Hydrologist

Job Description

About the Trust 

We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?  

Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.

Join Our Team: Hydrologist opportunity

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

The Water Management Team at the Canal & River Trust is responsible for understanding, monitoring, and managing water across the canal and river network to keep it safe, sustainable, and resilient. They analyse river flows, rainfall, groundwater and water levels to support flood risk management, drought planning, asset safety (such as embankments, reservoirs, and culverts), and inform operational and strategic decisions. Their work helps ensure enough water is available for navigation, protects communities and infrastructure, supports environmental outcomes, and strengthens the Trust’s ability to adapt to climate change.

We are currently looking for a Hydrologist to provide operational advice, and support the delivery of on-going strategic water resource and flood risk management projects. You’ll be applying your technical knowledge and expertise to secure the effective management of water resources and flood risk management around the network. You’ll be exposed to diverse hydrological problems on our canals, navigable rivers, network of over 1,500 locks and 72 reservoirs, among other infrastructure. You’ll be able to visit our network first-hand through site investigations and surveys when required.

Find out more about our Water Management team:

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/our-cause/looking-after-canals-and-rivers/managing-our-water

Working Hours & Location

This role follows 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern. The vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required.

Applicants should ideally be based within, or have reasonable access to, the southern half of the waterway network, particularly across the West Midlands & South West Waterways and London & South East regions. Key operational areas include Warwickshire and the South Midlands, Gloucester & Sharpness, and the River Severn, reflecting the varied nature of the assets, environments and projects supported by the team. The role will involve regular travel across this geography, providing exposure to a diverse range of reservoirs, canals, river navigations and associated infrastructure.

In terms of travel commitments, applicants should be able to attend a monthly team meeting at Hatton (Warwickshire), typically one day per month, alongside 1-2 site visits per month on average to support project delivery and stakeholder engagement. Occasional overnight stays may be required to facilitate visits across the wider network.

See our network here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/canals-and-rivers

Role Overview

The job holder will apply a range of technical expertise, modelling solutions and knowledge to secure the effective and efficient management of water resources around the network to meet navigational and other water demands, whilst ensuring compliance with relevant legal, environmental and operational constraints. You’ll have the opportunity to ground your hydrology/modelling first-hand through site investigations and surveys along the historic canal network.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the provision of specialist advice on water resource management issues, to operational and central teams. Support colleagues to ensure that water management requirements and concerns are accounted for in any planned engineering works or other projects. Ensure compliance with abstraction licences and support application of licence renewals.
• Contribute towards the development and implementation to an approach to quantify the impact of future pressures e.g. climate change on water supply and demand.
• Support the development of the Trust’s Water Resources Strategy, setting out the Trust’s expectations for water resource management to 2050.
• Lead and manage water management projects, ensuring delivery within agreed timescales and budgets. The role involves regular site‑based work outdoors, in all weather conditions, and requires strong attention to health and safety, environmental and heritage standards.
• Support the delivery of high‑quality hydrological analysis, modelling and advice to external organisations such as the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales, supporting strong working relationships and protecting the Trust’s reputation.
• Provide support to colleagues on projectsincluding line or functional management where required.
• Interpret legal advice and regulatory requirements and help adapt working practices to ensure compliance.
• Undertake site‑based work, which may include surveying structures, carrying out in‑channel flow measurements, and assessing water flow capacity, constraints and losses across the network.

About You

You have developing technical professional experience in hydrology & water resources, or related discipline, with a developing ability to apply modelling, manage data and deliver practical solutions. You communicate information clearly, manage your work effectively, and take a positive, problem‑solving approach. You are likely working towards professional chartership and are keen to keep developing in a unique operational environment.

Skills & Qualifications

Technical Skills

• A undergraduate qualification (such as a BSc) or equivalent experience in a relevant subject, for example water resources management or hydrology.
• Working towards to making an application for chartered membership of a professional body e.g. CIWEM
• Ability to handle, analyse and clearly present hydrometric and spatial data.
• A solid understanding of core hydrological processes and modelling approaches, with experience applying these in practice.
• Awareness of regulatory and legislative frameworks affecting water management, such as the Water Resources Act, Water Act and Flood & Water Management Act.

General Skills

• Confident using Microsoft Office, with knowledge or experience of GIS or mapping systems.
• Strong written communication and numerical skills.
• Clear presentation skills, able to explain