Assistant Hydrologist

About this role

Salary - £29,751

Staff Grade - 3

Locations - Birmingham, Lichfield, Fradley or Tewkesbury

Post Type / Working Pattern - Permanent Full time, Part time

  

About Us

The Environment Agency has a broad and varied remit to protect and enhance the environment, with a goal to create a cleaner, safer and healthier environment for people and wildlife. Water is at the heart of all we do, drinking, washing, recreation, industry and health, our environment and economy depends on this precious resource. Clean and available water is essential and as water becomes an increasingly scarce resource, we need to do more to ensure we protect it.

Hydrologists assess the natural distribution of water in time and space and evaluate the impact of human changes on this distribution. Our hydrologists monitor, analyse, assess, forecast and report on the water environment across England. The focus can vary in timescale from minutes and days to many decades. Hydrology is at the centre of integrated river basin management and is fundamental to our understanding of and response to land use and climate change.

You can find out more about water resources hydrology as a career here.

We are a friendly and welcoming team of Hydrologists working across the Environment Agency West Midlands Area delivering work in Shropshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and West Midlands.

What's in it for you:

You'll benefit from a culture that embraces difference and is inclusive where you'll feel supported and trusted to do the right thing. We'll invest in you and allow you to grow and shape your career.

What's more, you'll have access to our great benefits package including:

• A salary of £29,751.
• A generous pension scheme of 19%.
• Overtime opportunities through standby and incident pay.
• 25 days holiday + 8 bank holidays for full-time employees.
• Two additional days for paid environmental outcomes giving you the opportunity to take part in community activities.
• Great career opportunities: you can either progress to grades 4,5 and 6 in hydrology or use your hydrological knowledge in a wide range of management and related technical roles.
• An established structured training programme and professional development.
• Potential to further enhance your knowledge through an apprenticeship.
• Maternity, paternity, and adoption leave scheme.

Options for flexible and/or part-time working may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Your role:

We're looking for an Assistant Hydrologist to join our Area Water Resources Hydrology team. This is a technical role within the Hydrology profession. In this role you'll help ensure we apply best practice techniques so that we make the very best use of the available evidence for scientifically sound cost-efficient operational and strategic decisions.

This is an entry level role which will allow you to develop an understanding of how hydrological data and techniques are used in the Environment Agency.

What will you do:

Under the direction of more experienced hydrologists you will provide hydrological analysis and data following established processes and assist with providing technical assessments and professional advice on hydrological issues.

You will support other hydrologists in the team on dry weather incident response and in the delivery of more complex work or projects.

You will be mainly office based but there will be occasional fieldwork, for example carrying out surveys and collecting data. You will gain a practical understanding of the rivers and catchments in our Area.

What you'll need:

Essential

• A Level/s (or equivalent qualifications) in scientific and numerical subjects, for example (but not limited to) geography, biology, physics, maths, environmental science/ management.

Desirable

• A degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant environmental discipline. For example (but not limited to): Geography, Environmental Science, Ecology, Sustainability, Data Science, Geosciences, Engineering, Biology.
• Awareness of hydrological concepts (such as hydrology processes and catchment behaviour) and the different types of hydrological data (e.g. rainfall, river flow, groundwater level).
• Good organisational skills/discipline and the ability to plan, track, deliver and evaluate work, meeting relevant standards and timescales.
• An interest in and an enthusiasm for hydrology.
• Experience of analysing data and information to solve problems.
• Good written and spoken communication skills to convey information.
• Numerical and computer literacy.

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. Full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role. This may attract an additional payment.

Additional Information

Please note that a reserve list will be held, and you may be offered other roles in other locations including temporary roles, which may be similarly aligned to this role.

As an organisation, we strive to reflect the communities we serve, to achieve this we welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, and religion. If you have any questions regarding the vacancy or application process, please contact the recruitment team at earecruitment@peoplescout.co.uk

To learn more about these roles from those already in them, gain insight into the recruitment process, and have the chance to ask your questions, join us for our candidate call on:

Wednesday 8^th October 2025 at 15.10 - 16.10

Click here to register for the session

This will be held on Microsoft Teams and is open to all applicants. You do not need to have submitted an application to join the call, just click the apply button for further information

Closing date for applications: 20^th October 2025

Interview Dates: Week commencing 10^th November and week commencing 17^th November 2025

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the UK's biggest environmental organisation and one of the largest employers of hydrologists. Join us, and together, let's tackle the challenges of a changing climate and build a more sustainable future. Apply now and embark on a rewarding and fulfilling career journey with the Environment Agency.

This role must be undertaken from within the UK and does NOT qualify for sponsorship. Visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration, to seek professional advice regarding options for obtaining the right to work in the UK.

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