Senior Principal Urban Drainage Modeller

Stantec; Reading; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Stantec is seeking a Senior Principal Urban Drainage Modeller to lead strategic drainage projects across the UK. You will provide technical direction, shape project delivery, and mentor a growing team of specialists in urban drainage and wastewater modelling.

Based in Reading or other UK locations, you will collaborate with clients and stakeholders, drive innovation in data‑driven modelling, and help set long‑term investment plans for resilient urban water networks.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience delivering complex urban drainage and wastewater modelling programmes.
• Strong leadership and technical governance, with a track record of guiding teams.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and shape project strategy.

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

Urban drainage modelling

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Mentoring

Project delivery

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 202