Geomorphologist

Hours: 5 days/ 37.5 hrs per week, flexible working
Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Location: Ceredigion/ Pembrokeshire/ Carmarthenshire/ Swansea/ Neath Port Talbot (or periphery areas to our catchment)
Working Type: Remote with regular fieldwork across West Wales
Job Type: Fixed Term Contract – One year. Possibility of extension subject to funding and performance.

Summary

West Wales Rivers Trust is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Geomorphologist to support the design, development and delivery of river restoration projects across West Wales. Working closely with the Trust’s restoration team, trustees, landowners, regulators, consultants and contractors, the successful applicant will provide geomorphological expertise to inform catchment initiatives, river restoration and management.

This role will involve undertaking geomorphological surveys and assessments, developing restoration designs, providing technical advice, and helping to deliver innovative projects that improve river health, biodiversity and climate resilience. The successful candidate will contribute to projects including river restoration, natural flood management, barrier removal and catchment-scale restoration planning.

We are looking for someone with a strong understanding of fluvial geomorphology, excellent technical skills and a passion for restoring rivers using process-based approaches. The successful applicant should be equally comfortable undertaking field surveys, analysing data, preparing technical reports and engaging with a wide range of stakeholders as well other environmental technical discipline leads.

Whilst there will be regular meetings with Trust staff, much of the work will be undertaken from home and in the field across West Wales and occasionally with the wider Welsh Rivers Trusts. You will be joining a small, passionate and growing team committed to delivering ambitious river restoration projects that benefit wildlife, communities and the wider environment.

Candidate Profile

Essential

• Degree in Geography, Earth Sciences, Environmental Science or another relevant discipline.
• Demonstrable knowledge of fluvial geomorphology and river processes.
• Experience undertaking geomorphological field surveys and assessments.
• Experience developing river restoration or natural flood management projects.
• Ability to interpret survey data and produce clear technical reports and restoration recommendations.
• Understanding of river catchment processes, sediment dynamics and channel morphology.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders including landowners, contractors, regulators and partner organisations.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Good computer literacy, including Microsoft Office packages.
• Experience using GIS software (preferably ArcGIS).
• Self-motivated and able to work effectively from home and independently.
• Ability to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends (a time-off-in-lieu system is operated by the Trust).
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle insured for business use.
• Commitment to learning the Welsh language, if not already a Welsh speaker.

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification (MSc or PhD) in Geomorphology, River Science or a related subject.
• Chartered status or working towards Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), Chartered Geographer (GIS or Physical Geography), Chartered Water and Environmental Manager (CWEM) or equivalent professional accreditation.
• Experience using River Habitat Survey (RHS), MoRPh, River Condition Assessment or other recognised geomorphological assessment methods.
• Experience preparing restoration designs, option appraisals or business cases.
• Knowledge of hydrology, hydraulic modelling or sediment transport.
• Knowledge of river biogeochemistry, particularly related to agricultural and legacy mining pollution.
• Experience with topographic survey techniques, GNSS equipment or UAV-derived datasets.
• Knowledge of Welsh river catchments and environmental legislation.
• Experience securing grant funding or contributing to funding applications.
• Experience supervising contractors and overseeing restoration works on site.