Together we are Trusted to Serve Scotland.
Most people don't think too much about how clean water reaches their taps. Or what happens to their wastewater.
But Scottish Water does. In fact, it's all we think about.
Want to help? As a Scientist in our busy Organics Wing in Edinburgh, you'll be on the front lines of making sure Scotland's drinking water is totally, dependably pure.
What you'll be doing
Clean water doesn't just happen. Our team of 320 samplers, scientists and support staff analyse their way through an average of one test every minute. With so many tests going through the lab, you'll prioritise work within your team. You'll manage routine maintenance of instrumentation to help avoid unplanned downtime.
Day-to-day, you'll be using specialist lab instruments like LCMS, GCMS, and TRI-CARB LSC, focusing on a specific area of analytical science to ensure Scotland's water quality is top-notch. Then you'll help us translate the results for our customers. Getting it right is important, so you'll work to ISO 17025 standards (if you know, you know).
Together, we'll tackle environmental challenges head-on, driving toward our Beyond Net Zero ambition while proudly upholding our ISO 14001 certification.
Naturally, we've got a big focus on health and safety. The goal? 100% compliance with the strictest standards - many of them set out in law.
What you'll need
First of all, you love science. You know chemical testing and analysis inside-out, ideally backed up by an HND or degree-level qualification in a related scientific discipline. Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace is your priority.
Ideally, you'll have some experience working in an ISO 17025 or GLP-accredited analytical laboratory - or at least have a good handle on the standard.
Beyond that, we hope that delivering great customer service is what gets you out of bed in the morning. You're committed to always improving processes.
What you'll get
While the work we do is important, we know it's not the only thing that matters. That's why we make sure you have everything you need to find a good work-life balance.
This is a full-time (35 hours per week) role with some weekend working and standby requirements. You'll get plenty of time to recharge with 38 days of holiday every year (including public holidays). You can even buy five more if you need a little extra time. You can also take time off to volunteer in your community.
When it comes to major life events, we have family-friendly policies around adoption, maternity, and parental leave. For the everyday? We embrace flexible working. For your future, there's our pension (the 'know-what-you'll-get-when-you-retire' kind) and life assurance.
As for some nice extras? You can expect an annual company bonus and access to SW Splash - handy rewards that can save you money on holidays, bills, and shopping.
The not-so-small print
This role will be a Grade 5. If you're new to Scottish Water, you'll join us on a starting salary of £29,800, with performance-driven pay progression allowing you to move through the range to a maximum of £35,760.
The laboratory provides analytical services from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm with some weekend working and standby requirements. Weekend shift working will be required in this role.
Job offers at Scottish Water are conditional and will be confirmed on completion of our pre-employment screening, e.g., referencing, criminal record checks, license checks, etc. These checks are conducted on our behalf by a third party. We'll ask your permission before starting these checks.
If you're interested in this role - or know someone else who might be - we'll be accepting applications until midnight on Sunday 9 February 2024. Interviews will be held the week beginning Monday 17 February.
A few final things worth knowing...
Research shows that some people avoid applying for jobs unless they can meet every single criteria. If you're interested in this job but don't tick all the boxes, apply anyway! We hardly ever hire people who can do every part of a job from Day One. Everyone has a learning curve. So don't rule yourself out!
Let us know if there are any changes we can make to our recruitment process to help you perform at your best. Many of our people have disabilities or neurodiverse conditions (including some of our recruiters!). We're also aware that some people might be experiencing temporary challenges because of life events, like menopause. We're very used to making adjustments, so please don't be afraid to ask.
As part of our commitment to developing a flourishing Scotland, it's important that all our employees are Scottish taxpayers. If you join us, your home address will need to be in Scotland. If you don't already live here, you'll need to commit to moving here within your first three months.
Finally, candidates who haven't submitted an application in the last 12 months will have their records removed from our recruitment database. You won't need to do anything. Your data will be automatically deleted.
We're here to help. Ask us anything at SWRecruitment@ScottishWater.co.uk #J-18808-Ljbffr