Principal Consultant - Water Efficiency

WRc Group; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance

Flexible benefits programme

Job summary

WRc Group is seeking a Principal Consultant (Water Efficiency) to provide senior technical leadership and strategic guidance across our water efficiency portfolio. The role is full-time, hybrid, based in Swindon, and will drive delivery, client management and market development for our water efficiency consultancy proposition.

You will lead complex projects, oversee technical quality, engage with regulators and water companies, and mentor teams to deliver evidence-based outcomes that address

Qualifications

• Degree or higher qualification in an appropriate discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Typically 7+ years relevant experience within water efficiency, demand management, water resources, environmental consultancy, behavioural research, policy, evaluation or related sectors.
• Demonstrable experience leading complex projects and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of water efficiency policy, regulation, industry drivers and client needs.

Responsibilities

• Technical leadership: Lead delivery of complex water efficiency projects to high standards, on time and within budget.
• Client and stakeholder leadership: Develop trusted client relationships and lead workshops with stakeholders; present findings clearly.
• Business development: Lead bids, proposals and strategic opportunities; maintain a pipeline for water efficiency services.
• People leadership: Mentor, coach and line manage colleagues; provide technical oversight and foster innovation and collaboration.

Skills

Leadership

Client management

Project management

Business development

Mentoring

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree or higher qualification in an appropriate discipline

Job description

WRc are seeking a Principal Consultant (Water Efficiency) who will provide senior technical leadership, project assurance, client management and business development across WRc's growing Water Efficiency portfolio. This is a full time (37 hrs pw) permanent hybrid role, based at our office in Swindon (SN5 8YF). The role will take a leading role in the delivery and development of WRc's water efficiency consultancy proposition, supporting water companies, regulators, government bodies and wider sector stakeholders to address long-term water resource challenges through innovative demand management solutions. The Principal Consultant will act as a technical leader in water efficiency, leading complex projects spanning water efficiency strategy, policy, regulation, behaviour change, intervention design, customer engagement, evaluation, monitoring, household and non-household water use, customer-side leakage, PCC reporting and emerging demand management approaches.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical leadership

• Lead technical delivery of complex and strategically important water efficiency projects to high standards, on time and within budget.
• Support with technical assurance and quality review across water efficiency programmes.
• Interpret complex water consumption, behavioural, operational and policy evidence to develop actionable insights for clients.

Client and stakeholder leadership

• Develop trusted client relationships at senior and strategic levels.
• Lead workshops, stakeholder engagement activities and strategic discussions with clients, partners and sector stakeholders.
• Present complex findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Business development

• Lead the development of bids, proposals and strategic opportunities.
• Develop and maintain a business development pipeline for water efficiency and wider demand management services, supported by the Head of Water Efficiency.
• Support the identification of new markets, service lines and growth opportunities.

People leadership

• Mentor, coach and line manage wider water efficiency colleagues.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance across project teams.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, technical excellence and evidence-based delivery.

Person Specification:

• Degree or higher qualification in an appropriate discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Typically 7+ years relevant experience within water efficiency, demand management, water resources, environmental consultancy, behavioural research, policy, evaluation or related sectors.
• Demonstrable experience leading complex projects and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of water efficiency policy, regulation, industry drivers and client needs.

Salary and Benefits:

• £55,000
• Life assurance
• A flexible benefits programme

Full Job Description Attached

#Consultant #Water

About Us

Water Research Centre (WRc) is an independent centre of excellence for innovation and growth that boasts more than 90 years of delivering leading, technical research and innovation services to the global water, waste management and energy sectors. Its subsidiary business, Cognica, is a leading provider of intelligent information-management solutions and services to the construction and estate-management markets. The businesses are based in Swindon, UK. WRc’s 170 employees bring a shared purpose of discovering and delivering new and exciting solutions that enable clients to meet the challenges of the future. In addition to its wide breadth of services in water, WRc is also home to the National Centre for Environmental Toxicology, an expert team of scientists and toxicologists offering a toxicology-on-demand subscription service. The company is renowned for its ability to address global issues, including climate change, green growth and water and sanitation services, through applied engineering excellence, highlighted through its tagline, “innovation through collaboration”. WRc is part of the RSK Group, a leading integrated environmental, engineering, and technical services business providing dynamic, multidisciplinary services to a wide range of sectors. RSK was founded in 1989 and has grown considerably since then. At RSK, we operate as a group of businesses that work together seamlessly, aiming for growth through diversification. Our strategy helps us build a strong and resilient business, capable of weathering external challenges, while also providing greater value to our clients and more opportunities for our employees. Since the beginning, our philosophy remains the same: employ, develop and reward talented individuals. People are crucial to our company, and we recognise that our success hinges on our colleagues' growth. We're committed to preserving RSK's people-first culture, promoting innovation, and fostering a supportive and caring environment for collaboration. At RSK, we want you to be part of our successes and help you reach your career aspirations. We take pride in offering employees fulfilling and challenging careers by promoting ongoing growth and empowering individuals to excel. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We firmly believe that embracing and celebrating the diversity in our workforce makes us a stronger and more innovative company. By providing workplace adjustments, we make it easier for people to confidently explore and pursue our career opportunities and recognise that flexibility is key to fostering a dynamic and thriving workplace. Many of our office-based positions benefit from a flexible working arrangement, allowing our team members to achieve a balance between professional and personal commitments. We actively encourage applications from candidates of all genders, races, ethnicities, ages, neurotypes, religions or beliefs, sexual orientations, and those with disabilities. If you're passionate about making a difference, join us as we work together to build a brighter, more equitable, and sustainable future for all. Do you have what it takes?