Principal Hydrologist

Salary - £61,399 to £65,157

Hybrid working (50/50), Permanent

Location: Wallingford, Oxfordshire

Alternative Locations: Lancaster, Edinburgh or Bangor

Closing date for applications, Monday 9 February 2026. We reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early.

UKCEH is looking for an experienced Principal Hydrologist to join our team of talented individuals, contributing to scientific discovery and generating the data, insights and solutions that researchers, businesses and governments need to solve complex environmental challenges. As a Principal Hydrologist we need your help to shape the future of field hydrology research in the UK and beyond. This is an exciting opportunity to use your experience to influence the future science of floods and droughts and develop your own portfolio of research into process hydrology and geomorphology. You’ll be joining our Water and Climate Science group. UKCEH hosts the largest community of hydrological research scientists in the UK and is the national focal point for hydrological data and analysis. We continue to build on an internationally recognised portfolio of experimental catchments and long‑term observational networks developed over more than 50 years.

Within this environment, you’ll be working alongside the core FDRI team made up of more than 30 talented and collaborative individuals who together provide a wide range of scientific, technical and project management expertise. You will have a research background in field hydrology or geomorphology, and a deep interest in understanding the science of floods and droughts. A good understanding of hydrological data analysis and modelling would be valuable, and you will be experienced in explaining complex ideas to non-specialist audiences. We welcome applications from people working either in research or as hydrological practitioners.

Main responsibilities include:

• Building a body of work that is a recognizable contribution to the advancement of flood and/or drought science to develop a track record of high impact work
• Leading science and motivating staff across the Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure project and building strong links to a wide range of projects within and beyond UKCEH
• Supporting the development of technical assistants and other hydrologists
• Leading and managing a diverse portfolio of research projects
• Leading or contributing key elements of substantial proposals each year and in future years attracting funding to enable the advancement of flood and drought science
• Engaging, maintaining good working relationships and influencing stakeholders and stakeholder networks
• Possess a clear and strategic view of UKCEH science in relation to key national and international priorities
• Becoming known beyond UKCEH and collaborating externally, representing UKCEH values and science (e.g. on editorial boards or serving on external committees or panels)

The £38m Floods & Droughts Research Infrastructure (FDRI) project is building a world-leading hydrological observatory in the UK. We are already advanced with scope, planning and implementation. You will join our implementation team to take a scientific lead in making sure the new FDRI Observatory provides the data and insights that will transform flood and drought research for the 21st century. You will work closely with our external Catchment Champion teams and the wider hydrological community. New instruments are being installed in 3 catchments (the Chess, the Upper Severn, and the Tweed). The next stage (and the focus of your role in 2026) is to add to this initial design so that the FDRI catchments can be used to tackle the most pressing scientific questions on flood and drought processes in the UK. In 2027, when data starts to flow, your scientific knowledge will help us to make sure that the instrumentation is working correctly, and you will initiate pilot studies to help us show the value of the new instrumentation in addressing important hydrological questions. As we approach the operational phase (from 2028 onwards), you will develop a portfolio of research (probably with external partners) that uses some aspects of the FDRI infrastructure. You will also be encouraged to develop your own portfolio of field hydrology projects that tackle the questions of flood or drought processes in other locations or from other perspectives. You will publish papers on your work and act as an ambassador for FDRI with the science and practitioner community and beyond.

Qualifications and experience sought:

• A strong scientific background (degree level), hydrological research experience and an in‑depth understanding and enthusiasm for field hydrology
• Experience of applying appropriate project management methods in the successful delivery of projects (or tasks of larger projects) in a research or scientific setting.
• Excellent communication and writing skills, used working with various media
• A wider understanding of applied hydrological science and opportunities for innovation in monitoring and analysis
• A desire to enthuse future generations of field hydrological scientists.

Working for UKCEH is rewarding. We appreciate the continuous dedication and contributions of our staff, which is why we provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes financial incentives and wellbeing‑oriented perks, such as:

• 27 days annual leave (rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service) plus 3 days for Christmas closure
• 10% employer pension contribution
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (role dependent)
• Peer reward and recognition scheme
• Dental insurance, gym/fitness discounts, retail discount portal
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• 24‑hour, 365‑day support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues and much more…

Apply today! If this opportunity resonates with you and aligns with your personal career goals, the team would love to receive your application. Please apply by submitting your CV along with a supporting statement (300 – 500 words) covering the following:

• What hands‑on field experience do you have in hydrology, and what key knowledge or skills have you gained from this work?
• Can you describe your experience working on complex projects involving multiple organisations, and what you learned from collaborating across different teams or stakeholders?

Our Commitment to Inclusion At UKCEH, we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, abilities, and circumstances. As a Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from neurodivergent candidates and people with disabilities, and we’re happy to provide adjustments or support at any stage of the recruitment process - just let us know. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we’d love to hear from you anyway. You may be just the right fit for this role or another within our wider team. Please note: We welcome applications from international candidates, this role is open for sponsorship and may also qualify for endorsement to support a Global Talent Visa application. Additionally, if you are considering pursuing self‑sponsorship, please indicate this in your application so we can take it into account during the recruitment process.