2026 UK Graduate Water Resources and Flooding Career Path

Overview

Graduate role delivering flood risk, water resource and environmental hydrology solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• gis mapping
• hydraulic modelling
• hydrological modelling
• flood risk
• water quality
• catchment management

Tasks

-Visualise and communicate: Use GIS tools for data manipulation and visualisation, and contribute to stakeholder engagement. -Collaborate and learn: Work on fluvial and coastal risk projects, attend site visits, and engage in team and client meetings. -Design with nature: Appraise traditional and nature-based solutions (NbS), including river restoration options for heavily modified water bodies. -Climate change assessments: Evaluate the impact of climate projections on water availability, flood risk, and hydropower feasibility. -Model with impact: Use 1D-2D hydraulic modelling tools to simulate flood scenarios and develop actionable insights. -Model and manage: Support hydrological assessments, water quality modelling, and catchment management planning. -Data analysis: Collect, review, and analyse ground and surface water quantity and quality data. -Flood risk and catchment management: Contribute to flood risk assessments, water quality modelling, and sustainable catchment planning. -Hydrological modelling: Apply advanced rainfall-runoff models and weather generators to simulate water systems under changing conditions. -Design solutions: Support the development of flood risk management strategies, including pioneering Natural Flood Management (NFM) approaches. -Assess and advise: Contribute to Flood Risk and Consequence Assessments, helping shape planning and mitigation strategies. -Hydrogeological assessments: Conduct studies to understand aquifer behaviour, recharge, and vulnerability. -Analyse and verify: Build and validate models, and use GIS tools to manipulate and analyse hydrological and flood risk data. -Data-driven insights: Collect, review, and analyse hydrological and environmental data to inform decision-making. -You’ll work alongside multidisciplinary experts on projects that span the full water cycle and environmental resilience. Your responsibilities may include: -Analyse and assess: Conduct water quality impact assessments of abstractions and discharges, and evaluate solutions to improve water quality. -Catchment management: Contribute to pollution mitigation strategies and sustainable water resource planning. -Explore and learn: Participate in geomorphological studies, NbS screening, and options appraisal, gaining exposure to a wide range of environmental challenges. -GIS mapping and visualisation: Use GIS tools to analyse hydrogeographic data and prepare maps of groundwater elevations, geological structures, and cross-sections. -Groundwater modelling: Support the development of models to simulate flow and transport processes.

Requirements

• maths
• statistics
• analytical
• communication
• initiative
• environmental

What You Bring

-Maths, statistics or related -Demonstrates a structured and analytical approach to problem solving. -Communicates effectively and clearly with clients and colleagues. -Proactively takes initiative to complete tasks efficiently and independently. -Environmental science or related -Delivers high quality written work with strong attention to detail and clarity. -You’ll gain hands-on experience across a range of hydrogeological and environmental services. Your responsibilities may include:

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Benefits

-Contributory pension up to 7% of your salary: we have the best people on our team, and we like to look out for them. With our support, you’ll have all the advice and options you need to be able to invest in your future. -Biannual salary reviews: we believe that hard work should be rewarded and recognised. Therefore, for the first three years of your career with us, you’ll have biannual salary reviews. -A flexible benefits scheme: our company is made up of a range of different people and we understand that different people want different things. That’s why with our flexible plan, you’ll have the ability to manage the range of benefits we have on offer, to suit your specific needs. -A competitive salary: in addition to biannual reviews, we will ensure that you’re given a salary that matches the current industry standard. -Grow with purpose: Be part of our Early Careers Professionals Network, gaining exposure to technical, commercial, and client-facing aspects of project delivery. -Professional development: Undertake training and work towards professional qualification, supported by mentoring and our Early Careers Professionals Network.

About Mott Macdonald

-Delivering complex projects that require both technical expertise and strategic vision. -Design of major infrastructure and transport systems. -Specializing in sustainable solutions to address challenges and capitalize on opportunities. -History built on innovation and forward-thinking engineering, consistently delivering impactful results.

Sector Specialisms

Visa Sponsorship

-no sponsorship for skilled worker visa route. -applications from candidates on graduate visa or other time‑limited visas not accepted. -candidates eligible for alternative immigration routes not requiring sponsorship are welcome.