Principal or Senior Hydroecologist

We’re more than just a water company. We’re dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment, sustainability, and the communities we serve. By joining us, you’ll work with the latest technologies, driving forward-thinking projects that enhance and protect national infrastructure, making a real difference to the communities we serve.

With nearly 10,000 colleagues, we’re looking for more brilliant people who are passionate about sustainability, eager to innovate, and ready to turn challenges into opportunities for a better future.

Let’s cut straight to it

We are seeking a Principal or Senior Hydroecologist on a 12 month FTC, to play a crucial role in shaping our future, driving business improvement, and making a tangible impact on the environment. Join us and be part of a team that values expertise, collaboration, and continuous development.

The Water Resources Strategy team looks after Severn Trent’s investment plans for ensuring we have enough water to meet the needs of our customers and the environment. Our team is made up of experts in specialisms such as hydroecology, hydrogeology, hydrology, and water resource specialists. We work in collaboration with environmental, operational and capital delivery teams internally and the Environment Agency externally.

Working within our Water Resource Strategy team, you will provide support and advice relating to freshwater ecology, hydroecology and environmental assessment. You will lead on environmental investigations, WFD assessments and investment options appraisals with the objective of informing our investment plans.

Depending on skills and experience, some of your responsibilities will include:

• Understanding the ecological needs of our rivers: Working with our team of hydro-ecologists, hydrologists and hydrogeologists you will shape our sustainable water resources investment strategy. The outputs from your analysis will be crucial to informing our long-term investment plans and our Water Resources Management Plan.
• Expert Support & Advice: Lead the specialist support and advice relating to hydro-ecology, river science, freshwater ecology. Lead technical workstreams for environmental investigations and pilot studies and develop options for investment.
• Technical Delivery: Lead the client-side technical delivery of Severn Trent’s statutory WINEP commitments for Environmental Destination, WFD and protected areas focussing on solutions to low flow problems. Ensure compliance with Water Framework Directive legal obligations and achieve our regulatory targets.
• Consultant Management: Manage technical hydro-ecology work packages delivered by consultants. Ensure they meet the EA’s WINEP requirements as agreed in Measures Specification Forms and comply with EA’s WINEP and PR24 guidance.
• Regulatory Trust: Build trust with regulators by ensuring accurate and timely information is provided to address their queries.

What we’re looking for

Of course, it’s important that we attract the right skill sets, and those with the right experience but we value character, positivity, and a caring attitude in equal weight.

Apart from being a great fit for the team you’ll be passionate about rivers and will have an excellent understanding of freshwater biology and ecology and the relationship between ecology and flow/water quality. You will be ready to lead the technical thinking that will help achieve our ambitious goals and have strong analytical skills and knowledge of Environmental legislation.

Ideally you will have experience of working in water environmental projects relating to WFD, abstraction or climate change.

As this role requires travel, you must hold a full UK Driving License.

A degree in freshwater ecology, environmental science, or other equivalent status is required.

We welcome people from all walks of life and celebrate individuality as we know diverse minds, experiences and backgrounds help us to learn and better serve our communities. We employ thousands of people from across our community who really care about what they do. Because that is how we do what we do.

And when it comes to inclusion, we’re making sure we keep up the progress with our wonderful working groups – LGBTQ+, Women in Operations & STEM, Disability and Ethnicity, who help us do just that.

You can be based out of our head office at Coventry , within our Asset Strategy team. With this being such a critical role, we’re looking for someone who can join us 37 hours a week and holds a full U.K driving licence.

How we’ll reward and care for you

Working here isn’t just a job. You can build a career at Severn Trent. We’ll reward you for it, too. We have a range of benefits that recognise great work, and award-winning training to help you reach your potential. And we’ll also help you play your part in looking after the environment and the communities where we live.

With that in mind, here are just some of our favourite perks that you’ll get being part of the Severn Trent family:

• 28 days holiday + bank holidays (and the ability to buy/ sell up to 5 days per year)
• Annual bonus scheme (of up to £2,250 per annum based on company performance)
• Leading pension scheme – we will double your contribution (up to 15% when you contribute 7.5%)
• Sharesave – the chance to buy Severn Trent Plc shares at a discounted rate
• Dedicated training and development with our ‘Academy’
• Electric vehicle scheme and retail offers
• Family friendly policies and two volunteering days per year

Let’s go

We can’t wait to hear from you! Have an updated CV ready and spare five minutes to apply. We’ll let you know the outcome after the closing date, so keep an eye on your phone and emails.