Associate Director - Water Quality Scientist

Overview

Do you want to make a lasting impact on the health of our rivers, estuaries, and communities? Join us in tackling one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time: water quality. Whether it's modelling the River Thames or addressing emerging chemical risks, your work will help protect ecosystems, influence national policy, and secure clean water for future generations. Be part of a passionate, nationally leading team committed to creating a more resilient and sustainable world.

This position is available as either full‑time or part‑time and can be based in any of our office locations. Our largest team presences are in Birmingham, Bristol, Derby, Edinburgh, Epsom, Glasgow, Oxford, Peterborough, Swansea and Manchester – however we have offices in many other locations across the UK where you could be based. Could you take a key role in water quality services within our friendly and successful water management consultancy?

This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate looking to progress their career at an exciting time for the industry.

Our Water Management Consultancy operates at the interface between people and the water environment, with specialisms in water quality, water resources planning, flood risk management and climate analysis. Our team thrives on solving complex challenges related to water quality, resources, and climate resilience.

AtkinsRéalis is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering, and project management consultancies, with over 36,000 employees worldwide. Our Water Management Consultancy Practice covers a wide range of specialisms – including environmental chemistry, water quality, catchment management, hydrology/water resource planning and geomorphology.

We welcome applications from enthusiastic scientists in this field. As a Water Quality specialist, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping our water management solutions. Collaborating with a friendly and accomplished team, you’ll contribute to projects that safeguard our environment, enhancing water quality. Recent projects delivered by our water quality team include simulating the whole of the freshwater River Thames to support strategic water resource options, updating catchment models used as the standard for regulatory planning across England and Wales, developing and implementing a new approach to drainage and wastewater management, and working with regulators and the water industry to improve bathing water quality.

• You will be joining an established and successful team, working with our water quality Technical Authority to lead the coordination and delivery of water quality investigations. You will work effectively as part of a team and with other professionals (environmental scientists, engineers, planners) throughout AtkinsRéalis to provide a consistent and integrated service to our clients.
• You will work closely with our clients to develop trusted relationships, supporting them in a confident, professional manner.
• You will champion high standards of performance, influence project development and deliver sustainable outcomes. You will undertake your own work to an excellent standard, and review the work of others, leading on projects and frameworks as appropriate.
• You will have the ability to develop innovative industry‑leading approaches in new technical areas and in data‑poor environments to support clients in decision‑making.
• You will lead on bid preparation and develop new areas of business for the team.
• You will be supported and trained to undertake continual professional development in accordance with the requirements of a professional institute.

• You will have a degree or higher in an environmental or science subject; you will ideally be chartered.
• You will have industry‑leading experience in water quality modelling, for example in emerging substances or catchment science.
• You will have expert knowledge of environmental water quality regulation; for example, the Water Framework Directive, Bathing Water Directive, Storm Overflow Assessment Framework (SOAF) and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations (UWWTR).
• You will be highly self‑motivated, possessing strong…