Technical Specialist (Hydrology) - 31707

The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don't just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it, and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities, and our environment. We’re all different, and by embracing Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, we can become an equal opportunity employer where jointly we all grow and learn together.

Are you passionate about hydrology and ready to make a real impact in managing water resources in a changing climate? Join the Wessex Groundwater, Hydrology and Contaminated Land team as a Hydrology Technical Specialist, where your expertise will help shape resilient, sustainable water systems across the region.

In this role, you’ll work closely with Senior Hydrology Technical Specialists and a wide range of internal and external partners. You’ll provide expert hydrological input to key areas such as:

-Water company water resource investigation under AMP8, the regulatory investment cycle (2025 – 2030)
-Water resource management and drought plans
-Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies (CAMS)
-Abstraction licensing and strategy development
-Drought incident response
-Groundwater modelling support

Responsibilities will include:
-Leading hydrological analysis with a focus on low flow assessments
-Advising on complex water abstraction and permitting decisions
-Contributing to the design and optimisation of the hydrometric data network
-Undertaking both routine and reactive hydrological reporting
-Supporting to enhance data quality and streamlining data management processes

You’ll collaborate across teams, national hydrology networks, and technical specialists to improve processes and share innovation. You’ll also play a key role in mentoring and developing colleagues in their hydrology career.

This is a fantastic opportunity to grow your career while helping address the hydrological challenges of the future.

For more information about working for the Environment Agency, our excellent benefits package and what we do visit our careers page environmentagencycareers.co.uk.

You’ll be part of the Wessex Groundwater, Hydrology and Contaminated Land team, a supportive, collaborative group passionate about protecting water resources and quality. We work closely with internal teams and external partners to provide expert hydrological analysis, modelling and forecasting to support both people and the environment. While we’re a geographically dispersed team, we stay closely connected, and some travel across the Wessex area is part of the role.

We’re looking for someone with strong interpersonal and technical skills, who can analyse complex information and communicate clearly with a range of audiences.

You’ll bring:
-Experience in hydrology and water resource management, working with diverse customers or stakeholders
-A sound understanding of hydrological concepts and practical experience applying analytical tools and techniques
-Experience working with hydrometric data and awareness of challenges in data quality and collection
-Ability to influence and engage stakeholders, including water companies and internal teams
-Strong self-motivation, with the ability to work independently and within a dispersed team environment
-Excellent planning and organisational skills, managing multiple priorities to deliver results to timescales
-Confidence using hydrological systems such as WISKI and ArcGIS, along with skills in Python, R, Power Apps etc, is desirable though not essential, providing a strong aptitude for learning new technical systems is possessed
-Proficiency with standard software, especially Excel, for data analysis and reporting

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. Please see the candidate pack for more on how you will support with this.

The role can be hybrid with a mix of home working and regular office attendance at one of our offices in Blandford, Bridgwater or Exeter. Travel to sites and other regional offices is expected, so a full driving licence is required. We offer hybrid and flexible working to support your work/life balance.

For questions relating to this role, please contact Dawn Fullthorpe (Team Leader) - dawn.fullthorpe@environment-agency.gov.uk

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 29th September. Dates are subject to change.

PLEASE NOTE: We do not accept CV's and your answer to the following question will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response. Using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action Result) can help when formulating your answers.

Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.

Describe a time when you had to achieve a challenging target or important outcome. What was your specific role? What actions did you take and what was the result?

PLEASE NOTE: We do not accept CV's and your answer to the following question will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response. Using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action Result) can help when formulating your answers.

Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.

Describe a time when you have successfully influenced others to support a plan or idea. How did you encourage others to get on board and what was the result?

PLEASE NOTE: We do not accept CV's and your answer to the following question will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response. Using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action Result) can help when formulating your answers.

Collects, analyses, interprets, records, manages, develops and shares data, material or information appropriately for a variety of purposes.

Describe a time when you have collected, analysed or interpreted hydrological or water resource data to inform a decision or project.

PLEASE NOTE: We do not accept CV's and your answer to the following question will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response. Using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action Result) can help when formulating your answers.

Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions.

Provide an example of a time you had to address a water related problem, such as flooding or water resource concerns. What actions did you take and what was the final result?

Full UK Driving Licence