Sample Reception Administrator

Vacancy Type

Permanent Vacancy

Grade and Salary

G (€30,917 -€46,375)

Job Description

We are Uisce Éireann. Every day, we are responsible for the delivery of secure, safe, and sustainable water services for the people of Ireland. As Ireland’s national regulated water utility, our vision is a sustainable Ireland where water is respected and protected, for the planet and all the lives it supports.

Our purpose at Uisce Éireann is to rise to the challenge of delivering transformative water services that enable communities to thrive. That means we are proud to take on the responsibility of protecting our water supply and passing on a safe and secure water system to a rapidly growing population and empowering Ireland’s social and economic growth.

We are passionate about empowering our people, enabling them to make a positive impact on communities across Ireland. We are guided by a shared vision and purpose, grounded in values that define who we are and shape how we work, where we deliver for customers and communities, we work better together, we do the right thing, we aim high, and we keep each other safe. Our behaviours define how we interact, communicate, and succeed together. These values and behaviours apply to each one of us, across every role, location, and level.

Our goal is to attract and develop skilled and talented people from diverse backgrounds, who bring a dynamic range of expertise and insights to our work. With a strong, values-driven workforce, we ensure Uisce Éireann can continue advancing Ireland’s water services and meeting the needs of the communities we serve for generations to come.

The Role:

The Environmental Regulation function is responsible for the day-to-day management of environmental regulation and compliance. The function monitors the compliance of the water and wastewater network and treatment works, influences external environmental policy and manages environmental stakeholder relationships. Environmental Regulation provides expertise to the Uisce Éireann business on influencing environmental policy and managing stakeholders around environmental regulation affecting Uisce Éireann’s practices. The function provides regulatory expertise to the business, including the Senior Leadership Team, in all aspects of environmental regulation. The team provides support on legislative and regulatory changes that will affect Uisce Éireann policies in the future

The Scientific Services functional area is responsible for the national provision of operational support services to include sampling and laboratory analytics, ensuring that activities are performed in accordance with regulatory obligations to protect public health and the environment. The Laboratory sub area is responsible for providing chemical and microbiological analytical services in support of the regulatory sampling programs, operational monitoring. capital investment and customer complaint. The teams are required to work weekly working patterns including covering ‘skeleton staff’ schedule at weekends, as required.

Reporting to the Sample Reception Supervisor, the Sample Reception Administrator is responsible for co-ordinating and processing the accurate and organised receipt of water and wastewater samples, working with the Laboratory and Sampling teams to deliver a quality service to Uisce Éireann and its customers, complying with the requirements of the Quality management system and ISO17025 standard.

Please note the following working hours and duties apply to the operational phase of the Laboratory and Sampling service. There will be an initial development phase in which working hours of 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and duties relating to the development of the service will apply until the operational phase commences.

The role requires flexibility in terms of working hours as the role holder will be required to participate in standard hours working rosters to cover Sample Reception operational hours of 10am to 10pm Monday to Friday within a 35-hour working week. There is a service commitment to providing laboratory cover on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays. If you are required to perform weekend work, this would be infrequent and in addition to the 35-hour working week.

Rostered work performed outside 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday will be remunerated as a roster participation allowance.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist with delivery of a high-quality service to UÉ and its customers, with processes complying with the requirements of the EPA, INAB, ISO17025 standards, regulatory requirements, and the management system.

• Perform the receipt, management, log in and distribution of clean and wastewater samples with their team of sample reception administrators for the Uisce Éireann National Laboratory and services.

• Maintaining efficiencies for sample receipt and integrity check process to ensure efficiency, consistency and quality of workflow and identifying opportunities for improvement.

• Ensure proper documentation and receipt of samples for analysis (chain of custody and sample integrity requirements) using the technology systems provided.

• Coordinate the storage and distribution of samples to designated areas, ensuring adherence to sample requirements and conditions to maintain sample integrity for analysis.

• Manage stock control levels and timely ordering in their area (Sample Reception), to ensure sufficient resources in place to meet testing requirements.

• Maintenance and checking of equipment in their area (Sample Reception), ensuring the equipment is fit for purpose in compliance with ISO 17025.

• Ensure compliance with Uisce Éireann operating procedures, ISO 17025, QMS and

• other relevant health and safety and regulatory requirements in area of responsibility.

• Timely communication and escalation of any issues identified in their area.

• In the initial project phase of the role, development of best practices and implementation

• of standard operating procedures for the provision of sample reception services that maximise quality of output, efficiency and support the adoption of consistent processes.

• Maintain and report KPIs for processes over which they have ownership.

• Undertake and/or participate in risk assessments (H&S and operational), nonconforming work investigations and internal audits in their area, according to ISO17025, UÉ and QMS requirements, as required.

• Work collaboratively with Line Manager, team and with wider STS and UÉ stakeholders to deliver strategic objectives.

• Maintain good working relationships with key stakeholders and provide high levels of customer service.

• Responsible for carrying out any other duties which the Sample Reception Supervisor may reasonably request.

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaboration with key internal stakeholders across the UÉ business

• Responsible for promoting and delivering health and safety commitments across UÉ and its supply chain, reinforcing positive behaviours and delivering health and safety objectives and requirements to the highest industry standards

• Support the delivery of the Uisce Éireann Transformation Programme, driving results required within the Directorate and supporting organisation-wide objectives

• Conducts duties and responsibilities in accordance with Uisce Éireann’s Information Security policies, standards, processes and controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of UÉ business information and delivery of critical services, in accordance with the NIS Directive and any other relevant cybersecurity regulation

• Other duties as required

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• Relevant third level Scientific qualification and/or accreditation is required.

• Minimum 1 year relevant experience in a similar role in the water, utilities or similar industry, preferably in an ISO17025 testing laboratory or similar.

• Demonstrate knowledge of current best practices and processes within their area of expertise: Sample Reception.

• Knowledge of ISO17025 accreditation process and requirements desirable.

• Experience of Laboratory Quality Management Systems (QMS) and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) advantageous.

• Highly motivated individual, working to the highest professional and ethical standards and with proven ability to deliver results.

• Strong analytical skills and ability to identify and analyse problems and potential improvements and propose and implement solutions.

• Demonstrate adaptability and the ability to change focus and direction in line with business strategy and requirements.

• Strong background in upholding organisational values through decision-making, knowledge sharing and constructive actions.

• Ability to seek out ways to innovate and improve processes to improve service standards.

• Proven effective time management skills with the ability to prioritise and remain focused.

• Experience in taking ownership of safety responsibilities and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives.

The closing date for receipt of applications for this vacancy is 25/02/2026.

Please note that applications submitted after this closing date will not be accepted.

*Please be advised that if successful you will be placed on the salary range based on your skills and experience. Please note the Market reference point (midpoint) of the range is generally the upper end of the offer where someone is deemed to be fully competent to take on the duties of the role, and leaves room for the employee to progress through the pay range as their experience develops further.

Uisce Éireann is an equal opportunities employer.

We are committed to providing a diverse and inclusive place of work and have a robust strategy and framework called ibelong to enable this. We are an equal opportunity employer and through our recruitment process we welcome and encourage applications from interested and suitably qualified individuals regardless of gender, age, racial or ethnic origin, membership of the traveller community, religion or beliefs, family or civil status, sexual orientation/gender identity or disability.

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