2026 UK Graduate Water Resources and Flooding Career Path

Please note you may only submitone application for our graduate opportunities. Once submitted, changes or new applications cannot be made — unless new vacancies open in the new year.

We will close for applications on Friday 20th March 2026, however, if this opportunity becomes over-subscribed, we will close early, therefore we recommend applying as soon as possible.

Turn your ambition into action—apply now and shape your future with us.

Mott MacDonald

Mott MacDonald is a unique company to work for, combining heritage, vision and values into an ethos that encourages innovative thinking and career progression in technical, management or commercial/client-facing directions, or a combination thereof. Our employee-owned structure enables us to shape our own future and pursue social outcomes in everything we do.

It also puts our people, their development, and their wellbeing at the heart of our business. With us, you will have control of your own career path, which we will support through mentoring and training, but above all by giving you the opportunities to face new challenges and take more responsibilities.

About The Business Unit

Our Water Consultancy Division has a strong record in tackling the challenges affecting the water environment, including river catchments, from the source to the sea and water on the surface and underground.

Within the current climate emergency, we are experts in understanding the impact of climate change on water availability and work with major UK water companies and international clients to ensure future demand for water is met and renewable energy schemes are feasible while preserving the environment.

We contribute to improving the ecology of our rivers, aquifers and coastal areas by establishing the impact of abstractions and discharges and by defining sustainable ways of reducing pollution using nature-based solutions.

We are also supporting the Environment Agency, local authorities and major infrastructure developers to quantify the risk of flooding and to design the most effective flood protection measures including natural flood management.

Overview Of Role

Join a team where your work helps safeguard lives, protect ecosystems, and build climate-resilient futures. As a Graduate Flood Risk Specialist/Engineer, you’ll be at the forefront of tackling one of the most pressing global challenges—flood risk—through innovative, data-driven, and nature-based solutions.

Our Water Consultancy Division is a hub of technical excellence, offering diverse opportunities to work on river, surface water, and coastal flood risk projects. You’ll receive full training in industry-standard hydraulic modelling and hydrology, and contribute to projects that support environmental regulators, local authorities, and infrastructure developers.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Assess and advise: Contribute to Flood Risk and Consequence Assessments, helping shape planning and mitigation strategies.
• Design solutions: Develop engineering solutions for flood risk management including flood alleviation and pioneering Natural Flood Management (NFM) approaches.
• Model with impact: Use 1D-2D hydraulic modelling tools to simulate flood scenarios and develop actionable insights.
• Analyse and verify: Build and validate hydraulic models, and use GIS tools to manipulate and analyse hydrological and flood risk data.
• Embrace digital: Enhance project delivery through developing and deploying digital solutions.
• Collaborate and learn: Work on fluvial and coastal risk projects, attend site visits, and engage in team and client meetings.
• Grow with purpose: Be part of our Early Careers Professionals Network, gaining exposure to technical, commercial, and client-facing aspects of project delivery.

To be eligible for this opportunity, you will have less than 12 months’ relevant experience (excluding placements) and have a degree (obtained no earlier than 2024) or expected to achieve one of the following degree disciplines:

• Civil engineering
• Water resources
• Water management
• Environmental science or related
• Geography
• Maths, statistics or related
• Geology

As part of your application, we will ask you to select your preferred location.

In your application, you should aim to demonstrate your genuine interest in both the opportunity and in joining Mott MacDonald. You can do this by highlighting any relevant experience or interests—such as modules you’ve studied, previous work experience, or any research you’ve undertaken about our company, values, and projects.

We personally review every completed application we receive as our selection process is entirely human led – we do not use AI tools and kindly expect you not to either. We want you to answer each application question with authenticity so we can get to know the real you. Joining us a graduate is your opportunity to shape your own story.

We Are Looking For Graduates With The Following Strengths

• Proactively takes initiative to complete tasks efficiently and independently.
• Communicates effectively and clearly with clients and colleagues.
• Delivers high quality written work with strong attention to detail and clarity.
• Demonstrates a structured and analytical approach to problem solving.

As we want the best people for the role, we support flexible working. Please ask us at interview stage about any flexibility you may need.

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024.

Our ethos is to develop, train and retain our graduates and therefore we are looking for a long-term relationship with our graduates. For this reason, we cannot accept applications from candidates who would be working under the Graduate visa route or other time-limited visas, (irrespective of visa duration), due to their temporary nature and the requirement for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route in future.

We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

About Your Development

A graduate position should be more than just a job. We know this and so do you. That’s why with our graduate roles we aim to give you the experience and technical knowledge you need to progress your career. From the moment you join us, you’ll receive the training you need. You will be assigned a mentor, who will guide you to meet the objectives of your professional training needs. You will join our three-year early careers soft skills development programme – Accelerating your Future, which is designed to give you the skills and tools necessary for a long-lasting successful career here at Mott MacDonald.

You will have the opportunity to make a difference; learn more aboutOur Purposeand the difference we can make!

You’re probably wondering what else is on offer. Join us, and you’ll get:

• Biannual salary reviews: we believe that hard work should be rewarded and recognised. Therefore, for the first three years of your career with us, you’ll have biannual salary reviews.
• A competitive salary: in addition to biannual reviews, we will ensure that you’re given a salary that matches the current industry standard.
• Contributory pension up to 7% of your salary: we have the best people on our team, and we like to look out for them. With our support, you’ll have all the advice and options you need to be able to invest in your future.
• A flexible benefits scheme: our company is made up of a range of different people and we understand that different people want different things. That’s why with our flexible plan, you’ll have the ability to manage the range of benefits we have on offer, to suit your specific needs.

Our social side

Being part of Mott MacDonald means more than just work; there’s a huge range of fun and exciting things that you can get involved in.

From the moment you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your social and professional network, whether it’s meeting other graduates or joining forces with other members of staff from around the company at our annual sports day. Each of our offices have a sports and social committee which will give you the chance to be part of a variety of sports, social and charity events. We’re committed to promoting a strong culture of social responsibility and encourage our staff to play active roles in the local community.

It\’s worth noting that sports and social committees tend to vary from office to office, so as well as getting involved in what’s already on offer, don’t be afraid to suggest new events or initiatives that you think could be a great addition. It doesn’t stop there. As well as events, you’ll also have access to discounts on cinema tickets, travel, fashion, utilities and much more as part of our company benefits which you can take advantage of the moment you join.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We put equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team and personal commitments. We embrace agility, flexibility and trust.

More About Mott MacDonald

We’re a global engineering, management and development consultancy.

Our purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything we do, relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming our clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities.

A fundamental part of this is respecting each person’s differences and striving to meet their needs.

Our values: progress, respect, integrity, drive, excellence

Location(s): Edinburgh, GB Manchester, GB Leeds, GB Bristol, GB Liverpool, GB Brighton, GB Cambridge, GB Sheffield, GB Cardiff, GB

Contract Type: Permanent

Work Pattern: Full Time

Market: Water

Discipline: Water

Job Ref: 11617

Recruiter Contact: earlycareersrecruitment@mottmac.com