We are recruiting for 3 part time (28 hours) National Monitoring Team Samplers on a fixed term basis for 5 months

You will be based in Aberdeen, Glasgow or Dingwall

Your passion has never had a greater purpose

Here at SEPA, we’re connected by a passion that drives us to be purposeful in every action we take – to protect our environment. Through our expertise, we lead projects that make a difference for Scotland, and our workplaces are grounded in respect for that expertise.

That’s why, when you join us as National Monitoring Team Sampler, you’ll discover enriching benefits, meaningful support, and opportunities to learn every day. That’s what it means to be Passionately Purposeful – for our environment, and for your career.

Work that goes beyond your desk

Experts at what we do, we work in a professional way towards our shared goals, knowing the work we do makes a genuine, lasting difference on the environment. As National Monitoring Team Sampler, that involves:

Experts at what we do, we work in a professional way towards our shared goals, knowing the work we do makes a genuine, lasting difference on the environment. As National Monitoring Team Samplers, that involves:

Collecting Environmental Samples

Your role will be predominantly field based and will support the delivery of SEPA’s National Monitoring Plan (NMP). This will involve the collection of aqueous samples, from rivers, to lochs, and from the sea to licensed discharges.

Developing Health and Safety Processes

As well as collecting samples, you will be responsible for carrying out dynamic risk assessments and ensuring you are carrying out your work in a safe manner. You will be required to undertake training on driving and working near swift water.

Supporting SEPA

You may also support other colleagues in the wider delivery of the NMP. This may include supporting colleagues in Ecology, Hydrometry and Regulation with their sampling needs.

Environmental Event Response

Given the geographic dispersion of our National Monitoring Team, they are often called in to support the sampling of the environment in the event of a pollution event. Using your sampling skills, you will support response staff in the collection of samples which may be used as evidence in any enforcement action.

Respect for your expertise

This is a highly important role within our Data, Evidence & Innovation portfolio, which means you’ll need:

A HND or equivalent in a relevant science related subject is essential e.g. Chemistry, environmental science.
This role involves a large amount of driving and thus you must be a confident driver who holds a full UK driving licence is essential.
Sampling is carried out in all weather and may take place at unusual hours so you must be prepared for all conditions. The work involves physical exertion, traversing undulating landscapes and sampling whilst in a watercourse.
You must have a knowledge of the planning for and sampling of the water environment, this includes Health and Safety consideration.
An understanding of operating, maintaining and troubleshooting environmental monitoring equipment is also needed.

Please open the link to the National Monitoring Team Sampler role profile link which outlines the core responsibilities and expectations of the role within a defined activity family. Please note the role profile name may be different to the job title being advertised.

Support that goes beyond the workplace

We’re cultivating a workplace that supports not only your passion and your professional lives, but your personal life. So, you’ll find benefits that make a difference at work and at home. Such as:

Hybrid and Flexible working opportunities
Up to 35 days annual leave and 7 additional public holidays each year (pro rata)
Paid time off to support your Wellbeing and enable you to Volunteer in your community
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Progressive Family Friendly policies
Training & development to enable colleagues to improve their skills, competencies and knowledge to perform at their best.

Plus, many more lifestyle benefits such as 24/7 access to an online employee discount platform, credit union facilities and access to a Cycle to Work Scheme.

Passionately you. Purposefully supportive

SEPA is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and good relations in everything it does – as a community leader, as a provider and commissioner of services, and as an employer.

Passionately Purposeful about Scotland’s environment – and your career.

Protecting our environment, promoting our work, and supporting our people, working at SEPA means being part of an organisation that’s grounded in respect for your expertise – and your wellbeing. So you can be your best, and make the biggest impact.

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

We support flexible working arrangements to help you maintain a healthy balance between career and homelife. 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 'Disability Confident' 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 the security and wellbeing of our colleagues, successful candidates will undergo Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) pre-employment checks including a level one Disclosure Scotland check.

If you have questions or need any assistance with the recruitment process please contact SEPA’s Recruitment Team at recruitment@sepa.org.uk

Apply now to join a Passionately Purposeful workplace