Technical Water Quality Officer

Job Description

Salary - £38,346
Work Type - Onsite
Job Location - Kendal Water Sampling Team and Laboratory, Unit 11 Moss End, Business Village, Crooklands, Kendal, LA7 7NU
Role Type - Permanent
Employment Type - Full Time
Working Hours - 37.0 Hours per Week

United Utilities’ (UU) purpose is to deliver great water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West of England. We are committed to providing our services in a way that respects the environment, supports the economy, and benefits society.

We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves.

We uphold our ethics, values and business model to fulfil our mission and, by setting clear goals and objectives, we create sustainable long-term value for our colleagues, customers and communities. Whether you work with a team that shares your vision or join a network of peers with similar interests, you will find a welcoming and supportive organisation to be part of.

We’ve got a lot to offer. You’ll be part of a thriving FTSE 100 company and will enjoy a range of core benefits that reflect your value and value contribution.

Benefits

• A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service (increases one day per year), in addition to 8 bank holidays
• A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
• Up to 7.5% performance-related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
• A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company-funded scheme
• MyGymDiscounts - gym and wellness benefit that offers up to 25% off on gym memberships and digital fitness subscriptions
• Best Doctors
• Salary Finance
• Wealth at Work courses
• Deals and discounts
• EVolve Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Mental health first aiders
• ShareBuy
• MORE Choices flexible benefits
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Job Purpose

The Technical Water Quality Officer is responsible for planning and overseeing all aspects of accredited water sampling, including calibration, validation, and documentation, while ensuring compliance with UKAS and other regulatory standards such as ISO17025 and MCERTS. They act as the main point of contact for maintaining accreditation, supporting and auditing Water Quality Officers, and contributing to training and quality assurance activities. The role involves working closely with teams across Water and Scientific Services, providing operational and planning support without direct management responsibility. In addition to coordination duties, the officer carries out fieldwork by collecting and testing water samples from a wide range of sources—from “source to tap” and “bath to bay”—to meet regulatory requirements set by bodies such as the DWI and EA. These samples are transported to laboratories for analysis, helping ensure the organisation meets its regulatory obligations and maintains high standards of water quality monitoring.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Systems expertise & continuity: Act as the local expert for USample, TAPS, and scheduling tools, managing system updates and ensuring continuity during system failures.
• Sampling coordination & support: Prepare and distribute sample sheets/labels and maintain a seamless sampling service when systems are unavailable.
• Regulatory & quality compliance: Operate within water quality regulations and maintain accredited quality systems (e.g. UKAS), championing continuous improvement and best practice.
• Operational & contractor oversight: Monitor courier performance, support equipment maintenance, and liaise across teams to ensure effective sampling operations.
• Stock & resource management: Control and purchase stock daily to ensure Water Quality Officers have the equipment and materials needed to perform their roles.

What We Are Looking For:

• NVQ/QCF Level 3 or equivalent in a relevant discipline and a full UK driving licence
• Systems & scheduling expertise: Advanced knowledge of TAPS, JUMP, USample, and related systems, with responsibility for scheduling regulatory, operational, and customer sampling activities and maintaining accurate staff availability.
• Regulatory compliance & auditing: Maintain CPD for DWI requirements and act as a proficient auditor in line with UKAS, DWTS, MCERTS, and ISO standards.
• Technical & operational knowledge: Strong scientific and technical capability, including field testing (e.g. pH and chlorine validation) and understanding of Water & Scientific Services operations.
• Health, safety & organisation: Solid understanding of H&S requirements, with excellent planning, prioritisation, and ability to respond accurately to changing demands.
• Communication & interpersonal skills: Strong influencing and customer-handling skills, able to engage stakeholders, manage difficult situations, and support teams, with flexibility to travel.

We rely on every employee to ensure our customers receive the best possible service, day in, day out. In return, we ensure that you will be well rewarded for your efforts, from an excellent salary through to development opportunities that will really kick start a thriving career here at UU.