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2027 UK Graduate Flood Risk and Water Resources Career Path
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Job Description
Mott MacDonald
Start your career with a global, employee-owned consultancy where your work can make a real difference. At Mott MacDonald, you'll work alongside experts, contribute to meaningful projects, and have the support, learning opportunities, and experience needed to grow your career from day one.
Mott MacDonald is a unique company to work for, combining heritage, vision, and values into an ethos that encourages innovative thinking and career progression in technical, management, or commercial/client-facing directions, or a combination thereof. Our employee-owned structure enables us to shape our own future and pursue social outcomes in everything we do. It also puts our people, their development, and their wellbeing at the heart of our business. With us, you will have control of your own career path, which we will support through mentoring and training, but above all by giving you the opportunities to face new challenges and take on more responsibilities.
Job Opportunities
Flood Risk Specialist
Shape Rivers. Reduce Flooding. Build Resilience.
Plays a key role in helping communities and the environment become more resilient to flooding and the challenges posed by climate change. You will work on projects that improve our understanding of rivers, catchments, and flood risk, supporting the development of sustainable solutions that protect people, property, and the natural environment. Working alongside multidisciplinary teams, you will contribute to projects that enhance river health, improve water management, and deliver lasting environmental benefits.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Supporting projects that reduce flood and drought risk while improving the resilience of communities, infrastructure, and the environment.
- Analysing environmental, hydrological, and engineering information to identify practical solutions and inform decision-making.
- Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver river restoration, flood management, sustainable water supply, and drainage projects.
- Assisting with engineering studies, design calculations, and the development of outline and detailed civil engineering designs.
- Producing technical reports, specifications, and models using industry-standard software, with opportunities to gain site-based experience.
- Developing technical knowledge and experience across river engineering, flooding, water resources, and wider water management disciplines.
Environmental Hydrologist
Restore Rivers. Protect Ecosystems. Empower Communities.
Join a team where your work helps safeguard the health of our water environment and supports nature-positive solutions for a sustainable future. As a Graduate Environmental Hydrologist, you’ll be part of a legacy of catchment management excellence—tackling challenges like nutrient pollution, pesticides, and habitat degradation through data-driven insights and collaborative innovation.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Analyse and assess: Conduct water quality impact assessments of abstractions and discharges, and evaluate solutions to improve water quality.
- Design with nature: Appraise traditional and nature-based solutions (NbS), including river restoration options for heavily modified water bodies.
- Model and manage: Support hydrological assessments, water quality modelling, and catchment management planning.
- Visualise and communicate: Use GIS tools for data manipulation and visualisation, and contribute to stakeholder engagement.
- Explore and learn: Participate in geomorphological studies, NbS screening, and options appraisal, gaining exposure to a wide range of environmental challenges.
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Hydrogeologist
Understand Groundwater. Protect Resources. Shape Resilient Futures.
At Mott MacDonald, we believe water is life—and protecting it starts beneath the surface. As a Graduate Hydrogeologist, you’ll be part of a team helping clients understand the reliability and vulnerability of groundwater sources, mitigate pollution, and manage the impact of infrastructure on aquifers.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Data analysis: Collect, review, and analyse ground and surface water quantity and quality data.
- Hydrogeological assessments: Conduct studies to understand aquifer behaviour, recharge, and vulnerability.
- GIS mapping and visualisation: Use GIS tools to analyse hydrogeographic data and prepare maps of groundwater elevations, geological structures, and cross-sections.
- Groundwater modelling: Support the development of models to simulate flow and transport processes.
- Catchment management: Contribute to pollution mitigation strategies and sustainable water resource planning.
- Professional development: Undertake training and work towards professional qualification, supported by mentoring and our Early Careers Professionals Network.
Hydrologist
Understand Water. Predict Change. Protect the Future.
At Mott MacDonald, we’re driven by purpose—delivering sustainable solutions that safeguard communities, ecosystems, and future generations. As a Graduate Hydrologist, you’ll be part of a team that’s leading national and international efforts to address climate change risks, secure water supplies, and assess the feasibility of hydropower schemes.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Data-driven insights: Collect, review, and analyse hydrological and environmental data to inform decision-making.
- Hydrological modelling: Apply advanced rainfall-runoff models and weather generators to simulate water systems under changing conditions.
- Climate change assessments: Evaluate the impact of climate projections on water availability, flood risk, and hydropower feasibility.
- Flood risk and catchment management: Contribute to flood risk assessments, water quality modelling, and sustainable catchment planning.
- Professional development: Undertake training and work towards professional qualification, supported by mentoring and our Early Careers Professionals Network.
Water Quality Modeller
Model Water. Predict Change. Improve Outcomes.
Plays a key role in understanding and improving the quality and behaviour of water systems. Working with data, technology, and environmental information, you will help assess how water moves through catchments, rivers, and drainage networks, supporting projects that protect the environment, enhance water quality, and contribute to sustainable water management. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative solutions to complex water challenges.
What You'll Be Doing:
- Supporting projects that improve water quality, environmental performance, and sustainable water management.
- Analysing data and environmental information to inform decision-making and identify solutions to water-related challenges.
- Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across a range of river, drainage, and water environment projects.
- Contributing to specialist areas such as flood risk, hydrology, coastal processes, water quality, drainage, and wider water resource management.
- Developing technical knowledge and gaining experience with industry-leading tools, technologies, and approaches used across the water sector.
Candidate Specification
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Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
At Mott MacDonald, we’re looking for curious, motivated graduates who want to make a real difference. Join our purpose-driven teams where your ideas matter, your growth is supported, and your work enhances the world we live in.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for this opportunity, you will have less than 12 months’ relevant experience (excluding placements) and have a degree (obtained no earlier than 2025) or expected to achieve one of the following degree disciplines:
Flood Risk Specialist
- Civil Engineering
- Geography
Environmental Hydrologist
- Geography
- Environmental Science
- Earth Sciences
Hydrologist
- Geography
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Engineering
Hydrogeologist
- Geology
- Earth Sciences
- Geological sciences
Water Quality Modeller
- Geography
- Environmental Science
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
In your application, you should aim to demonstrate your genuine interest in both the opportunity and in joining Mott MacDonald. You can do this by highlighting any relevant experience or interests - such as modules you've studied, previous work experience, or any research you've undertaken about our company, values, and projects.
Application Process
We personally review every completed application form we receive as this part of our selection process is entirely human-led – we do not use AI tools at this stage and kindly ask you not to either. We want you to answer each application question with authenticity so we can get to know the real you. Joining us as a graduate is your opportunity to shape your own story.
Strengths We Look For
- Proactively takes initiative to complete tasks efficiently and independently.
- Communicates effectively and clearly with clients and colleagues.
- Delivers high quality written work with strong attention to detail and clarity.
- Demonstrates a structured and analytical approach to problem solving.
UK Immigration
Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024.
Our ethos is to develop, train, and retain our graduates and therefore we are looking for a long-term relationship with our graduates. For this reason, we cannot accept applications from candidates who would be working under the Graduate visa route or other time-limited visas, (irrespective of visa duration), due to their temporary nature and the requirement for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route in future.
We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.
AI Usage
At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.
Accessibility
We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us and we'll be happy to discuss how we can help.
About Your Development
A graduate position should be more than just a job. We know this and so do you. That’s why with our graduate roles we aim to give you the
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