Senior Hydrologist

We are 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 are looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. 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.

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 Senior Hydrologist to join our national Water Management Team. This role will be part of the Strategic Modelling sub team, responsible for building and maintaining Aquator models of our network, in addition to undertaking hydrological modelling and providing technical expertise, modelling solutions and knowledge to manage our water resources.

This role follows a 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. The concentration of works means our relevant regional hubs include Leeds, Ellesmere Port, Burnley, Birmingham, Hatton, Govilon, Newark, Gloucester, London. Applicants would ideally be accessible to Hatton for intermittent catch ups with the wider team. This role will also involve regular travel to and along the reservoirs, canals and river navigations across the canal network. Occasional overnight stays may be required to facilitate site visits across our network.

The job holder will apply a wide 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

• Provide 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.
• Build and maintain hydrological models using Aquator to support planning for future water resource infrastructure improvements, helping to ensure a reliable and resilient canal system. Validate models using historical data, as well as information gathered directly through site visits, investigations and surveys.
• Develop and implement an approach to quantify the impact of future pressures e.g. climate change on water supply and demand using Aquator.
• Engage with the Environment Agency on the Water Resources National Framework requirements for water resources plans and drought plans.
• Support Commercial Water Development Team opportunities with technical input to Strategic Resource Options (SROs) e.g. Grand Union Canal Water Transfer Project.
• 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 complex 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.
• Deliver 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.
• Contribute to national policies, procedures and plans through involvement in specific projects, and support the Trust’s responses to consultations from regulators, government and other bodies.
• Provide leadership and support to colleagues on projects or placements, including line or functional management where required, and contribute to the development of others through mentoring when opportunities arise.
• Interpret legal and regulatory requirements and help adapt working practices to ensure compliance.
• Lead 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 strong technical experience in hydrology & water resources, with a proven ability to apply modelling, manage data and deliver practical solutions. You communicate complex information clearly, manage your work effectively, and take a positive, problem-solving approach. You are likely working towards, or have achieved, professional chartership and are keen to keep developing in a unique operational environment.

Skills & Qualifications

• A postgraduate qualification (such as an MSc) or equivalent experience in a relevant subject, for example water resources management or hydrology.
• Chartered, working at chartered level, or close to making an application for chartered membership of a professional body e.g. CIWEM.
• Active involvement in professional practice, such as mentoring, contributing to technical groups, panels or committees.
• Strong experience working in hydrology, water resources, hydrometry and hydrological modelling using Aquator.
• Proven 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.
• Experience delivering complex hydrological work, including technical leadership and project responsibility.
• Good 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.
• Good understanding of financial, contract and budget management within projects.
• Experience leading or supporting others, including line or functional management where applicable.
• Strong written communication and numerical skills.
• Clear presentation skills, able to explain complex information to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Ability to manage time effectively, prioritise work and operate with a high level of independence.
• Aware of organisational governance, compliance requirements and relevant standards or processes.
• A strong customer‑focused approach, with experience delivering high‑quality service in a comparable organisation.
• A valid driving licence suitable for the role.

Contact & Application

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.

What We Offer

In addition to your annual base salary of £44,750 – £46,750, we offer a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive.