Wessex Water

We have a great opportunity for a Scientist to join our dedicated Laboratory team. In this role, you will utilise your interest and experience in science to support our customer commitment programme, which involves providing drinking water and wastewater recycling services to a wide customer base, while also protecting the environment.

If you have a desire to use your current scientific knowledge and put it to practical use, then we want to hear from you.

We are looking at positions at both our Saltford Lab and Filton Lab.

What you'll do

The Scientific Centre, which uses state-of-the-art instruments and methodology, plays an integral part in delivering excellence to our customers. Our work helps ensure that we provide the highest quality drinking water and sewerage treatment services to our 2.9 million customers across the South West of England. We operate seven days a week, testing both drinking and wastewater. We also provide a service for external customers, such as local authorities, drinking water providers and environmental consultants. 

As a Scientist, you will be analysing samples, potable and wastewater, which have come from across our region. You will ensure that routine chemical and microbiological analyses of samples are carried out to a required standard (DWI and EA requirements) and within turnaround time while maintaining UKAS accreditation.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve:

• registering supply samples onto our LIMS
• analysing potable and wastewater samples
• working safely in a laboratory environment
• keeping meticulous records to comply with our quality requirements
• entering data into company systems
• maintaining and running equipment and instruments
• communicating and interacting with other members of the team.

What you'll need

You will have a degree in an appropriate discipline (Microbiology/Biology/Chemistry) and/or equivalent experience working within a laboratory environment. Due to the nature of the work, experience in the Water industry or Food/Pharmaceutical industry will be ideal. Vital to this role is having a great eye for detail, a methodical approach and being a great team player. Of course, it's not all about the science, we also need your great interpersonal skills in order to develop and maintain the effective working relationships which make Wessex Water a top-performing company.

Our team's technical knowledge and expertise are especially vital to our work, so full practical training will be provided. We offer everyone a range of tailored development opportunities to enable you to progress through the competency framework at a pace which is right for you. Your personal training programme will include support to attain professional qualification or accreditation as well as other development courses. 

What you'll receive

• Total pension contributions up to 20%.
• Career progression and professional development opportunities.
• 25 days' holiday rising to 28 with length of service.
• The opportunity to buy up to ten days' holiday and sell up to five every year.
• A healthcare package that allows you to claim back healthcare costs.
• Life assurance of up to eight times your salary.
• A new electric car in exchange for part of your gross salary, subject to conditions.
• Cashback and discounts from more than 3,000 retailers.
• One paid volunteering day each year.
• Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements.
• An interactive health and wellbeing platform.
• Support from mental health first aiders.
• A £1,000 referral fee if you recommend someone to work for 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 Arena – the development and operation of an entertainment complex that includes a 19,000 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.