Technical Specialist - Hydrology
Environment Agency
hydrometric optimisation
hydrological analysis
abstraction licensing
incident response
team coaching
stakeholder collaboration
Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.
In this role, you’ll work closely with other water resources specialists, especially hydrogeologists, in your team and with a wide range of internal and external partners, including water companies.
You’ll collaborate across teams, including our area water resources community, national hydrology networks, and with other technical specialists to improve the way we do things, to develop and share innovation and build best practice.
- Contributing to the optimisation of the hydrometric data network.
- Leading hydrological analysis with a focus on low flow assessments.
- Championing hydrological innovation to achieve better outcomes.
- Building technical resilience of the team through coaching and mentoring.
- Co-leading the hydrology service locally and its delivery through work planning
- Abstraction licensing and strategy development.
- Advising on complex water abstraction and permitting decisions.
degree
python
r
hydrology
leadership
stakeholder
Permanent / Full Time – open to part-time working
This role must be undertaken from within the UK and does NOT qualify for sponsorship. Visit the Government website and search for visas and immigration to seek professional advice regarding options for obtaining the right to work in the UK.
- An undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant environmental discipline - for example (but not limited to) geography, environmental science, engineering, earth sciences, data science.
- Experience of working through others and of using technical leadership to deliver results on time and to required standards.
- Ability to be self-motivated and pro-active and to adopt a collaborative working style in a dispersed team environment.
- Experience working with hydrometric data and awareness of challenges in data quality and collection.
- Ability to influence outcomes by building and maintaining good relationships with networks and internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience of developing or improving a process or system to develop best practice and continuous improvement.
- Knowledge of Python, R, Power Apps, AI etc and its potential application to hydrological situations
- Applied experience in hydrology and water resource management.
- Ability to clearly communicate complex technical issues to audiences of different abilities and backgrounds.
- Experience of developing and sharing technical expertise (through coaching and mentoring) to improve team technical resilience.
- Drought incident response.
- Well-developed technical knowledge and experience in applying hydrological tools and techniques in more complex situations.
This is a fantastic opportunity to grow your career and your professional development in a supportive team. Alongside this, you’ll be joining a collaborative and forward-thinking team where working together to achieve results, alongside creativity and innovation thrive.
Salary: £43,198
Options for flexible and / or part-time working may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Role location is flexible but occasional travel to the Reading and Wallingford Offices will be required.
You’ll benefit from a culture that embraces difference and is inclusive where you’ll feel supported and trusted to do the right thing. We’ll invest in you and allow you to grow and shape your career.
- 27 days holiday + 8 bank holidays for full-time employees.
- Two additional days for paid environmental outcomes giving you the opportunity to take part in community activities.
- A generous pension scheme of 19%.
- Water Company water resource management and drought plans.
- Maternity, paternity, and adoption leave scheme.
- Great career opportunities.
- A salary up to £43,198 per annum.
- Overtime opportunities through standby and incident pay.
- candidate call via microsoft teams on 8 oct 2025 (15:10‑16:10).
- interviews scheduled week commencing 10 nov 2025.
- interviews scheduled week commencing 17 nov 2025.
- successful candidates will be notified by email at least five days before the interview.
- role does not qualify for visa sponsorship; must be based in the uk.
- Established to regulate and protect the environment, the agency plays a pivotal role in safeguarding natural resources.
- With a mission to create a cleaner, healthier environment, it ensures proper management of water, waste, and air quality.
- The agency works on diverse projects, from flood defense systems to energy-efficient infrastructure, enhancing public safety.
- Key areas of specialization include water resources, marine protection, waste management, and sustainability in transport and utilities.
- It operates across a broad spectrum of sectors, coordinating with governments and private entities to drive environmental improvements.
- Notably, it manages complex flood risk programs and pollution control measures, often taking innovative approaches to problem-solving.
- The agency is a cornerstone of the UK's environmental policies, ensuring compliance and setting benchmarks for future generations.
- We put the environment first in everything we do.
- We work in partnership with others to achieve common goals.
- We are innovative, using data and technology to drive change.
- We are committed to protecting and improving the environment for future generations.
- We are passionate about sustainability and resilience.
- We support people to thrive, learn, and grow.
21% decrease
Carbon Footprint Reduction
Between 2019 and 2021, actively reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
1.3M properties
Flood Risk Reduction
Engaged in initiatives to mitigate flood hazards.
10,000 hectares
Land Restored
Committed to protecting and enhancing natural habitats.
- Net Zero target by 2050.
- Invested in sustainable infrastructure, such as flood defences and biodiversity improvements.
- Promoting a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting sustainable development.
6.6% gender pay gap
Reduced Gender Pay Gap
The company has successfully reduced its gender pay gap to 6.6% in 2021, reflecting progress toward pay equity.
34% female leaders
Women in Senior Roles
34% of senior leadership positions are held by women, showcasing increased representation at executive levels.
- Action plan in place to increase diversity across the workforce.
- Launched an initiative to increase the representation of ethnic minorities within leadership positions.
- Annual diversity and inclusion training for all staff.
