Registered Charity 1103997
Love the Lea – Hydrological Field Scientist and Laboratory Technician
Fixed term contract 6 months, 3 days per week
(There is the potential for a shorter working week and a longer fixed term contract).
Salary band: – London Living Wage - £16,653 per annum, pro rata
Thames21 is the leading waterway charity in London. The charity is a vibrant and growing organisation with approximately 20 staff, with projects that are located across Greater London as well as offices in Central and East London. There is an opportunity for you to join our small dynamic charity.
Involving, educating and engaging people in practical volunteering activities to care for rivers, streams and ponds across Greater London. Thames21 builds constructive and sustainable relationships between urban communities and the natural water environments in their neighbourhood. Urban waterways are not just vital sanctuaries for nature but can also have a huge impact on a community’s quality of life. Their strong appeal across the generations and cultures can be used to bring communities together.
Initially established as a research project in 1994, Thames21 became an independent registered charity in 2004. Thames21’s Board of Trustees also includes representatives from Thames Water, the Environment Agency and the Port of London Authority. It continued to expand and develop projects and programmes and today has nearly 14,000 volunteers on waterways across London.
Thames21 is looking for an enthusiastic graduate to help run our field lab, analysing water quality across London’s waterways. The graduate would work closely with other Thames21 staff to design testing programmes and evaluate test results.
The role will include:
- Collecting water samples from across the London’s waterways
- Testing and recording geochemical, biochemical and physical water quality parameters in the field and in the Thames21 Field Lab
- Analysing and evaluating results from recent and past water quality testing programmes carried out by Thames21, as well as water quality data collected from other relevant sources
- Designing water quality testing programmes based on the aims of a particular project
- Coordinating the daily, weekly and monthly field lab maintenance checks
- Helping to aid the development of the Thames21 field lab through trialling the use of new equipment and methodologies
You will have the opportunity to:
•Use your academic skills in a practical setting to help improve knowledge of water quality across London’s waterways
•Help test the efficiency of pioneering solutions to urban water pollution, such as Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and Wetlands
•Develop your practical and research skills in the field of Hydrology
•Explore London’s waterways and meet local communities and people
•Be part of a successful and dynamic environmental charity
•Be part of a lively and committed team
•Make a real difference to the health of London’s waterways
In return we offer:
- 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata for part time posts) are available plus public holidays. In addition, the Thames21 office is closed between Christmas and New Year.
- Thames21 operate a flexitime system of working
- Interest free season ticket loan or bike loan
- Childcare voucher scheme
- Mobile phone for company use
Closing date for completed application forms: Midnight on Monday2nd March 2015
Interviews will be held on Monday 9th & Tuesday 10th March 2015
Completed application forms should be sent to by email to
Or posted to: Adrian Spalding, Administration & Personnel Manager, Thames21, Walbrook Wharf, 78-83 Upper Thames Street, London EC4R 3TD
Registered Charity 1103997
Job Description
Job Title: Love the Lea – Hydrological Field Scientist and Laboratory Technician
Salary: London Living Wage - £16,653 per annum, pro rata
Contract length:Fixed Term Six months – 3 days per week
Location:Thames21 Bow Office, Gillender Street, London, E3 3JY
Responsible to: Senior Programmes Manager
There is the potential for a shorter working week and a longer fixed term contract which would be negotiated with the successful candidate should they wish.
Purpose of the job
To help Thames21 improve knowledge of water quality across London’s waterways,through collecting and analysing water samples, then collating and interpreting results.
Main duties and responsibilities
•Safely and effectively collect water samples and obtain hydrological data in the field
•Follow scientific methodologies and procedures to produce reliable results in the field and in the Thames21 field lab
•Accurately operate standard field and laboratory equipment
•Ensure strict safety procedures and equipment checks are carried out in the field lab environment
•Record and interpret results collected in the field and from laboratory tests
•Perform basic statistical and mathematical calculations to analyse hydrological data sets
•Design new water quality testing programmes and trial new lab procedures when required
This job description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise within the post at various times and the post-holder will be expected to carry out other duties from time to time which are broadly consistent with those in this document.
Person Specification
It is essential that in your application you give evidence or examples of your proven experience in each of the following criteria including the competencies.
Qualification, development & knowledge: / Essential / Desirable / Assessed byShould have a strong scientific background and a degree in: Chemistry, Biochemistry, Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Environmental Science,
or similar / √ / Application
Knowledge of a range of different water quality indicators including biological, chemical and physical parameters / √ / Application & Interview
Knowledge of standard hydrological laboratory and field equipment, and of practices related to water quality analysis / √ / Interview
Should have an understanding of urban water quality issues including sources of diffuse and point source pollution / √ / Application & Interview
An understanding of possible solutions to improving water quality in urban waterways / √ / Interview
An understanding of contaminant transport and the factors affecting the concentrations of geochemical and biochemical species in natural water bodies / √ / Interview
An understanding of European Water policy, including the Water Framework Directive, and how these relate to British waterways / √ / Interview
Experience of:
Experience of data management and interpretation, including some experience of statistical analysis / √ / Application & InterviewSome experience of working in a laboratory environment and an understanding of safe laboratory practice / √ / Application & Interview
Familiarity with some of London’s waterways / √ / Interview
Skills and competencies:
IT literate, with good knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel / √ / Application & Interview
IT proficient with some knowledge of hydrological computer modelling programs such as ArcGIS, MODFLOW or PHREEQC / √ / Application & Interview
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- 25 days paid (pro rata for part time staff) annual leave are available plus public holidays. In addition, the Thames21 office is closed between Christmas and New Year.
- Thames21 operate a flexitime system of working
- Interest free season ticket loan or bike loan
- Childcare voucher scheme
- Mobile phone for company use
- The post holder must be willing to travel sensibly throughout London and occasionally throughout the UK over night
Closing date for completed application forms: Midnight on Monday2nd March 2015
Interviews will be held on Monday 9th & Tuesday 10th March 2015
Completed application forms should be sent to by email to
Or posted to: Adrian Spalding, Administration & Personnel Manager, Thames21, Walbrook Wharf, 78-83 Upper Thames Street, London EC4R 3TD