Job Description

Closing Date

08/07/2026

This role involves taking samples from a wide variety of water / wastewater operational sites and customers in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Drinking Water inspectorate and the Environment Agency.

You will need to comply with the requirements of the ISO17025 standard and follow the procedures contained within the Manual of Sampling to ensure samples are an accurate representation of the sample point / customer tap.

You will make informed decisions regarding sampling process to ensure issues such as household plumbing does not contribute to Southern Water compliance failures.

You will need to maintain an overview of the operational sites you visit, assessing factors such as security, overall effectiveness of operation and any defects likely to lead to compliance or H&S issues.

Key responsibilities:

· Undertake water, wastewater and sludge sampling in accordance with the sampling schedule and with great care and attention to detail; working independently to follow procedures competently.

· Undertake customer sampling and complaint handling

· Carry out on site analytical testing and associated quality checking to ISO17025, DWTS and MCERTS standards

· Undertake emergency sampling during incidents and advise on water and wastewater quality issues

· Registration of samples onto laboratory data system

· Administration associated with sampling and monitoring

· Reporting safety hazards

· Scientific equipment management and fault diagnosis

· Assess operational sites for general condition of operation / defects / issues

About You

As this role is customer facing, you will have the ability to deal with customers in an empathetic and positive manner. Some experience working in a customer or public facing role would be beneficial.

You must have the ability to organise yourself and use IT systems confidently.

You must be able to drive and have access to a reliable vehicle.

Package

This role will be full time Monday to Friday working between our sites across Sussex. Shift pattern is Monday to Thursday 6:30 to 14:30, Friday 06:30 to 14:00. Also required to be on the Standby rota.

We are offering a salary of £28,793.70 per annum depending on skills and experience, mileage and other benefits including:

• Generous pension up to 11% company contribution

• 28 days annual leave

• Life assurance equal to 4x salary

• Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months service)

• Health Cash Plan

• Full funded eye tests

• Two paid volunteering days a year

• Occupational health service

• Discounts with over 800 popular retailers

• Digital GP service

• Study support may be available for job-related qualifications

• Competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options

• Cycle to work scheme

Privacy Statement:

Please note: If you are an existing Southern Water employee, you will need to confirm within your application that your Manager is aware of your application.

All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility (e.g. a passport or long birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months), will be required as part of the recruitment process. If you do not meet these criteria, your application will not be considered.