Hydrologist

Bristol Water plc; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Pennon Group, including Bournemouth Water, Bristol Water and South West Water, seeks a Hydrologist to lead hydrological assessments and analyses across multiple programmes. You will support water resource planning, environmental compliance and regulatory reporting.

The role covers operational hydrology across our operating regions and requires strong data analysis, modelling, and stakeholder engagement skills. DBS may be required for onboarding.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Earth Sciences, Physical Geography or another relevant analytical discipline.
• Full UK Driving Licence.
• Experience delivering hydrological studies and catchment assessments.
• Experience analysing hydrometric datasets.
• Ability to produce high-quality technical reports and present complex information clearly.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical hydrological leadership for WINEP, WRMP and Drought Plan development.
• Act as subject matter expert for hydrology and hydrometry across water resources activities.
• Support environmental and water resource planning decisions through robust hydrological analysis and interpretation.
• Ensure compliance with environmental legislation, abstraction licences, permits and industry best practice.
• Undertake hydrological assessments associated with licence applications and drought planning.

Skills

Hydrology

Hydrometry

Data analysis

Report writing

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant analytical field

Full UK driving licence

Tools

GR6J

Qube

GIS software

R or Python

Job description

Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose

At Pennon Group, we're proud to serve communities while protecting the environment. Together with our subsidiaries, South West Water, Bristol Water, Bournemouth Water, SES Water, Pennon Water Services and Pennon Power, we're leading the way in water and renewables.

We're proud to be recognised as a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we're working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.

Whether you're starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.

Role Purpose

The Hydrologist is responsible for providing specialist hydrological expertise to support water resource management, environmental compliance, and strategic planning activities across the organisation's operating regions. The role leads hydrological assessments and investigations that underpin key statutory programmes, including the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), Water Resource Management Plans (WRMP), and Drought Plans.

Acting as the organisation's expert client for hydrology, the postholder will analyse, interpret and communicate hydrological data and modelling outputs to assess environmental impacts, support water resource decision‑making, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations and licence requirements.

The role supports operations across Bournemouth Water, Bristol Water, South West Water (including the Isles of Scilly), and SES Water.

Key Responsibilities

Hydrological Leadership & Expertise

• Provide technical hydrological leadership and advice for key statutory programmes including WINEP, WRMP and Drought Plan development.
• Act as the subject matter expert for hydrology and hydrometry across water resources activities.
• Support environmental and water resource planning decisions through robust hydrological analysis and interpretation.
• Ensure compliance with environmental legislation, abstraction licences, permits and industry best practice.

Hydrological Assessment & Analysis

• Undertake hydrological assessments associated with new and varied abstraction licence applications.
• Analyse the impacts of licence conditions, hands‑off flows and abstraction regimes on water availability and environmental outcomes.
• Support drought permit applications and strategic drought planning activities.
• Deliver naturalised and de‑naturalised flow assessments to support hydro‑ecological modelling and environmental investigations.
• Undertake flow assessments to support fisheries and ecological studies.
• Support operational abstraction compliance monitoring and reporting.

Data Management & Modelling

• Manage, maintain and improve naturalised flow models and associated analytical tools.
• Analyse and interpret hydrometric and environmental datasets to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
• Apply rainfall‑runoff methodologies and hydrological modelling tools to support water resource assessments.
• Develop evidence‑based recommendations to support operational and strategic decision‑making.

Hydrometry & Monitoring

• Support the design and delivery of hydrometric monitoring programmes and solutions.
• Review and develop stage‑discharge rating curves where required.
• Assess flow measurement techniques, hydrological monitoring systems and data quality standards.
• Ensure monitoring activities provide robust evidence for regulatory and operational purposes.

Stakeholder & Consultancy Management

• Build effective working relationships with regulators, including Environment Agency hydrology teams.
• Discuss modelling methodologies, hydrological assessments and monitoring approaches with external stakeholders.
• Specify, manage and review work undertaken by external hydrological consultants.
• Prepare scopes of work and evaluate consultant proposals and tenders.

Person Specification

Essential Knowledge & Experience

• Strong understanding of catchment hydrology and water resources management.
• Experience undertaking hydrological assessments, analysis and technical reviews.
• Experience analysing and interpreting hydrometric datasets.
• Ability to produce high‑quality technical reports and present complex information clearly.
• Experience supporting low flow studies, drought assessments and water resource investigations.

Technical Skills

• Hydrological assessment and catchment analysis.
• Hydrometric monitoring and flow measurement.
• Stage‑discharge rating curve development and review.
• Rainfall‑runoff modelling and hydrological forecasting.
• Technical report writing and stakeholder communication.
• Data analysis and interpretation.
• Project management and prioritisation.
• Analytical problem solving.

Desirable Experience

• Use of hydrological modelling packages such as GR6J and Qube.
• Programming and analytical tool development using R or Python.
• Experience with GIS software and spatial analysis.
• Knowledge of groundwater‑dominated catchments and regional hydrological characteristics.
• Experience working within the water industry environment.
• Hydrometric knowledge, including flow measurement techniques and monitoring infrastructure.

Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Earth Sciences, Physical Geography or another relevant analytical discipline.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

Desirable

• Master's Degree in a relevant subject.
• Minimum five years' experience delivering hydrological studies and catchment assessments.
• Professional membership of CIWEM or equivalent professional body.
• Chartered status or actively working towards chartership.

Closing Date: 21st Sept 2026

Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.

Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.

Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:

• Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.
• Be You - We want you to bring your best everyday. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.
• Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.