About the role
Undergraduate Environmental Assistant (Water Resources)
12-month fixed-term placement, commencing September 2026
Full Time – 37 hours per week
Salary – £25,877 per year
Location – Hanningfield, Chelmsford
About the role
We have an exciting opportunity to join the Water Resources Planning team for an industrial placement as an undergraduate environmental assistant. This role will help to deliver water resources related investigations and environmental protection and enhancement schemes in one of the driest and most water-stressed areas of the UK.
If you are currently studying for an undergraduate degree in Geography, Environmental Science or similar with an ambition to pursue a career in water resources and hydroecology and you have a passion for protecting our water environment and associated habitats, then this opportunity will hit the mark.
You will gain invaluable hands-on experience in planning and delivering investigations and projects to protect our water environment, analysing hydrometric, hydroecological and other water resources related data and preparing technical reports suitable for regulatory submission. You will gain experience of working within a tight regulatory framework relating to water abstraction licensing, Water Framework Directive, Habitats Regulations and the emerging area of Environmental Destination, as defined within the National Framework for Water Resources.
You will support the Environmental Scientist and other colleagues to deliver the Water Industry National Environment Programme and contribute to regulatory reports relating to our Drought Plan, Water Resources Management Plan and Business Plan.
This is an office based role at our head office, Sandon Valley House.
About you
- Enthusiastic individual, who already has hydrological and hydrogeological skills and is eager to learn and develop skills in water resources and environmental protection.
- Currently studying for an undergraduate degree in geography, environmental science or a related subject and looking for a Year in Industry placement, as part of your degree, to start in September 2026.
- A strong team player with a driving licence and your own car, and the ability to work on your own initiative and with an ability to form positive and constructive working relationships with other water resource team members, consultants & regulators, including the Environment Agency and Natural England.
- Experience of organising, analysing and interpreting environmental data to support scientifically credible decisions relating to the management of waterbodies and related water dependent sites.
- Fully conversant in the use of Microsoft Office packages with the ability to organise and manipulate data, use formulae and statistics and create charts in Excel.
About us
NWG is more than just a water company. We are one team, fulfilling many roles, working together to ensure our customers have clean, fresh running water, whilst providing great customer service, protecting the environment and supporting local communities.
We live water, all our amazing people are helping us become the national leader in the provision of sustainable water and wastewater services.
Here at NWG (Northumbrian Water & Essex & Suffolk Water) Diversity, Inclusion and Equity means bringing your full self to work. We encourage and welcome applications from all underrepresented groups, as we believe and strive for community representation within all our teams, structures and organisation.
Please note this role will be employed by third party agency Pertemps
About us
NWG (Northumbrian Water Group) provides water and sewerage services to 2.7 million people in the North East of England as Northumbrian Water, and water services to 1.5 million people in the South East of England as Essex & Suffolk Water.
We are proud to serve our customers and we’re committed to delivering great service, putting our customers at the heart of everything we do.
Documents
- Business Plan 2025-30 – Essex & Suffolk Water – Download
- Business Plan 2025-30 – Main Report – Download
- Business Plan 2025-30 – Northumbrian Water – Download
- Restore and Regenerate – Our Environment Strategy to 2050 – Download
- Water Resources Environmental Assistant Undergrad JD 2026-27 – SOUTH.docx – Download
