Principal Process Scientist- Sussex

Closing Date
28/11/2025

Job Title: Principal Water Quality Process Scientist

Location: Hardham, Sussex

Driving licence is essential due to site visits

Employment Type: Permanent

Hours: 37 Hours a week

Salary: Up to £62,000 per annum

It's an exciting time to join us

Here at Southern Water, we focused on doing the right thing. We're helping to clean up the nation's rivers. We're enhancing the environment for everyone. And we're part of a critical industry for our society by providing world class drinking water to our customers. This is your chance to join us and help to change our world for the better – in a big way.

We are currently recruiting for Principal Water Quality Process Scientist for our Sussex base whereby you will be working closely with a range of key stakeholders to proactively and reactively provide technical guidance, improvement and optimisation of water production and associated business processes across Wholesale Water Operations; from source to tap. You'll be part of a team involved in our £300 million investment to fundamentally rework our four key surface water sites to address regulators' concerns, prepare these crucial sites for the future and increase the reliability of supplies for more than 60% of our customers.

Leading a team of circa 7 Process Scientists, you will bring technical expertise, managing or inputting into investigations and risk assessments and providing advice to Operations and stakeholders. You will also be supporting your team in meeting performance targets, creating a highly engaged team and providing coaching and mentoring support for team development.

Interested to hear more?

In this role, your primary responsibilities will include but not limited to:

• Identifying and implementing process and treatment improvements to optimise and protect public health
• Provision of scientific expertise and technical reports to a range of internal stakeholders at all levels and external stakeholders including regulators
• Co-ordinate regular reviews of processes, standards and procedures relating to Water Resource and Production activities to ensure that they are fit for purpose
• Lead and co-ordinate water quality process input into capital schemes ensuring identification/mitigation of risk and impact on operations with a view to implementing change successfully
• Identifying innovative opportunities and collaborating with R&D to trial, implement and transition ideas into operational requirement
• Examining relevant reports, data and correspondence in relation to specialist areas and prepare briefing documents for the business as required

With extensive experience in technical roles related to water quality/treatment science/engineering, using your leadership skills, you will be coaching, mentoring and upskilling your team to achieve our strategic aim in ensuring we deliver the highest supply of water. It will be highly desirable for you to have a strong understanding of water chemistry/biology and the principles of water treatment, knowledge of sample types, health significance of water quality parameters and principles of water supply hygiene however we are open to applicants from other industries with relevant skills and background.

You will ideally be a strategic thinker with strong background in forward planning and ability to take an overview of the Company's resources and operational needs. With your high quality of interpersonal skills, you will have excellent analytical, investigative, management and communication skills to be successful in this role. As a passionate leader, you will be keen to work with your team in making a difference in achieving the desired outcomes.

Interested, why not apply