Senior Marine & Coastal Process Specialist in Southampton

Contract: 1 year maternity cover. Potential for extension.

Closing date: 2nd March 2026 (advert may close earlier when we have received sufficient applications)

Location: Southampton, hybrid working

Do you regularly undertake studies of waves, tides and currents in the marine environment? Are you comfortable assessing the potential effects of a development on the coast and seabed? Do you want to work for a marine consultancy at the forefront of the UK’s drive to Net Zero?

We are ABPmer, a marine consultancy and survey company that specialises in understanding one of the most complex environments on earth. Involved in the offshore wind industry since the start, we have undertaken a wide range of supporting studies and environmental impact assessments for most UK OWFs, as well as for tidal power and other marine renewable projects here and overseas. As part of Associated British Ports group, we’re routinely involved in port projects around the UK, from pre‑feasibility for NSIPs through to operational support. As industry leaders in marine and coastal habitat creation, we work with NGOs and government agencies in the design, assessment, consenting and monitoring of conservation projects. We work across all marine sectors for all kinds of clients, with a diverse portfolio of projects and services; no two projects are the same and no two days are the same. Known for our technical ability, professionalism, and service excellence, we have been helping clients sustainably manage, operate and develop in the marine environment for over 75 years. We know our service excellence is due to our staff and we offer a training and development programme focused on continuous learning and career progression.

About you

Working predominantly on marine energy and other infrastructure projects, you will join a team of specialists supporting clients with creation, analysis and interpretation of marine and coastal data. Study types can include numerical modelling, environmental impact assessment, metocean criteria informing design and operability, and a wide range of bespoke seabed and coastal processes studies. You will also be working on other sector projects including port and coastal infrastructure, pipelines and cables, marine aggregates, and habitat creation.

Responsibilities

• We are looking for an oceanographer or coastal processes specialist (consultant or senior consultant) who is confident in applying their technical expertise to the quantification and assessment of hydrodynamic, wave, sedimentary and morphological processes.
• An understanding of water and / or sediment quality assessments would also be beneficial.
• You would be:
• Building, calibrating and running numerical models of waves, hydrodynamics and sediments
• Analysing, interpreting and presenting diverse measured and modelled data types
• Delivering a range of oceanographic and coastal process assessments
• Contributing to internal research and service development initiatives
• Preparing and contributing to the proposal / tendering process
• Project management and client engagement

Requirements

• You have:
• An interest and background in physical oceanography and the assessment of physical processes in marine, coastal and estuarine environments
• An interest and background in mathematics and statistics is also beneficial
• A degree (and preferred, a postgraduate degree) in a relevant discipline
• Relevant marine experience in a consultancy, developer organisation or regulatory background
• You are efficient, highly organised, self‑motivated and work collaboratively in a commercial technical organisation, and are skilled in the following:
• Collation and interpretation of marine or coastal data and information
• Application of coastal, estuarine and shelf sea oceanographic processes knowledge and understanding when completing assessments
• Analysis and presentation of physical process data, ideally including use of GIS, MATLAB or other programming / scripting
• Undertaking or use of numerical modelling of wave, hydrodynamic or sediment transport processes
• Report writing, presentation and communication
• Project management
• Written and oral communication with a range of internal and external clients / stakeholders

Location

Our offices are based at Town Quay in Southampton, with fantastic views overlooking Southampton Water. We recognise the importance of a good work‑life balance and we offer flexible and potentially hybrid working. Remote working may also be considered.