Celebrating Career Journeys: Susan Lee's Insights for Scottish Careers Week

In honour of Scottish Careers Week, General Manager of Scientific Services at Scottish Water, Susan Lee, shares her perspectives on career development, offering insights into the evolving job landscape in Scottish Water and beyond. This blog highlights the importance of fostering growth, adaptability, and passion in navigating career paths across various industries.

Susan oversees the laboratories, technical logistics, and field assurance activities at Scottish Water, ensuring compliance with customer and regulatory requirements in drinking water and waste water quality assurance.

Her professional experience is rooted in both scientific and leadership roles. Susan studied Microbiology at university, and shortly after graduating, she joined Scottish Water as an assistant scientist in the cryptosporidium laboratory at Juniper House. While her focus has primarily been on microbiology, particularly bacteria and parasites, she has also spent several years working on quantifying process emissions in wastewater treatment, a chemistry-based field.

As her career progressed, Susan embraced leadership opportunities within Scientific Services, where she has led teams in both Inverness and Edinburgh.

A natural curiosity for solving problems and using scientific data to make informed decisions sparked Susan's interest in science. This passion for problem-solving first developed during her secondary education, where she found herself drawn to biology and microbiology. It was then that she realised the potential of science to make a positive contribution to society, which inspired her to pursue a career in the field.

Susan holds a BSc (Hons) in Microbiology and Infection from the University of Edinburgh. During her third year, a brief module on water-based microbiology and its public health impacts sparked her interest in the water and wastewater industry. After graduating, she chose to stay in Edinburgh but found herself uncertain about the right job to pursue-she wanted a role with a reputable company, strong promotional prospects, and an exciting work environment.

By chance, she came across a job opening at Scottish Water, which reignited her passion for water-based microbiology. During the interview, she learned about the Cryptosporidium team's innovative plans to develop genotyping analysis, a first in the industry. This opportunity excited her, and she knew it was the right fit. That same enthusiasm remains, as the team continues to push for excellence and leadership within Scientific Services.

Susan's career journey at Scottish Water began as an Assistant Scientist in the Cryptosporidium Laboratory at Juniper House. Over the years, she progressed through roles as a Scientist and later as a Team Leader. One significant milestone was facilitating the implementation of bacterial flow cytometry analysis, which became an important addition to the laboratory's capabilities. It was during this time that she truly began to consider her long-term career within Scottish Water, recognising the unique blend of leadership and scientific work.

A pivotal moment in her career came when she moved to Inverness to take on the role of Team Manager in the lab. This position marked a period of personal growth as a leader and was one of the most rewarding phases of her career. However, when the opportunity to return to Edinburgh arose, she knew it was time to move back home.

In addition to these roles, Susan had the chance to work as a subject matter expert on secondment to Irish Water through Scottish Water International. This experience, focused on supporting their laboratory rationalisation programme, gave her valuable insights into stakeholder management. Her time in Research and Innovation also proved essential, where she led the introduction of process emissions quantification to help meet the company's Net Zero targets. This role exposed her to strategic planning and thinking.

Both positions were crucial in her development as a leader at Scottish Water, challenging her to influence strategic direction through evidence-based decision-making. These experiences have provided a solid foundation for her current role as General Manager.

In her current role at Scottish Water, Susan experiences a dynamic and ever-changing work environment. No two days are the same, but one constant is the feeling that every day is a learning experience, in the best possible way. Her role offers the opportunity to be involved in cutting-edge science, influence strategic direction, and make a positive impact on society-elements that Susan has always sought in her career.

She is particularly excited about the future of Scientific Services and how the team continues to push boundaries to provide the most effective and accurate data for the business, while also leading the industry. Current projects include exploring new methods for analysing organic carbon with a new instrument, the LC-OCD, investigating ways to analyse Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), advancing the use of MALDI-TOF for bacteriological group identifications, and enhancing on-site field monitoring assurance. These efforts highlight the team's commitment to innovation and excellence.

Scottish Water offers a supportive and inclusive work environment, especially for women in science. Since joining the company, Susan Lee has been encouraged and supported by her line leaders in her career development, enabling her to pursue growth in the areas she's passionate about. Throughout her career, she has had the benefit of both formal and informal mentors and coaches who have played a crucial role in building her confidence and capabilities. This guidance has empowered her to seize opportunities within the business.

What stands out most about working at Scottish Water as a woman in science is the emphasis on effort, clear career goals, and personal drive. The company's culture is one that fosters encouragement and inclusivity, ensuring that employees have the opportunities and support they need to succeed.

For young women interested in a career in science, particularly in the water sector, Susan's advice is simple: go for it! Science and the water industry offer a supportive and inclusive environment, where innovation and creativity are encouraged.

Once in the field, it's important to seek out a mentor. A mentor can help build confidence in a new role, provide guidance on navigating the workplace, and expose you to their network, helping you start to build your own. They're also a great resource for asking questions-no matter how small or intimidating they may seem-until you feel more comfortable and settled in your position.