, exciting mix of houses, apartments, schools, commercial space, restaurants and hotels, to make a truly sustainable new community
• YTL Construction UK – a top 20 UK contractor providing fully integrated services to infrastructure, residential, commercial, industry, energy and environmental sectors
• YTL Live – the development and operation of an entertainment complex that includes a 20,000 capacity arena, conferencing and exhibition space
• plus a number of other retail, environmental and specialist businesses.

Our people tell us that YTL UK is a great place to work, which is why so many of them stay with us! You will have a unique opportunity to develop and progress your career within such a diverse group.

We are passionate about diversity and inclusion – with that in mind, all applicants are welcome. We are delighted to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a Disability Confident Employer.

If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please inform a member of our Recruitment team.