Water Quality Sampler

We’re making a difference

Together, we can ensure that there is enough water for everyone, now and in the future.

We’re seeking a Water Quality Sampler to join our award-winning Scientific Services team, recently recognised as “Team of the Year.” No prior experience is required, as we will provide full training and ensure you have the support you need to become a qualified Water Quality Sampler.

We are looking for motivated, dependable, and detail-oriented people who are eager to learn and grow. In this role, you’ll enjoy a unique blend of independence and purpose. You’ll be out in the field, working across beautiful areas of Hampshire and West Sussex, collecting vital water quality samples from source to tap. Every sample you take plays a key role in protecting public health and ensuring safe, high-quality water for our communities. While the role involves some lone working, the ideal candidate should also thrive in a team environment and be comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions.

Once fully trained, you will be expected to participate in a weekend working and standby rota. This requires you working 4 hours in the morning on a Saturday and Sunday and, being on standby on those afternoons, in case of emergencies. This will be once every 5-6 weeks with paid overtime in recognition of your contribution.

You will take pride in maintaining a strong focus on Health & Safety while embodying our core values of Excellence, Integrity, and Future-Focus. As this is a customer-facing role, we’re looking for someone with excellent communication skills, a strong technical aptitude, and a positive attitude. A full UK driving licence is essential as driving company vehicles is part of the role.

If you’re excited to be part of a team that makes a difference and contributes to something meaningful, we would love to hear from you.

What will you be doing?

Key Responsibilities

• To perform on-site sampling and inspection duties to meet regulatory requirements and in-line with our UKAS accreditation.
• Interpret test results and be accountable for water sampling activities, ensuring they meet regulatory requirements and adhere to ISO17025 standards.
• Maintain and promote good housekeeping onsite (including vans), carry out visual routine checks including security, safety, and risk assessments, reporting hazards and/or taking appropriate action to resolve.
• Undertake unscheduled visits to customers, residential and commercial properties.
• Support with customer contacts and complaints where required.
• Ensure adequate stock of all bottle types and required reagents, ensuring the proper storage and transportation of drinking water samples to a suitable location.
• Prepare, operate and maintain equipment and instruments used to evaluate the quality of water samples.
• Check laboratory systems to ensure compliance during the sampling run.
• Ensure all work is carried out in line with the Company’s WQ Quality Management System (QMS), adhering to ISO17025 and Drinking Water Testing Specification (DWTS).
• Ensure that Health and Safety procedures and processes are followed including the Management of Risk Assessments, COSHH assessments, internal safety inspections and audits and any other control measures.
• Ensuring all work is undertaken to a high standard of safety and technical quality, following generic and specific method statements, work procedures, and safety instructions, providing input and feedback on non-routine operational activities or other changes, as required.
• Lone working at operational company assets and at customer properties.

What do you need?

Skills, Qualifications & Competencies

• Passionate about providing an excellent service to our customers and colleagues.
• A confident communicator.
• An excellent eye for detail and strong analytical skills.
• Exceptional record keeping skills to ensure audit trails are maintained.
• Proficient user of Microsoft Office programmes and open to learning new systems.
• You will be required to have a full UK manual car driving licence (Class B), you will have to undergo a driving assessment, consent to ongoing driving licence checks and additionally any other safety measures deemed necessary by Portsmouth Water Ltd in connection with driving.

We recognise people want to work in a variety of different ways, and that’s why we’re happy to consider flexible working arrangements. Please feel free to talk to us at interview about the flexibility you may be looking for.

Please note, we may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of applications — so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

We’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and we actively encourage applications from all sections of society.

Please be aware, the Company has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Due to the high volume of applications we may receive, we’re unable to respond to every applicant individually. If your application is of interest, we’ll usually be in touch within 4 weeks of receiving it.

What can Portsmouth Water offer you?

At Portsmouth Water, we believe in rewarding our people. Here’s just a taste of what’s waiting for you when you join the team:

Holidays Made Better

Enjoy 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, giving you plenty of time to relax, recharge, and explore.

A Pension That Works for You

We’ll help secure your future with a generous pension scheme, contributing up to 15% – because your tomorrow matters as much as your today.

Performance Pays Off

You could earn a non-contractual bonus of up to 6% of your basic salary, linked to company performance – because when we succeed together, you should benefit too.

Family Comes First

Whether you’re welcoming a new arrival through birth or adoption, we’ve got your back with enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave and pay.

Social Events

All expenses covered summer and winter social events

️ Peace of Mind, Always

Our life assurance scheme gives your loved ones extra security, with a 4x salary lump sum benefit in case the unexpected happens.

Comprehensive Wellbeing Support

Whether you need confidential mental health and wellbeing advice 24/7 through our Employee Assistance Programme, or physical health support via our Virtual GP service (available 8am–10pm, 7 days a week for you and your immediate family), help is always close at hand with the HealthHero app.

PW Perks – Treat Yourself!

Enjoy exclusive discounts at thousands of retailers, plus exciting benefits like

• Electric Vehicle Scheme (after 1 year)
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Health Cash Plan

…and so much more!

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Disability Confident

About Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.