Principal Hydrologist (Flood Risk Consultant)

Stantec; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus schemes

Enhanced pension plan

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Hybrid / flexible working

Gym membership discounts

Job summary

Stantec is seeking a Principal Hydrologist to join its Hydrology and Flood Risk team in the UK. You will lead complex flood-risk projects, mentor junior colleagues and shape the capability while coordinating with regulators and clients.

The role offers hybrid working from multiple UK offices and opportunities to influence strategy and service delivery, including engagement across the Environment Agency and LLFAs.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering, Geography, Environmental Science or related discipline and chartered with CIWEM/ICE or working towards it.
• Significant experience managing water environment projects with leadership and client relationship skills.
• Ability to lead multiple complex projects, contribute to business development and deliver high quality reports.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects delivering flood-risk and water environment solutions with technical leadership.
• Mentor junior colleagues and oversee quality assurance processes.
• Support business development and shape future capability in flood-risk consulting.
• Prepare Flood Risk Assessments and use hydraulic models (e.g., Flood Modeller, TUFLOW, InfoWorks).
• Engage with Environment Agency, LLFAs, water companies and regulators; produce clear technical reports.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Project management

Stakeholder communication

Technical flood-risk modelling

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering, Geography, Environmental Science, or related discipline

Tools

Flood Modeller

TUFLOW

InfoWorks ICM

ArcGIS Pro

QGIS

Job description

The Opportunity

The UK's flood risk landscape is changing. Climate pressures are intensifying, regulatory expectations are rising, and the communities that depend on resilient, well‑managed water environments deserve solutions that are built to last. We are looking for a Principal Hydrologist with a strong flood‑risk consulting background to join our growing Hydrology and Flood Risk team. You will take a leading role in delivering complex work and shaping a team with real ambition.

About The Role

You will join a friendly, collaborative group of over 100 Hydrologists, Hydrogeologists, Water Resources Planners and Water Quality Scientists, with flexibility to be based from our Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol or Cardiff offices.

Your project portfolio will span the full breadth of flood‑risk and drainage consultancy, including enhancing the resilience of public water supply, reducing the environmental impact of wastewater infrastructure and working with Lead Local Flood Authorities.

At the Principal level your contribution will extend well beyond technical delivery. You will mentor junior colleagues, lead quality assurance processes, support business development and play an active part in shaping the future direction of our flood‑risk and water environment capability.

Your experience will span some or all of the following: preparation of Flood Risk Assessments in line with national planning policy; hydraulic modelling using Flood Modeller, TUFLOW or InfoWorks ICM; hydrological methods including FEH, ReFH2 and WINFAP; surface water drainage strategies and SuDS design; LLFA studies including SWMPs, Local Flood Risk Management Plans and Flood Protection Schemes; river restoration and natural flood management; EIA preparation; GIS analysis using ArcGIS Pro or QGIS; and liaison with the Environment Agency, SEPA, LLFAs and water companies.

Your Impact

The projects you lead will protect communities from flooding, support the long‑term security of public water supply and contribute to the restoration of natural systems under pressure across the UK. That is work with real consequences, and your technical leadership will sit at its heart.

Beyond the projects, the people you develop will carry the expertise and standards you instil throughout their careers. At the Principal level that lasting influence is one of the most rewarding parts of the role.

About You

You hold a degree in Civil Engineering, Geography, Environmental Science, or a related discipline, and you are Chartered with CIWEM, ICE, or a similar professional body, or actively working towards it.

You bring significant experience managing and delivering water environment projects, combining deep technical knowledge with the leadership and communication skills that build trusted, long‑term client relationships.

You are confident managing multiple complex projects simultaneously, contributing to business development conversations and helping steer the strategic direction of a growing discipline. You produce high‑quality technical reports for both technical and non‑technical audiences, and you bring the rigour and attention to detail that work of this consequence demands.

Most importantly, you are looking for a role where your expertise and leadership matter equally. A place where you can do excellent work, develop excellent people and be part of a team that is genuinely going somewhere.

Why Join Us

• We put people first: We're proud of our friendly, inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and driven to succeed.
• We are driven to achieve: Named in the top 50 companies to work by Glassdoor 2025; recognized by Corporate Knights as one of the world's top 10 most sustainable companies 2025; named 'Best Place to Work' and 'International Consulting Firm of the Year' at the NCE Awards 2024.
• We do what is right: Industry-leading training and development as well as paid professional subscriptions. A professional progression plan, supporting you to become chartered with ICE.
• We are better together: A supportive and collaborative team environment and Early Careers peer group and wider ERG network.
• Growth: We're on an exciting growth journey across the UK - we want you to be part of it!
• Great Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days, private medical insurance, group income protection & life assurance included as standard as well as discounted gym membership and lots more.
• Hybrid / Flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work‑life balance with our hybrid approach to flexible working.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment.