Senior Principal Water Resource Consultant

Overview

In this role you will lead water resource projects within a multidisciplinary team, shaping outcomes for UK water resilience. You will work with water companies, regulators and other stakeholders to ensure projects meet scope, budget, timescales, and regulatory requirements. You will support the development of WRMPs, Drought Plans and other regional plans while mentoring early-career colleagues. The role combines technical leadership with client-facing business development and cross-functional collaboration. This is a chance to influence national water resilience strategies and nurture the next generation of water resources professionals.

Pay / Benefits

• Competitive salary
• bonus schemes
• enhanced pension plan
• annual leave with buy/sell options
• private medical insurance
• group income protection & life assurance included as standard

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, delivery and implementation of water resource projects
• Ensure projects meet scope, budget, timescale, quality and regulatory requirements
• Support development of WRMPs, Regional Water Resource Plans, Drought Plans and environmental assessments
• Contribute to RAPID-led gated process for SROs
• Maintain client-facing relationships and grow internal/external networks
• Manage commercial aspects of projects, bids and proposals
• Support wider Water & Environment team across a growing portfolio

Key requirements

• Extensive experience in the water industry (consultancy, water company, regulatory or academic)
• Experience with WRMPs, Drought Plans, regional plans and supply-demand balance assessments
• Comfort with hydrological, hydrogeological and environmental assessment work (HRA, SEA, WFD)
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and manage complex programmes
• Commercial awareness and ability to manage projects and client relationships
• Chartered or working toward chartership with CIWEM, ICE or Institute of Water
• Degree in a relevant subject and postgraduate qualification is ideal

• Collaborative and client-facing mindset
• Strong relationship-building with clients and stakeholders
• Analytical rigor with commercial awareness
• WRMPs
• Drought Plans
• Regional Water Resource Plans

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