£32,000 Per Annum
Full Time
Permanent
Reading, Berkshire
Engineering And Technical
Posted 2 hours ago
Expires In 29 Days
Job Description
At Thames Water, we make a daily difference to the lives of 16 million customers by supplying 2.6 billion litres of water through 32,000km of pipes - keeping taps flowing and toilets flushing. We deliver life’s essential service so our customers, communities and the environment can thrive.
We’re looking for a Water Quality Scientist, who will play a vital role as the key interface between our Water Operations teams and our customers, managing escalated water quality complaints and ensuring they are thoroughly investigated, resolved to a high standard, and delivered within agreed timescales.
What you’ll be doing as a Water Quality Scientist
Working within our Customer Services Water Quality team, you’ll engage directly with customers by phone and in writing, providing reassurance, assessing risk, and ensuring every concern is handled professionally and empathetically.
Your key responsibilities will include:
Base location: Hybrid - Clearwater Court, Reading
Working pattern: 36 Hours, Monday to Friday
What you should bring to the role
Essential:
Desirable:
What’s in it for you?
Who are we?
We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.
Learn more about our purpose and values
Working at Thames Water
Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.
If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.
Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.
We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support.
When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.
Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
We’re looking for a Water Quality Scientist, who will play a vital role as the key interface between our Water Operations teams and our customers, managing escalated water quality complaints and ensuring they are thoroughly investigated, resolved to a high standard, and delivered within agreed timescales.
What you’ll be doing as a Water Quality Scientist
Working within our Customer Services Water Quality team, you’ll engage directly with customers by phone and in writing, providing reassurance, assessing risk, and ensuring every concern is handled professionally and empathetically.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Responding to escalated water quality complaints within set deadlines.
- Speaking directly with customers to assess risk and understand concerns.
- Arranging water sampling and network operations where required.
- Carrying out in-depth investigations, including interpreting laboratory data.
- Monitoring complaint trends to identify wider events or emerging issues.
- Working closely with operational teams to resolve multiple complaints.
- Notifying external agencies (Local Health Authorities and Environmental Health) when necessary.
- Maintaining accurate, DWI-auditable customer contact records.
- You’ll be the critical link between customers and operations, making a real difference when it matters most.
- You’ll combine scientific investigation with customer care, using evidence to drive solutions.
- Your work directly supports public health, regulatory compliance, and customer trust.
Base location: Hybrid - Clearwater Court, Reading
Working pattern: 36 Hours, Monday to Friday
What you should bring to the role
Essential:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent organisational and time-management abilities.
- Proven customer service experience (call-centre or complaint handling experience is highly relevant)
- Confidence using corporate IT systems.
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
Desirable:
- Degree-level qualification (or equivalent) in a scientific discipline.
- Knowledge of water quality issues.
- Familiarity with water science terminology and laboratory data interpretation.
What’s in it for you?
- Competitive starting from £32,000 per annum, depending on experience
- Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays)
- Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
- Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
- Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances - from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.
Who are we?
We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.
Learn more about our purpose and values
Working at Thames Water
Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.
If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.
Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.
We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support.
When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.
Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.