Associate Director Hydrogeologist

Jacobs; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Well-being benefits

Volunteer program

Job summary

Jacobs is expanding its Water Catchment Management team and seeks Senior/Principal/Associate Director Hydrogeologists to join a growing, multidisciplinary group. You’ll lead groundwater assessments, drought management strategies and abstraction licensing programmes across Ireland and the UK, contributing to sustainable water resource planning and public sector projects.

The role offers hybrid working arrangements, opportunities to mentor colleagues, and engagement with clients and regulators to

Qualifications

• Proven hydrogeological assessments delivery
• Strong groundwater processes knowledge
• Experience leading projects within budgets and programmes
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Experience mentoring junior team members
• Membership or progress toward a professional body (IGI/GS/CIWEM or equivalent)

Responsibilities

• Lead hydrogeological investigations and technical studies across project lifecycles
• Deliver workstreams from feasibility through design, construction and commissioning
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to achieve sustainable outcomes
• Support technical reviews, regulatory compliance and environmental assurance
• Engage with clients, regulators and stakeholders to build trusted relationships
• Conduct site inspections and technical assessments
• Drive continuous improvement in project delivery and innovation
• Mentor and develop junior team members within a growing team

Skills

Hydrogeology

Project leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Mentoring junior staff

Education

Bachelors in Geology / related

Postgraduate Hydrogeology

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Help Secure the Future of Water Resources - Dublin, Cork, Belfast

Water resilience has never been more important. As investment across Ireland and the UK's water and environmental sectors continues to grow, the need for sustainable groundwater management, drought resilience and environmental stewardship is greater than ever.

At Jacobs, you'll have the opportunity to lead impactful hydrogeological projects that protect vital water resources, support critical infrastructure and help communities adapt to future environmental challenges.

Whether you're an established technical specialist or an experienced project leader ready for your next challenge, this role offers the platform to make a meaningful and lasting impact.

What's In It For You

This is more than a technical role. It's an opportunity to influence the future of water resource management while advancing your own career within a globally recognised consultancy.

You'll benefit from

• Working on nationally significant water, environmental and infrastructure programmes
• Opportunities to lead complex and rewarding hydrogeological projects from concept through to delivery
• Exposure to multidisciplinary teams across water, environmental, engineering and sustainability disciplines
• Clear pathways for career progression from technical leadership to strategic project and client leadership
• Flexible and agile working arrangements across Ireland
• A collaborative culture that supports innovation, professional development and knowledge sharing
• Opportunities to mentor and develop emerging talent within a growing team
• Access to some of the industry's most exciting challenges in water resilience, sustainability and environmental protection

Your Impact

As a Senior to Associate Director Hydrogeologist, you'll help shape solutions that safeguard water resources, improve environmental outcomes and support sustainable development.

Your work will

• Support resilient water supplies for communities and businesses
• Inform drought management and abstraction licensing strategies
• Protect groundwater resources and sensitive environments
• Influence critical infrastructure and environmental investment decisions
• Drive sustainable water management practices for future generations
• Strengthen technical capability through mentoring and leadership

About The Opportunity

Our Water Catchment Management team is expanding, and we're looking for talented hydrogeologists to join us at Senior, Principal or Associate Director level.

You’ll become part of a growing multidisciplinary team supporting major public sector and utility clients across Ireland. Working across a diverse portfolio of projects, you’ll contribute to groundwater assessments, drought management strategies, abstraction licensing programmes and wider water resource planning initiatives.

This is an opportunity to combine technical excellence with project leadership, working closely with specialists across engineering, environmental science and water management disciplines.

In this role, you’ll

• Lead hydrogeological investigations, assessments and technical studies
• Deliver technical workstreams across project lifecycles, from feasibility through design, construction and commissioning
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to achieve high-quality, sustainable outcomes
• Support technical reviews, regulatory compliance and environmental assurance activities
• Engage with clients, regulators and key stakeholders to build trusted relationships
• Conduct site inspections and technical assessments
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement in project delivery
• Support project performance through effective planning, reporting and financial awarenessMentor, coach and develop junior team members while contributing to a strong team culture

You’ll have the opportunity to help shape the future growth of our hydrogeology capability while delivering projects that create real value for clients and communities.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Undergraduate degree in Geology, Geography or a related discipline
• Postgraduate qualification in Hydrogeology or a related technical field
• Proven experience delivering hydrogeological assessments and integrated catchment science projects
• Strong understanding of groundwater processes, water resource management and environmental compliance
• Experience leading projects and delivering successful outcomes within agreed programmes and budgets
• Membership of, or progress towards, a relevant professional body such as the Institute of Geologists of Ireland, Geological Society, CIWEM or equivalent
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Experience supporting and developing junior team members
• Strong understanding of relevant industry standards, regulations and best practice

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.Find out more about ourJacobs Employee Networks here.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https//www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.