Associate Groundwater Modeller in Epsom

Groundwater modelling sits at the heart of how the UK plans and protects its water supply. Every major abstraction decision, every environmental impact assessment, and every investment case for water infrastructure relies on models that are robust enough to inform policy and withstand regulatory scrutiny. The demand for this work is growing, and so is the complexity.

We’re looking for an Associate Groundwater Modeller to join our groundwater resources team within the Water Management Consultancy. This isn’t a delivery-only role. At Associate level, you’ll own a portfolio of projects, lead client relationships, develop new areas of business, and shape how the team grows. You’ll still be technically hands-on where it matters, but the balance shifts towards leadership, commercial ownership, and building something bigger. The role is flexible across the UK, with our core groundwater teams based in Birmingham, Epsom, Oxford, and Peterborough.

Your role:

• Owning and growing a portfolio of groundwater modelling projects – winning, delivering, and managing work across our client base of water companies, regulators, and major water users.
• Building and maintaining trusted client relationships, understanding their strategic challenges, and positioning AtkinsRéalis as their partner of choice for groundwater work.
• Leading complex technical work to a high standard – conceptualisation, data gathering, numerical modelling, interpretation, and reporting – while delegating effectively across the team.
• Developing new areas of business for the team, identifying opportunities, and shaping proposals that extend our reach into new clients and problem areas.
• Contributing to the development of innovative approaches and digital tools that strengthen how we deliver groundwater modelling at scale.
• Mentoring and developing junior staff, providing training on modelling approaches and building the team’s capability over time.
• Working across disciplines – collaborating with hydrologists, water resource planners, environmental scientists, and digital specialists on projects spanning water supply, strategic planning, resource optimisation, and environmental assessment.
• Championing high standards of technical performance and quality across everything the team produces.

About you:

• You’re an experienced groundwater modelling specialist who’s ready to step into a role where you own the client relationship, the commercial picture, and the team development – not just the technical delivery.
• Degree in science, engineering, or mathematics, with a postgraduate qualification in hydrogeology or a related subject.
• Ideally chartered through a relevant professional body.
• Comprehensive experience building, developing, and updating conceptual and numerical groundwater models at regional scale, including model use for assessing abstraction impacts on the environment.
• Ideally experienced with UK regional groundwater models.
• Wider experience across water resources hydrogeology and hydrology – WINEP investigations (low flow, WFD No Deterioration, Environmental Destination, catchment water quality), signal and pumping tests, borehole design, groundwater flooding, or water resource planning.
• Strong understanding of UK hydrogeology and the operational and environmental regulatory framework.
• Proficient in MODFLOW (ideally including MODFLOW 6) and other groundwater flow models, as well as recharge models such as 4R or SWAc.
• Coding skills in Python, R, Fortran, VBA, or similar are desirable, as is experience with GIS.
• Proven experience leading projects through the full lifecycle – problem definition, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and recommendations.
• A strong communicator who’s effective at all levels, from technical peer review through to client-facing presentations and stakeholder engagement.

Why this role:

This is a role for someone who wants to shape a growing team, not just deliver within one. Our groundwater practice is expanding – the client portfolio is broadening, the projects are getting more complex, and the tools are evolving. At Associate level, you’ll have direct influence over where the team goes next, which clients we work with, and how we approach the technical challenges ahead.

You’ll sit within a Water Management Consultancy that works across the full breadth of UK water challenges – from strategic supply planning and the first new reservoirs in 30 years, to catchment modelling, environmental regulation, and research with UKWIR and Defra. The cross-disciplinary access is genuine: you’ll collaborate with specialists in flood risk, ecology, water quality, GIS, and digital modelling, and have the backing of our Global Technology Centre for efficient delivery at programme scale.

The team is investing in digital capability – developing new tools, exploring AI-enhanced approaches, and building consistent methods that can be applied across organisations and regulatory cycles. If you want to be involved in how groundwater modelling evolves, not just how it’s delivered today, this is the place.

Rewards & benefits:

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards, and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your health, wellbeing, financial, and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. Combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Additional information:

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong – a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive, and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family-friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.