Water Science GraduateEnvironment Bristol, Exeter, Basingstoke or Croydon Summer 2026 start

AECOM; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global consultancy is seeking a Water Science Graduate to join their team in the UK, primarily in Bristol. This role involves conducting various water quality and hydrological studies and requires a recent MSc in Geography or related field. The position offers comprehensive career development through their commitment to mentoring and training. Additionally, the firm promotes a hybrid working model designed to support work-life balance. Candidates should have relevant skills in report writing and analytical thinking.

Benefits

Flexible working model

Career development opportunities

Volunteering days

Qualifications

• Degree qualified with an MSc in relevant fields.
• Ability to analyse surface water environment issues.
• Experience using GIS is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Conduct water quality studies including environmental assessments.
• Perform hydrological investigations such as flood assessments.
• Assist in geomorphological studies and ecological evaluations.

Skills

Report writing skills

Analytical skills

Numerical skills

Communication

GIS experience

Education

MSc in Geography

Geomorphology

Environmental Sciences

Hydrochemistry

Tools

Microsoft Office

GIS software

Job description

About Our Team

Our multidisciplinary water environment team are looking to recruit a Water Science Graduate to join our teams in either Bristol, Exeter, Basingstoke or Croydon from Summer 2026 onwards.

Our team includes specialists in hydrogeology, hydrology, hydro‑morphological water quality and water resource management.

We work for clients from across the public and private sectors including the Environment Agency, Local Authorities, Highways England, Natural England, Water Utilities, Rivers and Wildlife Trusts as well as commercial developers and overseas clients. We are also involved in major ongoing projects such as HS2 and the Thames Tideway Tunnel and, as a team, are responsible for coordinating and leading water environment chapters in ESs as well as coordinating WFD assessments.

All members of the Water Environment team take an active role in client contact and commercial aspects of our projects. Health safety and environmental considerations underpin everything that we do.

We have an impressive portfolio of water science projects including technical investigation, restoration projects and impact and WFD assessment for major national and international infrastructure projects. A selection of our current and recent projects includes :

We are seeking to recruit a Water Scientist to assist with a range of projects. Most of our work is in the fluvial environment although a significant proportion is also focused on estuaries, lakes and the marine environment and so experience of these environments is beneficial.

This is a fantastic opportunity to further your career by gaining valuable work experience within a specialist surface water environment team in an established consultancy. Your work will cover a broad range of hydrological, water quality, hydro‑morphological and hydro‑ecological activities including on the following types of projects.

What you’ll do

• Water quality studies (e.g. baseline studies, environmental impact assessment, nutrient loading studies and pollution studies including monitoring and modelling).
• Hydrological investigations (e.g. flood, drought and water resource allocation).
• Geomorphological studies, including supporting channel enhancement/restoration projects, Natural Flood Management studies and Fluvial Audits.
• Hydro‑morphological studies (e.g. assessing the effects of schemes on aquatic organisms such as salmonids, freshwater pearl mussels, invertebrates and macrophytes).
• WFD / Environmental Compliance studies.
• EIA (e.g. highway, rail, aviation, utilities, power generation including renewables, mixed‑use / commercial / residential and other development types).
• Pollution prevention advice, including preparing Water Management Plans, acting as Environmental Clerk of Works and developing sustainable treatment trains.
• Applications for various permissions (e.g. Environmental Permits for flood risk activities and discharges, Water Abstraction / Impoundment Licences and Land Drainage Consents).

Enjoy the Perks

At AECOM you’ll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well‑being customised to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work‑life balance that suits your lifestyle, technical practice networks, AECOM University and volunteering days.

On the job support and learning

When a graduate starts at AECOM we pair them with a senior member of the team who will guide and mentor them through their initial period working on live projects and business development tasks to support with any technical queries.

Graduate Development Programme

Our 2‑year graduate ADVANCE programme is designed to help you build your career in AECOM. You will attend several instructor‑led training sessions where you will meet and hear from people across the business and take part in a series of interactive activities to equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in your role. Alongside the instructor‑led elements of the ADVANCE programme you will also engage with an online curriculum via AECOM University and can join the ADVANCE webinar series. We will provide you with all the support and tools you need to achieve your professional development ambitions which may include Chartership with the relevant international professional institution, i.e. Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM).

We have more than 750 graduates on our programmes across the UK and Ireland from more than 40 different disciplines each making a tangible difference to the environment in which we live and work.

See our digital early careers e‑brochure here

Qualifications

Ready to push the limits of whats possible

• Degree qualified with an MSc in Geography, Geomorphology, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Hydrochemistry or similar.
• Ability to conceptualise surface water environment issues.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Have experience using GIS.
• A full driving licence would be beneficial as the role will involve travel for site surveys with equipment and limited public transport access.

We celebrate diversity including neurodiversity and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to complete the application process please contact us at

At AECOM we value everyone’s unique contributions and perspectives. If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us we would be delighted to hear from you!

Additional Information

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible since CVs will be reviewed and candidates selected for an advanced offer start.

Please include a covering letter with your application and provide all predicted and/or obtained academic grades.

You must have permanent right to work in the UK as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle from advisory, planning, design and engineering to programme and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work, using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation benefits and well‑being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We are the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us and you’ll get all the benefits of being part of a global publicly traded firm, access to industry‑leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer we believe in each person’s potential and will help you reach yours.

We are a Disability‑Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long‑term condition who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address if you would like to apply through the Disability‑Confident Interview Scheme.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Remote Work: No

Employment Type: Full‑time

Key Skills

Microsoft Office, Public Relations, Google Docs, Data Collection, MailChimp, Microsoft Word, Dermal Fillers, Microsoft Powerpoint, Research Experience, Microsoft Excel, Adobe Photoshop, Writing Skills

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1