Job Description

Discoloration Engineer (Network Engineering Team)

Hello! Thanks for stopping by. Let us tell you about all the great reasons to join us here at Yorkshire Water:

• We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience £40,167 - £53,309
• A company car through company car lease scheme
• Annual incentive related bonus (£1000 maximum bonus opportunity for the performance year)
• Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution)
• Development opportunities in line with the Discoloration Engineer progression plan
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays – plus an extra wellness day!
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary
• A great benefits package – choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.
• Retail savings scheme
• Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Location: Smithywood Office, Sheffield & Working from Home

Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Discoloration Engineer to join the Network Engineering team at Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water to provide the best service to our customers. Could this be you?

What we do:

Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year, can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it’s so much more than this.

We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire’s water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, and play a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity.

New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. Network Engineering team are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.

We currently have a vacancy for a newly created Discoloration Engineer role within the Network Engineering Team, part of the wider Network Planning and Engineering department in the Clean Water Services Delivery Business Unit. This role will be based in the South & West Network Engineering team but will cover the entire Yorkshire area, working alongside our Senior Discoloration Engineer and other Discoloration Engineers. The primary responsibilities include providing proficient and effective Discoloration Engineering capabilities within Network Services (Water) to support and enhance specialist initiatives aimed at managing and reducing discolouration events and contacts. The role involves applying engineering analysis, tools, bespoke software modelling, and innovation to deliver economic OPEX and CAPEX solutions.

Additionally, the Discoloration Engineer will undertake the development of colleagues, manage local workload distribution, and act as the business discoloration specialist based on expertise. Key tasks include identifying and producing company risk profiles for business reporting, providing expert analysis and risk promotion based on data from routine maintenance activities, and defining primary factors from reportable and near-miss events to drive initiatives for water quality contact reduction. The role also involves providing specialist support for DWI queries and enforcement, as well as delivering plans to mitigate regional trunk main discoloration risks.

Where you fit in:

As our Discoloration Engineer you will

• Support the production of detailed intervention plans and documents like WAND, RAMS, and contingency plans to minimize discolouration and supply interruptions from high-risk assets.
• Use manual calculations or hydraulic analytical tools to determine the impact of interventions on hydraulic and water quality, producing detailed operational method statements and contingency plans.
• Provide technical support and advice during discolouration incidents, developing mitigation options and reacting to emerging incidents professionally under pressure.
• Undertake detailed investigations and reports for DWI reportable incidents, water quality contact performance, and develop DWI Drinking Water Safety Plans.
• Have a strong understanding of water quality issues caused by incorrect operation of assets and asset conditions, including mechanisms leading to bacteriological, iron, manganese, and discolouration failures.
• Investigate at a WSS level, create work packs for maintenance technicians, and devise maintenance activities to condition distribution mains, promoting automation where necessary.
• Own and provide monthly DOMS risk matrices, participate in DG3 Criticality/Resilience studies, and ensure risks are managed through Yorkshire Waters risk management systems.
• Provide discoloration engineering support and coaching to colleagues, ensuring accurate recording of asset failure risks and promoting the use of quality management systems.

What skills & qualifications you will need:

• Demonstrate proven analytical skills.
• Detailed knowledge of the design and operation principles of potable water distribution network assets.
• Excellent data analysis and manipulation skills.
• Excellent report writing and communication skills.
• Strong awareness of health and safety practices.
• Demonstration of knowledge and application of company vision, values, and SBOs.
• Confident at presenting.
• Full Valid UK Driving Licence is Preferred, but not essential.
• Ability to focus on specific activities while understanding the wider impact on service delivery to all customers.

Although we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it’s important to us that we support flexible working patterns and job share options (when we can), to help you make the best of both your work and home life. We know that juggling childcare responsibilities or getting that ideal work/life balance isn’t always easy!

Do we sound like your cup of tea?  

If you’ve got experience in Discoloration Engineer and want to help us deliver great service for our customers whilst looking after the environment, then be sure to apply today to find out what a career with Yorkshire Water can offer you.  

Closing date – 1st May

If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third-Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance.

All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required.

We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.

Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.