Field Scientist - 32356

Field Scientist - 32356
1
South East
Reading
DEFRA GRP EA CAVERSHAM LAKES DEPOT, RG4 9RA
Staff Grade 4
Permanent
Engineering, Operational Delivery, Science
Full Time
£34,320

31/12/2025, 23:55 hours

Basic Check
Do you want to work for an organisation that values difference and includes everyone? Then the Environment Agency is the organisation for you!
At the Environment Agency we work to create better place for people and the wildlife. We are an evidence-based organisation, and we monitor the environment to enable us to make informed decisions.

We are looking for a Field Instrumentation Engineer with knowledge/interest in instrumentation and telemetry to undertake the commissioning and maintenance and development of a wide range of water quality monitoring equipment and associated infrastructure. You will also be responsible for ensuring that all our monitoring systems are installed, commissioned, and operated in accordance with the Agency’s code of practice for health and safety.
The National Water Quality Instrumentation Service provides support to all instrument-based water quality monitoring activities undertaken across the Agency.
We deliver a vital service that underpins the Environment Agency’s regulatory responsibilities, and we are playing a central role in the development and expansion of real time water quality monitoring in relation our responsibilities under the 2021 Environment Act. The team also supports a wide range of citizen science and stakeholder partnerships.
We are seeking an individual preferably with field and/or instrumentation experience. You should have a scientific/technical background, formally qualified or with relevant vocational experience. In addition, you should possess proven ability and/or knowledge of:

Essential experience:

• Instrumentation
• Relevant field experience
• Knowledgeable of electrical systems for instrumentation, including cabling, wiring methods, control circuits
• Actively forming and maintaining links with customers
• Demonstrated strong problem-solving skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Successful delivery of training to others
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, and forge strong relationships
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are a must for this role as you’ll be liaising with local, National, and external customers.
• Be self-driven and determined to succeed.
• Knowledge of water quality instrumentation and data
• Full UK Licence.

Desirable experience/skills:

• Understanding of the Environment Agency’s Water Quality systems, community, and customers.
The role will be based at Caversham Lakes, Reading. There will be frequent and sometimes unscheduled travel across the Agency to access remote sites.
As a result, the post requires a full UK driving licence.

We offer a benefits package including annual leave starting at 25 days, and an award-winning Pension Fund

You will be required to have an incident role or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you in your incident role.

For further information please contact frances.houston@environment-agency.gov.uk

Face to face interviews week commencing 05/01/26 & 12/01/26
Communicates Effectively
Describe how you have communicated a complex technical challenge or initiative to a non-technical audience to secure support and funding. Describe how you have communicated a complex technical challenge or initiative to a non-technical audience to secure support.
Changing and improving
Please provide an example when you have identified and implemented the introduction of new innovative technology. Explain how the technology helped deliver an improvement in quality and efficiency.
Achieves Results
Please provide an example of a time you delivered a successful piece of work in the face of considerable challenges or obstacles
Full clean UK Licence
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the  Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

This Vacancy is closed to applications.