SeniorPrincipal Water ScientistPlanning

Join our dynamic Water Environment Team as a Senior/Principal Water Scientist in our growing team in the UK and Ireland (though other locations may be considered) and benefit through our flexible hybrid working model. At AECOM we are at the forefront of innovation, delivering an exceptional portfolio of water science programs and projects through long‑term partnerships with key clients.

• Actively support the health, safety and well‑being of the team and other colleagues.
• Support the preparation of high‑quality and commercially astute bids and tenders for water science services across a wide range of sectors including energy, utilities, transport, defence, water, residential and commercial.
• Co‑ordinate multidisciplinary teams—including water scientists, hydro geologists, hydromorphologists, aquatic ecologists and flood risk specialists—ensuring necessary resources, budgets and controls are in place to meet programme and budget requirements.
• Identify the need for, plan and implement complex monitoring and field work as may be required (e.g. water quality monitoring, flow gauging, hydromorphological surveys, PWS investigations).
• Support delivery of high‑quality water science consultancy and advisory services to both internal and external clients through our check and review processes.
• Support development of technically robust and pragmatic solutions to complex water science issues.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with other members of the Water Environment Team within projects and with clients.
• Engage proactively with statutory stakeholders to resolve matters and ensure agreement on scope of work, mitigation, etc.
• Support production of Water Environment Impact Assessments for Environmental Statements, WFD/WER Compliance Assessments, Nutrient Neutrality Assessments, various management plans and secondary consent applications.
• Author or technically check project deliverables to ensure high‑quality outputs.

• Water environment impact assessment of some of the largest solar farms to have gained consent in the UK.
• Water science services to support developments of carbon capture technology to existing and proposed developments as well as cross‑country pipelines.
• Complex water quality monitoring to investigate stratification in a Highlands loch associated with a proposed Pumped Storage Hydro Scheme.
• Technical support during details design and secondary consent applications for major energy and highway projects, including the diversion of the River Eye SSSI.
• Water science constraints and opportunities analysis to inform the master‑planning of new residential developments and major linear infrastructure projects.
• WFD/WER Assessments of various proposed infrastructure projects.
• Nutrient neutrality assessments for private developers, technical support to LPAs and supporting NE casework.

Our Water Environment team is multi‑disciplinary, with specialists in geomorphology, hydrology, hydro‑ecology, water quality and hydrogeology comprising 60 surface water specialists and a further 25 hydro geologists. All members take an active role in client contact and commercial aspects of our projects. Health, safety and environmental considerations underpin all of our work.

You’ll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well‑being, customised to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model, technical practice networks, AECOM University and volunteering days.

• Extensive experience undertaking Water Environment Impact and WFD/WER assessments.
• Experience across a range of different infrastructure types and planning regimes (e.g. DCO, TCPA) and project stages (feasibility, concept planning, detail design, construction, post‑construction).
• Be a technical specialist in a particular field (e.g. water science, hydrogeology, hydromorphology).
• Be able to write proposals and develop the scope for surveys, monitoring and assessments.
• Experience of water‑relevant permits, licences, consents and/or Nutrient Neutrality Assessments is beneficial.

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