Associate Groundwater Modeller

Overview

Groundwater modelling sits at the heart of how the UK plans and protects its water supply. Every major abstraction decision, every environmental impact assessment, every investment case for water infrastructure relies on models that are robust enough to inform policy and withstand regulatory scrutiny. The demand for this work is growing – and so is the complexity.

• Own and grow a portfolio of groundwater modelling projects – winning, delivering and managing work across our client base of water companies, regulators and major water users.
• Build and maintain trusted client relationships, understanding their strategic challenges and positioning Atkins
  
  Réalis as their partner of choice for groundwater work.
• Lead complex technical work to a high standard – conceptualisation, data gathering, numerical modelling, interpretation and reporting – while delegating effectively across the team.
• Develop new areas of business for the team, identifying opportunities and shaping proposals that extend our reach into new clients and new problem areas.
• Contribute to the development of innovative approaches and digital tools that strengthen how we deliver groundwater modelling at scale.
• Mentor and develop junior staff, providing training on modelling approaches and building the team's capability over time.
• Work across disciplines – collaborating with hydrologists, water resource planners, environmental scientists and digital specialists on projects spanning water supply, strategic planning, resource optimisation and environmental assessment.
• Champion high standards of technical performance and quality across everything the team produces.

• You’re an experienced groundwater modelling specialist who is ready to step into a role where you own the client relationship, the commercial picture and the team development – not just the technical delivery.
• Degree in science, engineering or mathematics, with a postgraduate qualification in hydrogeology or a related subject. Ideally chartered through a relevant professional body.
• Comprehensive experience building, developing and updating conceptual and numerical groundwater models at regional scale, including model use for assessing abstraction impacts on the environment.
• Ideally experienced with UK regional groundwater models.
• Wider experience across water resources hydrogeology and hydrology – WINEP investigations (low flow, WFD No Deterioration, Environmental Destination, catchment water quality), signal and pumping tests, borehole design, groundwater flooding or water resource planning.
• Strong understanding of UK hydrogeology and the operational and environmental regulatory framework.
• Proficient in MODFLOW (ideally including MODFLOW
  6) and other groundwater flow models, as well as recharge models such as 4R or SWAc.
• Coding skills in Python, R, Fortran, VBA or similar are desirable, as is experience with GIS.
• Proven experience leading projects through the full lifecycle – problem definition, data collection, analysis, interpretation and recommendations.
• A strong communicator who’s effective at all levels, from technical peer review through to client‑facing presentations and stakeholder engagement.

This is a role for someone who wants to shape a growing team, not just deliver within one. Our groundwater practice is expanding – the client portfolio is broadening, the projects are getting more complex, and the tools are evolving. At Associate level, you’ll have direct influence over where the team goes next, which clients we work with, and how we approach the technical challenges ahead.

You’ll sit within a Water Management Consultancy that works across the full breadth of UK water challenges – from strategic supply planning and the first new reservoirs in 30 years, to catchment modelling, environmental regulation and research with UKWIR and Defra. The cross‑disciplinary access is genuine: you’ll collaborate with specialists in flood risk, ecology, water quality, GIS and digital modelling, and have the backing of our Global Technology Centre for efficient delivery at programme scale.

The team is investing in digital capability – developing new tools,…