Senior Hydrogeologist & Water Projects Lead (Africa)

ERM; Durban; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM is seeking a motivated hydrogeologist to join our Water Services team in South Africa. You will deliver groundwater projects across Africa for global clients, working on ESIA studies, due diligence, and sustainability programs.

You will lead small teams, manage budgets, and liaise with clients to ensure high-quality outputs. The role offers mid-career ownership of projects, mentoring junior staff, and opportunities to contribute to corporate water stewardship initiatives within a global

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in hydrogeology or related earth science.
• 7+ years of consulting hydrogeology experience.
• Experience delivering ESIA groundwater studies to lender standards.
• Demonstrated project management across multiple projects.
• SACNASP registration or eligibility.
• Willingness to travel within Africa for fieldwork and client work.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day groundwater scope delivery including planning, budgets, programme, client liaison and quality of output.
• Deliver aquifer-scale groundwater resource assessments, including conceptual site models, recharge and yield estimation, abstraction and dewatering assessment, aquifer testing and interpretation, and groundwater quality characterisation.
• Prepare groundwater specialist studies and management plans for ESIA, in line with international best practice and country-specific requirements.
• Deliver groundwater components of environmental and social due diligence for transactions, including contamination and abstraction risk.
• Contribute to corporate water risk and stewardship work, including site and catchment water risk analysis.
• Provide first-line technical direction and review to junior consultants, and mentor them as they develop.
• Support proposals, technical scoping and cost estimating, and maintain client relationships to build repeat business.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Leadership

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Hydrogeology

Honours/Master's beneficial

Tools

Groundwater modelling (MODFLOW/FEFLOW)

IFC Standards knowledge

Job description

ERM is seeking a motivated hydrogeologist to join our Water Services team in South Africa. You will deliver groundwater projects across Africa for global clients, working on ESIA studies, due diligence, and sustainability programs.

You will lead small teams, manage budgets, and liaise with clients to ensure high-quality outputs. The role offers mid-career ownership of projects, mentoring junior staff, and opportunities to contribute to corporate water stewardship initiatives within a global