Principal Water Quality Scientist/ Modeller

Are you ready to support a team of talented engineers and consultants in shaping the future of the water industry? 

Join our dynamic and multidisciplinary Water Environment team in one of our rapidly growing UK offices, as well as taking advantage of our flexible hybrid working model. At AECOM, we’re at the forefront of innovation, delivering an exceptional portfolio of water programmes and projects through long-term partnerships with key clients.

As a Principal Water Quality Modeller in our growing Water Environment team, you will be a senior technical resource who will guide our more junior staff and proactively aim to enhance our offering to water utilities, as well as industrial clients, Government agencies and local authorities. You will act as technical lead on a range of exciting and challenging water quality projects, collaborating with hydrologists, network modellers and engineers.

Our current and recent modelling projects include:

• Catchment wide chemical investigations for water companies
• Delivering improvements through working on water company’s Environmental Improvement Programme (WINEP), including investigations into causes of algal bloom in reservoirs and developing mitigation to combat these.
• Design, modelling and installation of Natural Flood Management measures plus river restoration schemes
• Developing catchment wide river restoration plans for both the Environment Agency as well as various water companies
• Nutrient modelling within rivers, lakes and estuarine/ coastal environments
• Developing a modelling approach and running these to inform management decisions, such as water level dependent designated sites.
• Delivering improvements through working on water company’s Environmental Improvement Programme (WINEP)
• Undertaking desk studies, consultation, water quality monitoring, and site surveys to assess the impact of major new infrastructure and developments including WFD assessments and Environmental Permitting
• Undertaking UPM studies and storm overflow investigations for water companies
• Deriving strategies to deliver catchment water quantity and quality improvements, driven by WFD and Local Nature Recovery requirements.

The majority of our work is in the fluvial environment, although a significant proportion is also focused on estuaries, lakes and the marine environment.

Here’s what you’ll do

This role will require you to lead water quality assessments in rivers and lakes, and also in transitional and coastal waterbodies, and lead the development of tools that will enable us to deliver efficiencies and innovative solutions for our clients. This position offers an unparalleled opportunity to be a technical lead in a talented and diverse team committed to innovation and efficiency.

Principal accountabilities:

• Conceptualisation and scoping of modelling approaches, with consideration of the risks and opportunities in each.
• Building and checking water quality models to assist in various studies such as Integrated Water management plan projects, permitting studies and EIAs
• Experience of any of the following packages desired: MIKE+, MIKE21/3 HD/AD/Ecolab, InfoWorks ICM, SAGIS-SIMCAT, Cormix.
• Produce and review of high-quality technical reports documenting model build and uncertainties in the model build process
• Lead and input into tenders ranging from innovative one-off projects to multimillion pound framework contracts.
• Mentor staff within the team to support their professional development
• Build relationships with clients and across other technical disciplines
• Keep up-to-date with developments in legislation and guidelines that may affect our services
• Use AECOM’s project management systems to deliver high-quality outputs to our clients in line with the agreed programme and budget
• Work closely with our clients and teams of engineers and technical specialists to help our clients deliver a wide range of fluvial and coastal surface water quality projects.

Being part of the team

We have over 100 Water Environment staff across the UK and Ireland, with hubs in Manchester, Leeds, Basingstoke, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Dublin, Nottingham, Croydon and Exeter. You can be based in any of these offices but will work closely with other teams across the UK.

We are a close-knit team of environmental modellers, hydrologists, water scientists, hydrogeologists, geomorphologists, hydroecologists and project managers.

Our current clients in the UK vary from water companies, private developers and local government. We also have large contracts for Middle Eastern clients where you could be working on some of the most ambitious projects in the world.

We offer a flexible hybrid working model. As a member of our team, you will enjoy a comprehensive benefits package with a range of flexible choices covering health, finance, lifestyle, well-being and more.