Assistant Scientist

**Summary**

We have a great opportunity for an Assistant Scientist to join our dedicated Laboratory team in Saltford. In this role, you will utilise your interest 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

**The role**

Our Scientific Centre at Saltford, which uses state of the art instruments and methodology, is an integral part of delivering excellence to our customers. Our work helps ensure that we provide the highest quality drinking water and sewerage treatment services to our 2.8 million customers across the South West of England.

We operate seven days a week, testing both drinking water and wastewater.?We also provide a service to other external customers, such as local authorities, drinking water providers and environmental consultants.

As an Assistant Scientist, you will be analysing potable and wastewater samples which have come from across the Wessex Water region. You will analyse these samples using a variety of manual and instrumental methods, such as BOD, COD suspended solids, nutrients and metals, as well as recording results on our laboratory IT system. This role is team based and highly methodical, so a keen eye for detail and consistency is key.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve:

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

**What do I need?**

To be considered for this opportunity, you will have GCSEs in maths and English, and A levels in science or equivalent. Previous experience working within a laboratory environment is helpful but certainly not essential, as full practical training will be provided to get you up and running in the role.

Our team’s technical knowledge and expertise is especially vital to our work, so we offer everyone a range of tailored development opportunities, enabling you to progress through our competency framework at a pace which is right for you on your journey to becoming a Scientist. Your personal training programme will include support to attain professional qualifications or accreditation, as well as other skill development courses.?

Having an interest in chemistry will be beneficial, due to the nature of the work. What is hugely important in this role is having a great eye for detail, a methodical approach and being a great team player.

**Benefits for you**
- Pension - up to 20% combined contribution
- 25 days’ holiday rising to 28 with length of service
- Opportunity to buy and sell up to five days’ holiday
- Life assurance (four times your salary)
- Flexible working
- Cashback and discounts from over 1,200 retailers
- Paid volunteering day
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Health and wellbeing programme
- Support from mental health first aiders

**What will you get from us?**

Our people tell us Wessex Water is a great place to work, and they stay with us We are proud of how we support development and career progression. We have a wealth of both financial and non-financial benefits to offer our people and are committed to ensuring we provide an environment that supports health and wellbeing and flexible working.

We continue to promote diversity and inclusion. With that in mind, we welcome all applicants.

We are delighted to have signed the Armed Forces covenant and are a Disability Confident Employer. Applicants who declare they have a disability or have previously served with the Armed Forces, and meet the minimum requirements for the job, will automatically be invited for an interview.

Please let us know if you require any additional support or adjustments to assist you in starting your journey with Wessex Water.

If you have what it takes to join this award-winning business and want to be part of our exciting journey and share in that success, then please get in contact with us to find out more.

**_Sound interesting? Please click APPLY to progress to the next step._