Senior/Principal Consultant – Surface Water Quality

Join to apply for the Senior/Principal Consultant – Surface Water Quality role at WSP in the UK & Ireland

At WSP, you can always find opportunities to grow and do what matters to you. Make the most of our global reach to discover new challenges and chances to work with diverse, talented individuals who will help you expand your horizons.

Responsibilities

Your new role involves working with a rapidly expanding team of Water Quality and Catchment Management specialists to deliver sustainable solutions to the water sector and environmental regulators in the UK and help protect the water environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Water quality data analysis, conceptualisation and visualisation, and clear communication.
• Carrying out desk‑based investigations and interpretation of datasets.
• Helping to design field monitoring campaigns, including traditional and non‑traditional approaches.
• Delivery of technical reports and presentations to clients.
• Winning new work and writing proposals for new projects.
• Project and task management.
• Being a key member of our water quality team in Sustainable Water Management.

Required knowledge and experience

• A background in Earth Sciences with working knowledge of water quality, geochemistry / environmental chemistry.
• Awareness of how river, lake and TraCs water quality is protected through WFD and other regulatory tools.
• Working knowledge of water quality modelling tools (SAGIS, SIMCAT, InfoWorks, ICM, etc.).
• Experience of WFD/EIA scoping, reviews and assessments for water/hydrology chapters.
• Experience of water environment data collation (field and/or desk‑based), quality checking, assurance and interpretation.
• Experience of water quality permitting and completion or review of H1 and RQP assessments.
• Demonstrated understanding of how to conceptualise a water quality problem and knowledge of available datasets for problem solving.
• Post‑doctoral or consultancy/water sector experience is desirable.
• Problem‑solving skills through interrogation of time‑series and spatial datasets, good conceptualisation, and clear communication of ideas.
• Knowledge of groundwater and surface water interaction is useful.
• Field experience including sampling network design, risk assessment before field work, and data collation and interpretation for river and/or groundwater sampling and monitoring.
• Some knowledge of catchment management / agri‑environment schemes is beneficial.

Team and Work Environment

You will be mainly UK‑based but will work collaboratively with teams across WSP’s global business. The role offers a dynamic, supportive environment with opportunities for professional development, including training, mentoring, and support for chartership.

This position is UK flexible; our main offices are Newcastle‑upon‑Tyne, Cardiff, Manchester, Shrewsbury, London, Bristol, or Glasgow. You will benefit from hybrid office‑home working.

What We’re Looking For

• Degree‑level qualifications in a relevant subject (e.g., geography, geology, geochemistry, earth/environmental science, civil engineering).
• Higher degree in a relevant discipline is desirable.
• Excellent analytical skills for analysing problems and developing solutions.
• Experience with MS Office tools (Word, Teams, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) and GIS packages (ArcGIS or QGIS).
• Collaboration skills and ability to work independently with some steering.
• Excellent communication skills, with ability to write clearly and visualise ideas.

Working Conditions

Hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, with opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.

Inclusion and Diversity

WSP welcomes applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work.

Health & Wellbeing

Support includes the Thrive programme, virtual GP service, reasonable workplace adjustments, Gymflex scheme, menopause support package, and more.

Career Development

We invest in your growth through training, mentoring, and chartership opportunities.

EEO Statement

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.