Senior Hydrologist

Mott MacDonald; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Pension contributions matching 4.5%–7%

Annual bonus schemes

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is recruiting a Senior Hydrologist to join our Water Resources and Flooding team in the UK. You will apply hydrology and climate science expertise to support water and flood risk projects, delivering high-quality analysis across diverse environments.

Based in our UK offices, you will engage with clients and stakeholders, contribute to innovative modelling techniques, and help drive project success while mentoring colleagues.

Qualifications

• Relevant degree level qualification (such as hydrology, geography, mathematics, civil engineering, or other related discipline)
• Knowledge of low flows hydrology and rainfall-runoff modelling
• Willingness to innovate and adapt to climate change challenges
• Excellent communication and written skills
• Understanding of UK water resources regulatory processes preferred
• Experience with rainfall-runoff modelling packages (GR6J, Catchmod, PDM) and water systems modelling tools (Aquator, WEAP, Pywr)
• Coding/statistical techniques advantageous

Responsibilities

• Provide hydrology and climate science expertise for water projects.
• Develop and implement hydrology and climate forecasts and risk assessments.
• Contribute to design and feasibility studies with robust data analysis.
• Support regulatory and client-focused project delivery.
• Mentor less experienced staff and help grow the team capabilities

Skills

Low flows hydrology

Excellent communication

Innovative mindset

Regulatory understanding

Coding/statistical methods

Education

Degree in hydrology/geography/mathematics/c civil engineering or related field

Tools

GR6J

Catchmod

PDM

Aquator

WEAP

Pywr

Job description

Bristol, United Kingdom / Cambridge, United Kingdom / Edinburgh, United Kingdom / Glasgow, United Kingdom / Inverness, United Kingdom / Leeds, United Kingdom / London, United Kingdom / Manchester, United Kingdom / Reading, United Kingdom / Sheffield, United Kingdom

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

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the division

The Water Consultancy Division is Mott MacDonald’s centre of excellence for responding to water and wastewater challenges, offering fantastic opportunities to get involved in diverse and technically challengingwork. The work we do is at the forefront of ensuring safe water supplies for future generations and protectingour environment. Our multi-disciplinary teams provide a variety of services throughout the full project lifecycle, from advisory services and feasibility studies, through outline and detailed design, to construction supportand site supervision.

Overview of the role

Do you want to work for a company whose purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes, and totransform businesses, communities, and opportunities for its employees? Mott MacDonald is a globalconsultancy whose people do exactly that.

As a Senior Hydrologist, you will be an integral part of our wider Water Resources and Flooding sector whichbrings together a wealth of knowledge and experience in hydrology, hydrogeology, water quality, catchmentmanagement, climate resilience, hydraulic modelling, flood risk, computational fluid dynamics and associateddisciplines.

We have an exceptionally strong record in providing hydrology and climate science services and expertise to theUK and international water and hydropower sectors. Our clients are increasingly demanding better predictionsof the impact of climate change on the availability of water and the frequency and magnitude of floods, and weare continually innovating to support them. We have developed advanced rainfall-runoff models and weathergenerators as well as our own digital tool to interrogate and process the latest climate projections and runmeteorological forecasts. Our portfolio includes the major UK water companies as well as the EA and SEPA. Weare regularly involved in hydropower projects around the world supporting developers and lenders, and we undertake climate change risk assessments and impact assessments at a local, regional or national scale.

Examples of your contributions are:

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

Alongside your technical role, you will have the opportunity to develop your skills in project management andbusiness development through engaging with our water sector and regulatory framework clients.

You can look forward to many opportunities to do great things in Mott MacDonald. We combine heritage, visionand values into an ethos that encourages innovative thinking and career progression, whether technical,management or commercial/client-facing. Our employee-owned structure brings us the flexibility to pursue ourvalues freely. With us, you will have control of your own career path and technical direction, which we willsupport by giving you the opportunities to face new challenges and take on more responsibilities.

We are looking for someone with a proven track record in the field and with a passion for learning and innovating in this fast-moving discipline.

• Relevant degree level qualification (such as hydrology, geography, mathematics, civil engineering, or other related discipline)
• Knowledge of low flows hydrology which could include rainfall-runoff modelling, or applying UKCP18 and CMIP5/6 projections to climate change impact assessments
• Willingness to innovate
• Excellent communication and written skills
• Understanding of the regulatory requirements as regards the UK water resources management planning process is preferred
• Experience in rainfall-runoff modelling packages such as GR6J, Catchmod or PDM will be an advantage
• Experience in water systems modelling, such as Aquator, WEAP or Pywr will be an advantage
• Coding/statistical techniques will be an advantage

We are actively recruiting a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve. We recognise that differences in ability, skills and experience are a strength and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at [e-mail] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as 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.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.