Lead Scientist

At Urban Utilities, our purpose is simple yet powerful – Enrich Quality of Life. With a $7 billion asset base and services spanning 1.5 million residents and more than 31,000 commercial customers across South East Queensland, we are committed to enhancing the liveability of our communities every day.

Your opportunity:

We are excited to be recruiting for a Lead Scientist for our SAS Laboratory, that forms part of our Customer & Innovation group.

The Customer and Innovation group leads and champions the way Urban Utilities connects with its customers. Our approach is focused on remaining contemporary, by understanding the current and future needs of our customers and appropriately shaping our services.

The Lead Scientist is the technical owner of scientific services delivered by the SAS Laboratory and is accountable for the integrity, quality, reliability, and continuous improvement of analytical outcomes provided to Urban Utilities and its customers. The role provides scientific leadership across Chemistry and Microbiology disciplines, guiding technical experts, driving innovation, and ensuring the laboratory remains at the forefront of analytical capability, regulatory compliance, and industry best practice.

Some of your accountabilities will include:

• Act as the laboratory's principal scientific authority and technical decision-maker for analytical methods, scientific interpretation, and quality outcomes.

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to senior scientists and technical specialists, fostering scientific excellence and professional development.

• Communicating the strategic plan and clearly articulating how it aligns with the function’s strategy, action plans, and the broader organisational mission and vision.

• Ensuring compliance with all Quality Management System (QMS) requirements and maintaining NATA accreditation standards, including ISO 17025 and ISO 14001.

• Consistently meeting Service Level Agreement (SLA) requirements, including turnaround times (TAT), accuracy, and service delivery across all service offerings.

• Developing, verifying, and validating new methods, equipment, tools, and programs to enhance quality assurance outcomes, while leading initiatives within areas of technical expertise.

• Specifying, procuring, upgrading, and installing scientific equipment and instrumentation to support the current and future needs of a sophisticated NATA-accredited laboratory.

• Demonstrating leadership in Health, Safety, and Wellbeing by adhering to policies and procedures and proactively identifying, managing, and mitigating environmental and wellbeing risks.

• Provide expert scientific advice to internal stakeholders, regulators, industry bodies, and customers.

• Monitor emerging scientific trends, technologies, and regulatory developments to ensure future readiness of laboratory services.

About you:

We are seeking candidates who are passionate about shaping our future, and ideally have the following qualifications, skills and experiences: 

• You are a technical expert with demonstrated experience working in NATA-accredited laboratories, ideally within the water and wastewater industry.

• You have successfully led small to medium-sized teams, fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing culture that prioritises safety and delivers exceptional results.

• You are customer-focused and naturally build strong, meaningful relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. You excel at collaboration, aligning objectives, and achieving positive outcomes.

• This role requires regular exposure to raw wastewater. Immunisations such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Tetanus may be required in accordance with Urban Utilities' Immunisation Policy.

• This position is based full-time at our SAS Laboratory in Darra. Free on-site and street parking are available for staff.

At Urban Utilities, we believe our workforce should reflect the community we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, including First Nations peoples, people with disability, members of the LGBTIQ+ community, veterans, emergency responders and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

You might not meet every single requirement listed. If you are excited about the role and believe you can make a strong contribution, we encourage you to apply.

If you require adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know so we can support you.

Why Urban Utilities

Urban Utilities delivers essential water and wastewater services to more than 1.5 million people across Southeast Queensland. Every day, our teams work to support thriving communities and a sustainable future.

• 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 varies by role. Let’s discuss what flexibility looks like for you.

• Urban Utilities is an endorsed employer for all women. See our range of benefits and policies directly at WORK180

There’s no us without you. Come shape the future with us.

How to Apply

Click ‘Apply’ to submit your application.

Please note: applicants may 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 [email protected]

Our Talent team & Hiring Managers kindly request that no unsolicited CVs are sent for this role.