Senior Principal Urban Drainage Modeller

Stantec; Brighton; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus schemes

Enhanced pension plan

Annual leave buy/sell

Private medical insurance

Group income protection & life cover

Discounted gym membership

Job summary

Stantec is seeking a Senior Principal Urban Drainage Modeller to lead strategic direction across major wastewater and urban drainage programmes in the UK. You will set technical direction, provide assurance, and influence project and client outcomes with a focus on innovation and data-driven solutions.

The role spans multiple locations including Cambridge, London, Brighton and Southampton, offering leadership across a national portfolio and opportunities to shape the future of urban drainage

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering or Geography.
• Chartered or Incorporated Engineer (CEng/IEng) or actively working towards.
• Extensive experience delivering complex urban drainage and wastewater modelling programmes.
• Expert knowledge of wastewater modelling and InfoWorks ICM (or equivalent).
• Demonstrable experience providing senior technical leadership, technical assurance and quality oversight.
• Strong track record of managing, mentoring and developing technical teams.
• Excellent client and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at a senior level.
• Experience overseeing project planning, programming, resourcing and commercial delivery.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior technical leadership across major urban drainage and wastewater modelling programmes.
• Set technical direction and provide assurance for complex modelling studies, outputs and project deliverables.
• Lead the development and adoption of innovative modelling techniques, smart applications and data-driven solutions.
• Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders and contribute to strategic discussions around investment and long-term solutions.
• Oversee project and programme delivery, including planning, resourcing, commercial input and delivery risk.
• Lead and develop modelling teams, providing mentorship, technical guidance and support to future leaders.
• Contribute to bids, framework opportunities and business development, helping expand Stantec’s presence within the urban drainage market.
• Champion technical best practice and contribute to the continued development of the wider UDM community.

Skills

CEng/IEng

Urban drainage modelling

InfoWorks ICM

Technical leadership

Mentoring teams

Client management

Project planning

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering or Geography

Tools

InfoWorks ICM

Job description

The Opportunity

The water sector is entering a period of significant investment and transformation, and Stantec is at the centre of this change. Our Southern Urban Drainage Modelling teams are supporting clients as they tackle some of the industry's most complex challenges, from storm overflow reduction and water quality to flooding, environmental performance and long-term network resilience.

We are looking for a Senior Principal Urban Drainage Modeller to join our team across Cambridge, Northampton, London, High Wycombe, Reading, Brighton or Southampton. This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced modeller who wants to have influence beyond individual projects, helping shape our technical direction, client relationships and future growth.

You’ll be joining an established interdisciplinary community working across the UK and Ireland, with access to global expertise in Pune and across Stantec. Our teams combine deep modelling knowledge with digital innovation and data-led approaches, creating opportunities to influence how urban drainage modelling evolves throughout the AMP cycle.

About The Role

As a Senior Principal Urban Drainage Modeller, you will provide strategic direction and technical authority across a portfolio of complex wastewater and urban drainage programmes. You will play a key role in ensuring technical excellence while helping shape the way our teams, projects and client relationships develop.

You Will

• Provide senior technical leadership across major urban drainage and wastewater modelling programmes.
• Set technical direction and provide assurance for complex modelling studies, outputs and project deliverables.
• Lead the development and adoption of innovative modelling techniques, smart applications and data-driven solutions.
• Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders and contribute to strategic discussions around investment and long-term solutions.
• Oversee project and programme delivery, including planning, resourcing, commercial input and delivery risk.
• Lead and develop modelling teams, providing mentorship, technical guidance and support to future leaders.
• Contribute to bids, framework opportunities and business development, helping expand Stantec’s presence within the urban drainage market.
• Champion technical best practice and contribute to the continued development of the wider UDM community.

YOUR IMPACT

Your expertise will help our clients make informed decisions about some of the most important environmental and infrastructure challenges facing the water sector. By providing strategic technical leadership, you will help shape solutions that reduce storm overflow impacts, improve water quality, manage flood risk and build greater resilience into wastewater networks across the South of England.

Your influence will extend beyond project delivery. Through developing people, strengthening client partnerships and encouraging new digital and data-led approaches, you will help build the capability and reputation of Stantec’s Urban Drainage Modelling business. This is an opportunity to leave a lasting mark on both the projects we deliver and the people who deliver them.

ABOUT YOU Essential

• Degree qualified in Civil Engineering, Geography or a related discipline.
• Chartered or Incorporated Engineer (CEng/IEng) or actively working towards
• Extensive experience delivering complex urban drainage and wastewater modelling programmes.
• Expert knowledge of wastewater modelling and InfoWorks ICM (or equivalent).
• Demonstrable experience providing senior technical leadership, technical assurance and quality oversight.
• Strong track record of managing, mentoring and developing technical teams.
• Excellent client and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at a senior level.
• Experience overseeing project planning, programming, resourcing and commercial delivery.

Desirable

• Membership of a relevant professional institution such as ICE or CIWEM.
• Strong experience working with UK water companies and AMP frameworks.
• Involvement in business development, bids, framework opportunities or client account development.
• Experience applying automation, data analytics or digital modelling solutions.
• Experience contributing to technical strategy, standards, governance or discipline-wide initiatives.

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. Recognised 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 for 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 (see more on our ERGs here: Stantec Employee Resource Groups).
• 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.

If you’re ready to take your Urban Drainage Modelling career to a senior leadership level, this is an opportunity to influence major programmes, develop technical talent and help shape the future direction of our UDM capability.

Join us in Cambridge, Northampton, London, High Wycombe, Reading, Brighton or Southampton and help deliver smarter, more resilient solutions for the UK's water sector.

About Stantec

The Stantec community unites more than 34,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities.

Our teams provide effective and relevant solutions, translating our clients’ vision into valued consents, deliverable plans for projects and programmes, and efficient designs for delivery, based on technical excellence and deep market insights. We deal with today’s challenges, but also keep a fairer, better tomorrow in sight, looking at how we deliver clean growth, support radical changes in our economy and meet the needs of future communities.

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment.

At Stantec we want you to perform your best at every stage of the recruitment process and are committed to ensuring it is accessible to all. If you need any support or require adjustments to be made then please contact [email protected] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.