Senior Hydrologist

MOTT MACDONALD; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Life assurance 4x salary

Annual bonus scheme

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Senior Hydrologist to join the Water Resources and Flooding team across the UK. You will apply hydrology, hydrogeology, climate resilience and flood risk expertise to challenging water projects.

Working within the Water Resources and Flooding sector, you will perform low flow assessments, rainfall-runoff modelling, and climate projections, contributing to sustainable water management and resilient infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Relevant degree in hydrology, geography, maths, civil engineering or related discipline.
• Knowledge of low flows hydrology and rainfall-runoff modelling or UKCP18/CMIP projections for climate change assessments.
• Willingness to innovate and communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Low flow assessments and water systems modelling for drought supply.
• Implementation of hydrological forecasting systems.
• Estimation of climate variable changes using projections.
• Flood hydrology studies including climate change impacts.
• Hydropower feasibility studies and design flood verification.
• Climate change risk assessments of assets or portfolios.

Skills

Relevant degree

Low flows hydrology

Innovative mindset

Excellent communication

Education

Degree in hydrology/related

Tools

GR6J

CatchMod

PDM

Aquator

WEAP

Pywr

Job description

Location/s: Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Leeds, London, Manchester, Reading, Sheffield; UK

Recruiter contact: Nicola Coyle

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

About the division

The Water Consultancy Division is Mott MacDonald’s centre of excellence for water and wastewater challenges, offering opportunities to work on technically challenging projects that safeguard water supplies and protect our environment.

Overview of the role

As a Senior Hydrologist you will work within the Water Resources and Flooding sector, applying hydrology, hydrogeology, water quality, catchment management, climate resilience, hydraulic modelling, flood risk, computational fluid dynamics and related disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Low flow assessments and water systems modelling to define the availability of water for supply during droughts
• Implementation of hydrological forecasting systems
• Estimation of changes in climate variables in the future using global or regional projections
• Flood hydrology studies incorporating the impact of climate change
• Hydropower feasibility studies, including the definition of design floods and verification of energy generation
• Climate change risk assessments of assets or portfolios of assets

Candidate specification – Essential

• Relevant degree level qualification (e.g., hydrology, geography, mathematics, civil engineering, or related discipline)
• Knowledge of low flows hydrology, including rainfall‑runoff modelling or applying UKCP18 and CMIP5/6 projections to climate change impact assessments
• Willingness to innovate
• Excellent communication and written skills

Candidate specification – Desirable

• Understanding of regulatory requirements for UK water resources management planning
• Experience with rainfall‑runoff modelling packages such as GR6J, CatchMod, or PDM
• Experience with water systems modelling tools such as Aquator, WEAP, or Pywr
• Coding/statistical techniques experience

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald does not currently offer sponsorship for the Skilled Worker visa route. We welcome applications from candidates eligible for alternative immigration routes that do not require sponsorship.

Agile working

We offer a hybrid working policy that supports well‑being, flexibility, and trust, allowing you to work most effectively for clients, teams and personal commitments.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Accessibility

We provide reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates or interviewees – please contact us at [e-mail].

Benefits

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6x your salary.
• Income protection scheme, absence and return to work support due to long‑term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• Annual bonus schemes sharing financial success.

Employee Ownership

• No external investors – culture of shared success.
• Employees have a stake and a voice, with direct connection to performance bonuses.
• Stake increases with career growth, recognising long‑term impact.
• Opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels.
• Direct pathway to ownership for senior roles from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan for everyday health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy – free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• Wellbeing programme including family support.
• Flexibility to opt into wide range of health benefits, extendable to family.

Lifestyle

• Minimum 33‑35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays, with flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increases to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years of service.
• Employee saving schemes and discounts from high‑street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave; two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Up to five additional days leave for significant caring responsibilities, two paid.
• Policies and support for military families balancing service and career.

Learning and development

• Annual professional institution subscription.
• Opportunities for technical and soft skills development via mentoring, formal training and self‑development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Wide range of employee networks supporting LGBTQ+, gender, race, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holder in MOD Employer Recognition Scheme with dedicated Armed Forces Network.
• Opportunity to contribute to community social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process.