National Monitoring Team Assistant Scientist

Job Description

National Monitoring Team Assistant Scientist – Fixed Term (until 17th March 2027)

This role is based in Dingwall and involves field based work to support SEPA’s National Monitoring Plan.

Responsibilities

• Primarily field based work collecting aqueous samples across a range of environments, including rivers, lochs, coastal waters and licensed discharges.
• Responsible for scheduling your own work, planning and prioritising workload, and responding to changing pressures or requirements.
• Maintain and update sampling point descriptors, conduct dynamic risk assessments, and ensure all work is conducted safely; completion of relevant training including safe driving and working near swift water is required.
• Support evidence collection to assess and ensure compliance, while communicating effectively with customers and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Ecology, Hydrometry and Regulation to meet their sampling requirements within the National Monitoring Programme.
• Assist environmental sampling during pollution incidents, collecting quality samples that may be used as evidence in enforcement actions.
• Responsible for significant driving; a full UK driving licence is essential. Sampling is carried out year round, often in challenging conditions and at varied hours, requiring physical effort, movement across uneven terrain and, at times, working within watercourses.

Qualifications

• HNC or equivalent in a relevant science related subject (e.g., Chemistry, Environmental Science) is essential.
• Good interpersonal, oral and written communication skills as well as good organisational skills, such as planning and prioritisation of workload.
• Knowledge of planning for and sampling of the water environment, including understanding of H&S requirements relevant to the role.
• Understanding of operating, maintaining and troubleshooting environmental monitoring equipment.
• Comfortable working with multiple systems and databases, maintaining high levels of accuracy and attention to detail.

Benefits

• Hybrid and flexible working opportunities.
• Up to 35 days annual leave and 7 additional public holidays each year (pro ratable).
• Paid time off to support wellbeing and enable volunteering in your community.
• Progressive family friendly policies.
• Training and development to improve skills, competencies and knowledge.
• 24/7 access to an online employee discount platform, credit union facilities and access to a Cycle to Work Scheme.

We recruit solely based on merit. Our shortlisting process is conducted on an anonymous basis. Please include all relevant information when you apply.

We support flexible working arrangements to help you maintain a healthy balance between career and home life. This includes working part time, reduced hours, job sharing, working remotely. As a flexible first employer we are open to having conversations about flexible working arrangements that work for you and SEPA from day 1 of your employment with us.

We are proud to be a “DisabilityConfident” employer and will work to identify and implement reasonable adjustments and equipment to support you in the role that you do.

Applicants with a visual impairment can request job descriptions and application forms in Braille, large print or on tape.

For security and wellbeing, successful candidates will undergo BPSS pre employment checks including a Level 1 Disclosure Scotland check.

To apply, contact SEPA’s Recruitment Team at .

Location and Salary

National Monitoring Team Assistant Scientist
IV15 9XB
£32,689 to £34,944 per year – new colleagues will start on the base of the salary