Hydrologist

Job Purpose

Job Title: Hydrologist

Salary: £37,500 - £40,250 dependant on experience +  Benefits

Working Hours: 37 Hours Monday - Friday

Location: Home Working with regular travel to our Hatton, Warwickshire office location.

We are the charity who look after, and bring to life, 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales because we believe that life is better by water.  Every role in the Canal & River Trust (the Trust) plays a part in transforming our canals and rivers into spaces where local people want to spend time and feel better, bringing well-being benefits to millions.  

We are currently looking for a Hydrologist to join our national Water Management Team. The Water management team are responsible for supporting the Trust in all areas of water resource and flood risk management.

As a Hydrologist you will apply a wide range of technical expertise, modelling solutions and knowledge to secure the effective and efficient management of water resources around the network. You will ensure we meet navigational and other water demands, whilst ensuring compliance with relevant legal, environmental and operational constraints. You will deliver specialist hydrological support and/or modelling to the organisation and external customers, achieving proportionate management of flood risk to and from the waterway network.

You’ll be exposed to diverse hydrological problems on our canals, navigable rivers, network of over 1,500 locks and 72 reservoirs, among other infrastructure. You’ll be able to visit our network first-hand through site investigations and surveys when required. You’ll need to enjoy working with data and a degree in a relevant subject, however we’ll train you in canal hydrology. 

Find out more here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/specialist-teams/managing-our-water

Location & coverage

This vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to regularly attend our hub spaces as and when required for team working and meetings. It is therefore essential that applicants are able and willing to work effectively from home and travel when required.

Our hubs include: Leeds, Ellesmere Port, Burnley, Birmingham, Hatton, Newark, Milton Keynes, Gloucester, London.

Applicants would ideally be accessible to Hatton for regular catch ups with the wider team. This role will also involve regular travel to and along the reservoirs, canals and river navigations across the canal network. The regularity and distribution of travel will be discussed further at interview stage.

We know uncertainty around travel (such as what do we mean by regular?), can sometimes be a barrier to applying for a job. Please do not let travel be a barrier to you applying for this role, speak to us at interview or prior to application about what a typical week, month or year may look like and we will be able to clarify our expectations.

See our network map here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network 

Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience

Key accountabilities: 

• Under supervision of Principal and Senior Hydrologists, provide specialist advice on water management issues, to regional operational teams as well as to other central technical teams.
• Assist in the production of weekly water budgets and undertake routine water resource reporting, following agreed procedure(s), liaising with regional operational staff to ensure effective water use to meet customer needs.
• Use various data sources to support the provision of advice on water management issues to our regional and central teams.
• Be prepared to work outside undertaking site visits and field trials in all weather conditions.
• Under supervision, provide hydrological data/analysis/modelling, responses and advice (simple/straightforward) to the required quality and timeliness set out in team procedures to external bodies e.g. Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, to ensure the Trust’s interests and reputation are both promoted and protected.
• Contribute to modelling, research and development projects within area of expertise, and make recommendations, under supervision of Senior/Principal Hydrologists.
• Work within the Trust’s policies and procedures including health & safety and environment and heritage issues.

Knowledge, Experience & Skills

Technical:

• Degree (or equivalent) qualification in relevant discipline (e.g. Geography, Earth Sciences, Environmental Management, Hydrology). 
• Working towards Associate or Chartered Membership of a professional body e.g. CIWEM. We will help support your journey!
• Evidence comprehensive work experience in a specialised field of hydrology/water resources management/hydrometry/ hydrological and/or hydraulic modelling, and in handling, manipulating and presenting hydrometric/spatial data and information
• Demonstrate some relevant experience (e.g. hydrological principles, training, academic modules).
• Some experience of handling hydrometric/spatial data and information.
• Awareness of key regulatory and legislative frameworks affecting water management (e.g. Water Resources Act, Water Act, F&WM Act), beneficial. 

General: 

• Computer literate in MS Office with some experience in managing small technical projects or well-defined projects.
• Good level of written communication skills and numerical ability.
• Ability to manage own time effectively, prioritising tasks and seeking guidance where appropriate whilst working remotely from home.
• Some experience of basic customer service standards and expectation.
• Valid driving licence - you will be required to provide support across our waterway network.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

What We Offer

In addition to your salary of £37,500 - £40,250, you will benefit from a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, great holiday entitlement and numerous other employee benefits, including several salary sacrifice benefits, all of which can be found here (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits). These include: 

• 25 days paid holiday, plus paid Bank Holidays, increasing to 27 days plus Bank Holidays after 3 years
• Home working status with ‘hub’ facilities available if a need to work outside of home – flexibility. Monday to Friday working, no weekend working. 
• Annual £200 personal learning & growth award to spend on any learning related activity – hobbies; aspirations etc. 
• Free access to specialist counselling on a range of issues – health; financial; lifestyle; well-being; domestic & neighbourly matters. 
• Access to a range of employee benefits including – store discounts; boating holiday discounts; holiday purchase scheme. 
• 2 days paid volunteering leave, volunteering for local community project work.

At the Trust we care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job.

When you join the Canal & River Trust you become a member of an engaged team working to preserve our heritage for future generations. Come and share your passion and knowledge with a team that makes a difference to millions of people every day.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us

If you’d like to find out more about the role, please get in touch with water.information@canalrivertrust.org.uk