Scientific Advisor Environmental Contaminants

There's No Us Without U. Care with Us, for Today and Tomorrow
There's no life without water, and at Urban Utilities, we live and breathe that knowledge every single day. It's why our people are so passionate about what they do and how they do it. And it's why we need people like
YOU
. Come shape our future with us and make a real and lasting impact across our teams.
Your Opportunity
We are excited to be recruiting a newly formed role for Urban Utilities –
Senior Advisor Environmental Contaminants
.
This position sits in our Trade Partnering division, that liaises and creates outcomes for our key commercial customers, providing Enterprise leadership and coordination management. The division is responsible for understanding and managing source control and chemicals of concern that might impact our operations or create a business or community liability.
The Senior Advisor Environmental Contaminants will lead research efforts to identify, analyse, and assess the risks posed by environmental contaminants. The role encompasses helping design and implementing sampling programs, interpreting complex data, and providing evidence-based recommendations.
You will also be responsible for preparing high-quality research papers for publication, present at conferences, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to advance understanding in the field of environmental science and contamination. The position also involves fostering collaboration with internal teams and external stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, the broader water industry, and research institutions.
Some of your accountabilities will include:
Analyse complex scientific data, interpreting results, and drawing conclusions that contribute to advancing the understanding of environmental contaminants.
Stay updated and well researched on emerging contaminants (e.g., microplastics, pharmaceuticals, PFAS) and their potential environmental and public health impacts.
Assess the risks posed by environmental contaminants to human health, wildlife, and ecosystems, using quantitative and qualitative risk assessment methodologies.
Liaise with internal stakeholders, such as trade waste, resource recovery, and operational teams, to integrate contaminant management strategies.
Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, water utilities, and academic and research organisations.
About You:
We are seeking candidates who are passionate about shaping our future, and ideally have the following qualifications, skills and experiences:
Tertiary qualifications in Environmental Science, Environmental Chemistry, Toxicology, and/or a range of applied disciplines with specialised experience.
Experience in environmental contamination research and related field-based activities, especially in emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS, heavy metals, microplastics).
You are a critical thinker who naturally builds strong relationships with stakeholders. You excel at data interrogation, collaboration, and problem solving.
The role requires close contact with raw wastewater. Immunisation (e.g. Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus) may be required in accordance with Urban Utilities' immunisation policy.
Please note that performance of 'on call' duties are an inherent requirement of this role. More information on this will be provided throughout the recruitment process.
At UU, we celebrate diversity. We genuinely believe that bringing together diversity of thoughts, perspectives and expressions is key and crucial to our success as a business. You might find you meet some, but not all, of the job requirements for this role. We'd still encourage you to apply as we we're looking for the right human being for this role - it's about so much more than ticking all the boxes
Why Urban Utilities?
At Urban Utilities, the work we do is about so much more than the bottom line. We're a leading provider of world-class drinking water and wastewater services to the vibrant communities of Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Somerset, and Scenic Rim. As we continue to grow, we're committed to planning ahead and shaping a sustainable future around water for generations to come.
At the core of our work lies genuine care: for our team, our customers, communities, and the environment. From the flush of a toilet to major infrastructure projects and residential developments, we're dedicated to being there every step of the way.
Our HQ is in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, but you'll find us all over SEQ - working in cool places like the SAS Laboratory in Darra, field-based depots in Eagle Farm, Acacia Ridge, Bundamba, and wastewater treatment plants dotted across the region.
We know the chance to thrive, and progress comes hand in hand with the support to balance work with life. So, you'll access an increasingly diverse range of benefits and initiatives that'll help you bring the best you. Speaking of which, here's just a sample of the benefits we offer our team:
Generous Salary Packaging options, including novated leases
Corporate discounts across Health insurance, technology and more
18 weeks of paid parental leave, 15 days personal leave including two proactive wellbeing days, and an additional day of leave each year to connect with friends and family
Flexibility at UU depends on the type of work you do but could include options such as, 9-day fortnights and flexible days. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you
Urban Utilities is an endorsed employer for all women. See our range of benefits and policies directly at WORK180
Visit our website to learn more about us at
How to apply
Click on the 'Apply" to complete your application.
Please note: applicants will be required to undergo a Pre-employment medical, which may include Drug and Alcohol testing, as well as other background checks as part of the recruitment process for this role.
For further information please contact our Talent team at
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