Senior/Principal Consultant – Surface Water Quality

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Job Description

What if you could shape a career as unique as you? 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.

Your new role, what’s involved?

We need people to join our rapidly expanding team of Water Quality and Catchment Management specialists so that we can continue to deliver sustainable solutions to the water sector and environmental regulators in the UK and help protect the water environment.

With a background in Earth Sciences and working knowledge of Water Quality and Geochemistry / Environmental Chemistry you should be aware of the UK situation with regard to:

• How river, lake and TraCs water quality is protected through the WFD and other regulatory tools;
• Be aware and have 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 and assurance and interpretation;
• Experience of water quality permitting and completion or review of H1 and RQP assessments;
• Demonstrate understanding of how to conceptualise a water quality problem and knowledge of the available datasets which can be used in problem solving.

Prior work experience, either postdoctoral or in consultancy or working in the water sector (regulator or industry) would be desirable.

You should have an interest in problem solving through interrogation of time series and spatial datasets, good conceptualisation skills and understand the importance of source pathway receptor models and be able to clearly communicate ideas either through your writing or visualisations. An awareness of how groundwater and surface water interact would also be 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) would also be beneficial and some knowledge of catchment management / agri-environment schemes.

The role will include the following

• Water quality data analysis, conceptualisation and visualisation and clear communication;
• Carrying out desk-based investigations / 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.

You will be mainly UK based but will work collaboratively with teams across WSP’s global business. Being able to work effectively as part of a diverse team, as well as individually for discrete tasks, is very important to us.

Your team

Our Sustainable Water Management team works across a spectrum of services covering water quality and catchment management, water resources and security, hydrology and hydraulics, geomorphology, hydroecology and hydrogeology. We provide high-quality technical services and advice to high-profile customers in the UK and overseas, including government departments and agencies, the water industry, and industrial sectors such as power, transport, nuclear, mining, commercial, and oil and gas.

We offer a dynamic but supportive environment for a motivated and talented individual to fulfil their potential. We recognise that our people are central to our success as a business. As a consequence, we are committed to providing a comprehensive framework for the professional development of our staff, including:

• Access to extensive internal and external training opportunities;
• Supporting for volunteering;
• A mentoring programme;
• Support for gaining chartership through professional institutions.

This position is UK flexible, although our main offices for SWM teams are Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Cardiff, Manchester, Shrewsbury, London, Bristol or Glasgow offices and you will be able to benefit from hybrid office‑home working.

We’d love to hear from you if you have

• Degree-level qualifications in a relevant subject (e.g. geography, geology, geochemistry, earth/environmental science, civil engineering or similar);
• A higher degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. river or lake water quality, water chemistry, hydrogeochemistry, water management, environmental science, or similar), is desirable, but not essential;
• You should have excellent analytical skills, and be able to apply them to analysing problems and finding solutions to novel challenges;
• Experience in use of MS Office tools (Word, Teams, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) and use of GIS packages, such as ArcGIS or QGIS;
• You will collaborate effectively as part of a team and be able to work independently with some steer;
• You will demonstrate excellent communication skills, being able to write clearly and/or communicate ideas through visualisations.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all. Work on landmark projects around the world and embrace opportunities to make an even bigger impact in the communities you care about. What if you could do the best work of your life and create a legacy for yourself? With us, you can. Apply today.

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our 72,800 passionate people are united by a common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 9,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

What’s in it for you?

Work-life balance

At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community. Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Belonging

We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. We have our employee resource groups bringing together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote our culture of inclusivity.

Health & Wellbeing

We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme. Our virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need, and you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, comprehensive menopause support package, etc.

Flex your time

To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day. We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development

We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or chartership.

#WeAreWSP

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.