Most people don’t think too much about how clean water reaches their taps.

But Scottish Water does. In fact, it’s all we think about.

Want to join us? As an Ecologist you will support a diverse range of operational activities and capital investment, woodland creation and peatland restoration projects within our Specialist Services Delivery (SSD) team.

What you’ll do

You will collaborate closely with the Environment Team, offering specialised ecological support for projects throughout Scotland. Your role will involve a combination of fieldwork and desk-based tasks, providing essential baseline ecological data, habitat reports, and expert guidance to ensure that Scottish Water develops in harmony with nature. While most site visits can be completed within a day, occasional overnight trips may be required.

This role would suit someone who’s already an established ecologist and can bring their passion for ecology into a practical operational environment. Balancing Scotland’s water resources in the face of changing environmental parameters is a unique challenge but one that our staff find extremely rewarding.

What you’ll need

You will have solid field ecology skills, especially when it comes to European protected species, common invasive non-native species and habitat mapping. GIS skills are a big plus, and it’d be great if you’ve got a good understanding of how things work in the construction sector or water industry.

Beyond that, we’re looking for a few ‘nice-to-haves’. A degree in Ecology or Environmental Management and some experience with Environmental Clerk of Works (ECoW). Experience collaborating with different groups to boost biodiversity, and professional accreditation from groups like CIEEM or CIWEM would be beneficial. Candidates who possess botanical field skills or wish to up-skill in this area are highly desirable.

The not-so-small print   

This is a full time (35 hours per week) role. But you’ll get plenty of time to recharge with 38 days of holiday every year (including public holidays).

This role will be a Grade 6. If you’re new to Scottish Water, you’ll join us on a starting salary of £36,410. Performance-driven pay progression would then allow you to move through the range to a maximum of £46,990.

If you’re interested in this role – or know someone else who might be – we’ll be accepting applications until midnight on Wednesday 5th November.

We operate Balanced Hybrid working at Scottish Water and we encourage people to work half their time in a Scottish Water location.