Principal Hydrologist; Flood Risk Consultant

About The Role

The UK's flood risk landscape is changing. Climate pressures are intensifying, regulatory expectations are rising, and the communities that depend on resilient, well‑managed water environments deserve solutions that are built to last. We are looking for a Principal Hydrologist with a strong flood risk consulting background to join our Hydrology and Flood Risk team, ready to take a leading role in delivering complex work and helping shape a team with real ambition.

You will join a friendly, collaborative group of over 100 Hydrologists, Hydrogeologists, Water Resources Planners and Water Quality Scientists, with flexibility to be based from our Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol or Cardiff offices.

Your project portfolio will span the full breadth of flood risk and drainage consultancy, including enhancing the resilience of public water supply, reducing the environmental impact of wastewater infrastructure and working with Lead Local Flood Authorities. You will deliver sustainable, climate‑resilient solutions across flood risk appraisal, hydraulic modelling, hydrology, SuDS design and development planning support.

At the Principal level, your contribution will extend well beyond technical delivery. You will mentor junior colleagues, lead quality assurance processes, support business development and play an active part in shaping the future direction of our flood risk and water environment capability.

Relevant experience includes 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 projects you lead will protect communities from flooding, support the long‑term security of public water supply and contribute to the restoration of natural systems under pressure across the UK. Your technical leadership will sit at the heart of that impact, and the people you develop will carry the expertise and standards you help instil throughout their careers.

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

You are confident managing multiple complex projects simultaneously, contributing to business development conversations and helping steer the strategic direction of a growing discipline. You produce high‑quality technical reports for both technical and non‑technical audiences, and you bring the rigour and attention to detail that work of this consequence demands.

Most importantly, you are looking for a role where your expertise and leadership matter equally – a place where you can do excellent work, develop excellent people and be part of a team that is genuinely going somewhere.

• 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 chartered with ICE.
• We are better together: A supportive and collaborative team environment and Early Careers peer group and wider ERG network (see more on our ERGs here: Stantec Employee…