Associate / Principal Hydrologist

SLR Consulting Ltd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Company pension scheme

Healthcare and wellbeing support

Travel and life insurance

Structured career progression

25 days annual leave

Flexible hybrid working

Family-friendly policies

Job summary

SLR Consulting Ltd in London is seeking an experienced Hydrologist at Associate or Principal level to join our London Hydrology team. You will balance technical delivery with client engagement and business development responsibilities.

You will lead Flood Risk Assessments, surface water drainage studies and water environment assessments, manage projects and budgets, mentor junior staff, and help grow the team across multiple sectors while collaborating with our multidisciplinary water

Qualifications

• Degree in Hydrology or related discipline and professional registration is preferred.
• Experience leading Flood Risk Assessments and drainage strategies for planning.
• Strong project management and client communication skills.
• Experience mentoring junior staff and contributing to team growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver Flood Risk Assessments and Surface Water Drainage Strategies for planning applications.
• Manage medium to large projects with budgets, timelines and resources.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, regulators and stakeholders.
• Support business development and identify opportunities with existing and new clients.
• Prepare proposals, fee submissions and tender responses.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to technical excellence.

Skills

Flood Risk Assessments

Surface Water Drainage

Water environment assessments

Client relationship management

Project management

Education

Hydrology degree

Chartered status / working towards chartership

Tools

UK driving licence

Job description

SLR is a global leader in sustainability solutions, helping clients tackle some of the world's most complex environmental and sustainability challenges. With over 4,000 employees across more than 125 countries, we combine the reach of a global consultancy with the collaborative culture of a close-knit team. Our "One Team" approach encourages knowledge sharing, technical excellence and genuine support for professional development.

As part of our continued growth, SLR has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Hydrologist to join our growing London team at Associate or Principal level.

This role is ideal for someone looking to broaden their responsibilities beyond technical delivery and take a more active role in client engagement, business development and team growth.

Working under the direction of the London Hydrology Team Leader and as part of SLR's wider Water Environment business, you will support the delivery of a diverse range of projects including Flood Risk Assessments, Surface Water Drainage Strategies, Environmental Impact Assessment chapters and bespoke water environment studies.

Alongside project delivery, you will have the opportunity to develop your commercial skills, strengthen client relationships and help identify opportunities for sustainable growth within the team.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about shaping the future direction of the London hydrology team and helping expand our presence across a wide range of sectors.

This position offers an excellent opportunity to join a highly collaborative team of hydrologists, drainage and flood risk engineers, while working closely with hydrogeologists, geomorphologists, geochemists and civil engineers as part of one of the UK's largest multidisciplinary water environment teams.

Role

Working as part of the London Hydrology team and supported by the London Hydrology Team Leader, you will play a key role in both project delivery and the continued growth of the business.

Key responsibilities

• Leading and delivering Flood Risk Assessments, Surface Water Drainage Strategies and Water Environment Assessments in support of planning applications.
• Managing medium and large projects, including programmes, budgets and project resources.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, regulators and project stakeholders.
• Supporting business development activities and identifying opportunities for growth within existing and new client relationships.
• Preparing proposals, fee submissions and tender responses.
• Collaborating with colleagues across SLR's wider business to develop integrated solutions and identify new opportunities.
• Mentoring, supporting and developing junior team members.
• Contributing to the technical excellence and continued growth of the hydrology team.

Location and working arrangements

The preferred location for this role is London, although individuals with relevant experience based elsewhere in the UK will also be considered. Hybrid, agile and part-time working arrangements are available, and we welcome applications from those returning to work.

Rewards & Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Company pension scheme.
• Comprehensive healthcare and wellbeing support.
• Travel and life insurance.
• Structured career progression and development opportunities.
• Regular performance and career reviews.
• 25 days annual leave plus flexible bank holidays.
• Flexible, agile and hybrid working arrangements.
• Family-friendly policies that support a healthy work-life balance.
• Opportunities to work across a broad range of sectors and multidisciplinary teams.
• The chance to develop both technical and commercial leadership skills within a growing business.

About You

• A degree or equivalent qualification in Hydrology, Geography, Environmental Science, Earth Sciences or a related discipline.
• Experience leading and delivering Flood Risk Assessments, Surface Water Drainage Strategies and water environment assessments in support of planning applications.
• Strong project management and client communication skills.
• Experience managing project programmes, budgets and resources.
• The ability to build positive working relationships with clients, regulators and multidisciplinary project teams.
• An interest in developing business opportunities and contributing to team growth.
• Chartered status, or be actively working towards chartership with a relevant professional institution.
• Experience mentoring, supporting or developing junior staff.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

The following would be advantageous, but are not essential:

• Experience supporting UK residential, commercial, industrial or infrastructure development projects.
• An established professional network within the sector.
• A full UK driving licence to facilitate occasional site visits and attendance at client and regulatory meetings.

Contributing to Team Growth

As part of the recruitment process, shortlisted candidates may be invited to discuss:

• Opportunities they see within the current market.
• Approaches to developing new and existing client relationships.
• Collaboration opportunities across SLR's multidisciplinary teams.
• Ways to raise the profile of the hydrology team internally and externally.
• Actions they would prioritise during their first 12-24 months in the role.

We're less interested in an existing client portfolio and more interested in your ability to identify opportunities, build relationships and contribute to sustainable growth over time.

Culture & Inclusion

At SLR, we are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace where everyone can thrive. Through our Culture & Inclusion Committees, Global Council and Employee Networks, we actively foster an environment where diverse perspectives are valued and respected.

We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of background, and particularly encourage applications from groups currently under‑represented within our industry.

We believe that diversity strengthens our teams, enhances innovation and enables us to deliver better outcomes for our clients and communities.

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we are committed to ensuring all candidates receive equitable support throughout the recruitment process. If you require any adjustments at any stage of your application, please let us know.

We’re Making Sustainability Happen. We don’t have all the answers to the complex sustainability challenges faced by humanity today. But we’re working on it. We are a consultancy with 4,500+ employees, working on projects in over 125 countries around the world. When you join SLR, you’ll work alongside some of the world’s leading advisors and technicians on projects of global importance in the environmental space. We know sustainability starts from within. And no matter how good we are today, we can always do better. We continually work on our internal ethics to set the standard for organisations and reflect the advice we give to clients.