Senior Hydrologist; Flood Risk Consultant

The Opportunity

Flood risk is reshaping how we plan, design and protect the places people live and work. As climate change intensifies and the expectations placed on the water environment grow, the professionals who can navigate that complexity with both technical confidence and genuine care for outcomes are in high demand.

At Stantec, our Water Environment Team is doing some of the most meaningful flood risk and drainage work in the UK. We are looking for a Senior Hydrologist with a flood risk consulting background to join us, someone ready to take real ownership of complex projects and help shape a fast‑growing team.

Based in Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh or Glasgow, you will join a friendly, collaborative team of over 100 Hydrologists, Hydrogeologists, Water Resources Planners and Water Quality Scientists.

Your work will span the full breadth of flood risk and drainage consultancy across the water sector, including enhancing the resilience of public water supply, reducing the environmental impact of wastewater infrastructure and supporting Lead Local Flood Authorities.

You will deliver sustainable, climate‑resilient solutions across flood risk appraisal, hydraulic modelling, hydrology, SuDS design and development planning support. As a senior team member, your role extends beyond technical delivery. You will mentor junior colleagues, contribute to quality assurance processes, support business development and help shape the future direction of our flood risk capability.

Your experience will span some or all of the following: preparation of Flood Risk Assessments in line with national planning policy; hydraulic modelling using Flood Modeller, TUFLOW or Info Works ICM; hydrological methods including FEH, ReFH2 and WINFAP; surface water drainage strategies and SuDS design; LLFA studies including SWMPs, Local Flood Risk Management Plans and Flood Protection Schemes; river restoration and natural flood management;

EIA preparation; GIS analysis using ArcGIS Pro or QGIS; and liaison with the Environment Agency, SEPA, LLFAs and water companies.

The work you lead here will help communities become more resilient to flooding, protect the natural environment from the pressures of infrastructure and contribute to long‑term water supply security across the UK. These outcomes extend well beyond the project boundary, and your technical leadership will be central to achieving them.

The people you mentor will carry the standards and expertise you help build for a long time into their own careers. That is the kind of legacy that only comes with a senior role, and our team genuinely values it.

You hold a degree in Civil Engineering, Geography, Environmental Science or a related discipline, and you are Chartered or working towards it with CIWEM, ICE or a similar body. You bring significant experience managing and delivering water environment projects, combining technical depth with the leadership and communication skills that build trusted, lasting client relationships.

You are comfortable managing multiple complex projects at once, supporting business development and contributing to the strategic direction of a growing team. You write high‑quality technical reports for both technical and non‑technical audiences, and you bring the rigour to quality assurance that high‑consequence work demands.

Most importantly, you are looking for more than a technical position. You want to lead, to mentor and to be part of a team that is genuinely influencing how flood risk consultancy is practised across the UK.

• 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…