Senior Principal Water Resource Consultant

Stantec; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid/flexible working

Competitive salary

Professional subscriptions

Training & development

Job summary

Stantec is seeking a water resources specialist to lead planning and delivery of water resource projects across the UK, working with water companies, regulators and engineers.

You will develop WRMPs, drought plans and supply-demand assessments while guiding junior colleagues and managing bids. The role offers a hybrid working pattern and a strong focus on sustainability and client service.

Qualifications

• Degree in Geography, Geological Sciences, Environmental Science or Civil Engineering.
• Postgraduate qualification in Hydrology or Water Resources is desirable.
• Chartered or working towards chartership with CIWEM/ICE.
• Experience in water resource projects and regulatory context.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, delivery and implementation of water resource projects.
• Manage scope, budget, timescales and quality.
• Develop WRMPs, Regional Water Resource Plans, Drought Plans and regulatory assessments.
• Support junior colleagues and cross-team collaboration.

Skills

Water resources management

Hydrology

Regulatory knowledge

Project management

Client relationships

Bids & proposals

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Geography / Environmental Science / Civil Engineering degree

Job description

The Opportunity

Ofwat's most significant infrastructure investment since privatisation is now underway, with billions committed to boosting water supply, nature-based solutions, leakage reduction and smart metering. The decisions being made today will shape the resilience of the UK's water supply for generations, and the people making those decisions need the best possible support.

About The Role

You will join a multidisciplinary, collaborative team working with water companies, regulators, including the Environment Agency and Ofwat, design engineers, contractors, planners and a wide range of other stakeholders.

In this role, you will take a leading hand in planning, delivering and implementing water resource projects, ensuring they meet scope, budget, timescale, quality and regulatory requirements. You will bring experience to the team and support the development of early career colleagues across technical areas such as WRMPs, Regional Water Resource Plans, Drought Plans, water resource modelling, demand management, options development, environmental assessments and the RAPID-led gated process for SROs.

You will be client-facing, with a genuine appetite for growing your internal and external networks. You will have experience running commercial projects, bids and proposals, and you will support the wider Water and Environment department as needed, working flexibly across a varied and fast-growing portfolio.

Your Impact

The work you lead here will help water companies plan for a future where supply is secure, demand is managed smartly, and the environment is genuinely protected. From WINEP investigations to Strategic Resource Options and Drought Plans, your contribution will feed directly into national resilience strategies that matter far beyond the project boundary.

You will also play a meaningful role in shaping the next generation of water resources professionals, sharing the knowledge and experience that takes years to build and helping your colleagues grow in a team that values expertise and curiosity in equal measure.

About You

You hold a degree in a relevant subject such as Geography, Geological Sciences, Environmental Science or Civil Engineering, and ideally a postgraduate qualification in Hydrology, Hydrogeology or Water Resources Management. You are Chartered or actively working towards it with a body such as CIWEM, ICE or the Institute of Water.

You bring extensive experience in the water industry, ideally from a consultancy, water company, regulatory or academic background. Your expertise spans water resources projects including WRMPs, Drought Plans, regional plans and supply-demand balance assessments, and you are comfortable across hydrological, hydrogeological and environmental assessment work, including HRA, SEA and WFD.

You are used to working at pace in multidisciplinary teams, building trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders, and delivering complex programmes with both technical rigour and commercial awareness.

We do not expect you to meet every requirement on this list, so if this feels like the right move, please do get in touch.

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.

#UKWater

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.

Building an inspired, inclusive work environment that attracts, supports, and develops world-class talent is a crucial key to our success. If you are excited by this role but worry that your experience doesn’t exactly align, we encourage you to apply.

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.