Affinity Water has an exciting opportunity to join us as an Asset Scientist – Strategic Planning. 

The Role: 

As an Asset Scientist – Strategic Planning, you will play a pivotal role in shaping how our assets, land use, and infrastructure are protected and planned for future growth.

Acting as the main point of contact for Local Planning Authorities (LPAs), you will help guide planning policy, support development management, and ensure our Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) objectives are embedded across the region. You’ll lead the coordination of our land use strategy, working collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to ensure the best value and outcomes for our land assets. With regular engagement across communities, councils, developers, and internal stakeholders, this role is central to driving positive planning outcomes for Affinity Water.

What you’ll be doing: 

• Act as the main point of contact for Local Planning Authorities, supporting planning policy and development management matters. 
• Coordinate and deliver our LPA Engagement Programme, including guidance materials and webinars. 
• Review site allocations and planning policies to ensure protection of our assets and alignment with WRMP objectives. 
• Provide specialist planning advice across the business, including responding to planning applications and issuing formal objections where necessary. 
• Lead and maintain the company’s Land Strategy, chairing the sub-land group and guiding site allocation decisions. 
• Work with developers and internal teams to manage planning enquiries and identify opportunities for asset or environmental improvements.

What you’ll need:

• A relevant degree and chartered membership with RICS or RTPI (or working towards this). 
• Strong experience in planning, development management, or land strategy, ideally within our supply area. 
• Excellent communication, engagement, and stakeholder-management skills. 
• Ability to interpret planning policy, technical information, and site allocation impacts. 
• Highly organised, confident, and comfortable working across multiple teams and external partners. 
• A project management qualification is desirable. 
  

Advert closes 4/01/2026

Benefits:

• Salary: £30,000 - £39,000 (salary dependant on skills and experience)
• Hours of work: 8.30-5.00pm (Mon - Thurs) and 8.30 - 4.30pm (Friday)
• Learning and development opportunities, including mentoring and a range of formal courses and open learning resources.
• Entry into the company annual bonus scheme.
• Annual leave from 23-27 rising with length of service, and the option to purchase up to 5 extra days.
• A ‘Celebration Day’ in addition to public holidays that people can use to celebrate a religious festival or other occasion that is important to them.
• A generous 'double match pension scheme' that doubles the contributions you make (company contribution capped at 12%)
• We offer a range of family benefits including enhanced Maternity, Adoption, Paternity, Shared Parental Leave, Fertility Support Leave and up to 5 full or 10 half days of paid Carers Leave.
• Menopause policy and Reasonable Adjustment policy to help everyone perform at their best.
• Access to our Wellbeing Centre with support for looking after your physical and mental health.
• Discounts at a Range of Retail Outlets and on Dental and Medical Insurance through our Tap4Perks scheme.
• Up to 4 Affinity days a year to volunteer in the community.
• Life Assurance.

Disability Confident

As a Disability Confident employer, we’re committed to offering interviews to disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria and opt in on the application form. Ask the Talent Acquisition lead for the full job description to see all the criteria. If we have a very high volume of applicants and we’re not able to offer interviews to all, we’ll take a fair and proportionate number of disabled candidates through.

What is a disability?

A disability is a long-term physical or mental health condition that has a substantial impact on someone’s day-to-day activities.

What if I need adjustments during the recruitment process?

Let the Talent Acquisition lead mentioned on the job advert know – they’ll be able to help you.

Affinity Water recognises the benefits of greater diversity in our workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We are committed to building a more inclusive culture where every member of our workforce can thrive.

You can find out what it’s like to work at Affinity Water through our career site https://www.affinitywatercareers.co.uk/ where our colleagues share their career development stories and you can get a feel for our company culture.