Principal Coastal Scientist in Liverpool

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve.

About The Business Unit: We help conceive, drive, and implement transport solutions for cities, regions, and asset owners/operators around the globe. Our planning, engineering, environmental and management skills cover the whole project cycle.

Overview Of The Role: Mott MacDonald is one of the global leaders advising a broad range of clients in the planning, design and construction of coastal and offshore infrastructure. This extends to all stages in the project cycle, from developing innovative coastal erosion business cases and feasibility studies to structural defences and environmental enhancements, and then onto construction supervision.

We strive to ensure we provide our clients with the most sustainable solutions, with the UN Sustainable Development Goals forming the heart of what we do. As a key member of the Ports, Coastal and Offshore (PCO) team, you will influence the success of our projects by contributing to outcomes which exceed our clients’ expectations.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Principal Coastal Scientist to lead projects focused on coastal resilience, climate adaptation and marine ecosystem management. The successful candidate will bring expertise in coastal processes, shoreline management and evidence‑based decision‑making to guide multidisciplinary teams and inform policy and business case efforts.

The ideal candidate will play a key role in supporting the leadership and future direction of the coastal team, providing mentorship to more junior members of the team and supporting business development and bidding as well as providing technical leadership and project management of deliverables.

• Master’s degree in Coastal Science, Oceanography, or related field
• Experience in Coastal Management in a Consultancy environment
• Demonstrated project leadership
• Strong written communication skills and are comfortable writing reports and delivering presentations
• Familiarity with climate adaptation planning and policy
• Experience in business development, including client liaison and bid preparation
• Chartered with a relevant professional institution such as CIWEM (or equivalent working experience)
• Proficiency in GIS, knowledge/experience of remote sensing, and coastal modelling tools (e.g., Delft3D, SWAN, ADCIRC) advantageous

• Due to the nature of our work, you may be required to travel overseas for project assignments when required
• With your project management skills and experience you are comfortable networking and collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams for project delivery and enjoy building relationships with internal and external stakeholders

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 offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well‑being, flexibility, and trust.

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.

Accessibility: We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We Offer Some Fantastic Benefits Including:

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with everyday health costs and treatments.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.
• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6x your salary.
• A minimum of 33‑35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependant on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self‑development options.