Water Resources Scientist

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Job description

Welsh Water is the sixth largest of the ten regulated water and sewerage companies in England and Wales. Responsible for providing over three million people with a continuous, high quality supply of drinking water and for taking away, treating and properly disposing of the wastewater that is produced, we are fully committed to delivering best quality service at least possible cost.We're different from other water and energy companies. We don't have shareholders. This means that we're able to keep bills down; help more customers who are struggling to pay their bills; and also put every single penny we make straight back into maintaining and improving our services and protecting our environment - now, and for years to come.

Who we are

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water keep 3 million people healthy each day with safe, reliable water, and take away wastewater to clean, before returning it safely to our beautiful rivers and seas.
To be able to deliver high quality, essential services which help to protect the health of our customers, colleagues and our environment, we need the right people to deliver on our vision. This is achieved by living our core values and demonstrating the core behaviours that underpin them.
We know that the most successful teams are the most diverse teams. Equality, diversity and inclusion provide the very foundation to our culture at Welsh Water. We want every individual to feel confident, proud and able to bring their whole selves to work.
To ensure an improved representation in our workforce, applications are particularly welcome from minority groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people, Females, LGBT+, Non-binary and people with disabilities. Together we continue to build a workplace that not only celebrates the diverse voices of our colleagues but also represents each customer we serve.
In essence, ours is a company based on trust, openness, respect, commitment and honesty. A company that our colleagues are proud to work for.What you'll be responsible for

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Water Resources team with the opportunity to progress and develop your skills and experience in a dynamic and supportive environment. The world of water resources is becoming increasingly technical with the need to understand the Hydrology of today and how this might change into the future. As a scientist, data analyst or engineer you will work to support the Area Water Resources Manager acting as a modelling and technical analyst as well as deputising when necessary.
As a key member of the Water Resources team you will support the development and delivery of the water resource strategies and maintain the efficient and effective use of water resource within Welsh Water. Ensuring we deliver to statutory and regulatory requirements under the Water Resources and environmental regulations. In particular, you will work closely with stakeholders, both internally and externally within the wider Welsh Water business, to promote sustainable and optimal water resource use and to understand this use through data science and modelling.
You may not know all of the answers or have specific experience in Water resource modelling but you will have the capability to grow in the role. We will help you to develop your skills and experience to become an expert in water resources.
What you'll be responsible for
1. You will provide a technical lead on responses to technical queries and through the proactive provision of expert advice on water resources to operations, asset planning and capital delivery;
2. You will manage the assessment of water resource system capability through the use of behavioural models. This includes the development of strategic and operational water resource models by understanding the science underpinning estimation of catchment flows (hydrometry and hydrology), as well as asset capability and supply system operation;
3. You will be responsible for understanding the optimisation of water resources during normal and drought periods through hydrological analysis and manage the development of dry weather and drought rules. You will use models to define and maintain abstraction regimes in line with statutory permissions and agreements;
4. You will support the water resource planning process by ensuring that the interlinkages between water resources strategy, Operations and Area Water Resources are understood and incorporated into our long-term planning. You will provide technical reports for inclusion within Drought Plan, Water Resources Management Plan and business plans related to hydrological assessment and system capability;
5. You will monitor the water resource situation throughout the year, ensuring that the operation of Welsh Water's water resources and associated assets, reflect our operational strategies and long-term policies including the Water Resource Management Plan and the Drought Plan;
6. You will assess the impact of environmental obligations on our water supply systems and help to develop options to mitigate against any licence change reductions or requirement for additional water resource due to future challenges such as climate change and growth in demand;
7. You will manage and support projects related to site specific issues such as supply demand imbalances, reservoir drawdown issues or environmental monitoring;
8. Ensure Welsh Water is recognised by external stakeholders as a responsible guardian and promoter of the environment. In particular, develop and foster effective relationships with Natural Resources Wales Regional personnel to ensure high-level understanding of Welsh Water's systems and operation.Who you'll work with

External
- Natural Resources Wales
- Ofwat
- Welsh Government
- Key Environmental Stakeholders
- Other Water Undertakers
- Consultants
About you

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential
- A degree or similar qualification in a relevant scientific or engineering subject. Strong hydrological knowledge and experience is preferred
- A numerate individual able to demonstrate experience in the utilisation of numerical tools such as water resource behavioural models or optimisation tools
- An excellent communicator, able to demonstrate confidence in a variety of situations
- The ability to work with colleagues at all levels of the organisation from Senior Managers to front line operational staff
- Strong analytical skills using packages such as Microsoft Excel, R or Python
- Ability to produce clear and concise written material

Desirable only
- Technically skilled with a keen interest in the field of water resources
- Previous experience as a technical analyst
Good to know

The location for this role will be a combination of home working and travel throughout Wales.

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact: Thomas Elmitt

Closing date - 23:59 on 12 December 2021.Benefits

As well as a market competitive salary and 33 days annual leave (inclusive of annual leave), we offer a range of employee benefits including:
- Variable pay schemes
- Enhanced employer pension contributions
- Reduction on gym memberships and high street shopping
- Cycle to work scheme
- Car-leasing scheme
- Health CashBack scheme
- An employee assistance programme for employees and their immediate family
And many, many more.

INDHP