We are recruiting for a full time, Dingwall based National Monitoring Team Assistant Scientist on a fixed term basis until 17th March 2027.

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 Assistant Scientist, 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 Assistant Scientist, that involves:

• Role will be primarily field-based, supporting the delivery of SEPA’s National Monitoring Plan (NMP). This will involve collecting aqueous samples across a range of environments, including rivers, lochs, coastal waters and licensed discharges
• Be responsible in the scheduling of your own work, such as planning, prioritisation of workload and respond to changing pressures or requirements
• Be responsible for maintaining and updating sampling point descriptors, carry out dynamic risk assessments, and ensure all work is conducted safely. The role also requires completion of relevant training, including safe driving and working near swift water
• The post plays a key role in supporting evidence collection to assess and ensure compliance, while communicating effectively with customers and external stakeholders
• Support the wider delivery of the National Monitoring Programme (NMP), working collaboratively with colleagues across Ecology, Hydrometry and Regulation to meet their sampling requirements
• May be called upon to support environmental sampling during pollution incidents. Applying your sampling skills, you will assist response teams in collecting quality samples that may be used as evidence in any enforcement actions
• This role involves significant driving; therefore, 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

Respect for your expertise

This is a highly important role within our <insert portfolio name> portfolio, which means you’ll need:

• HNC or equivalent in a relevant Science related subject is essential e.g. Chemistry, Environmental Science
• Good Interpersonal, oral and written communication skills as well as good organisational skills, such as planning, prioritisation of workload
• Have knowledge of the planning for and sampling of the water environment, this includes an understanding of H&S requirements relevant to the role
• Have an 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

Please open the link to the Assistant Scientist 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