Rodeo
Get started

AtkinsRéalis

Associate Director - Water Quality Scientist

Oxford
Posted about 20 hours ago
Sign up to applySee more jobs like this

How your CV stacks up

1Upload CV
2Analyse CV
3Improve CV

Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role

?%

Job Description

Overview

Do you want to make a lasting impact on the health of our rivers, estuaries, and communities? Join us in tackling one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time: water quality. Whether it's modelling the River Thames or addressing emerging chemical risks, your work will help protect ecosystems, influence national policy, and secure clean water for future generations. Be part of a passionate, nationally leading team committed to creating a more resilient and sustainable world.

This position is available as either full-time or part-time and can be based in any of our office locations. Our largest team presences are in: Birmingham, Bristol, Derby, Edinburgh, Epsom, Glasgow, Oxford, Peterborough, Swansea and Manchester – however we have offices in many other locations across the UK where you could be based.

Could you take a key role in water quality services within our friendly and successful water management consultancy? This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate looking to progress their career at an exciting time for the industry. Our Water Management Consultancy operates at the interface between people and the water environment, with specialisms in water quality, water resources planning, flood risk management and climate analysis. Our team thrives on solving complex challenges related to water quality, resources, and climate resilience.

AtkinsRéalis business is one of the world's most respected design, engineering, and project management consultancies, with over 36,000 employees worldwide. At AtkinsRéalis, we offer more than just a job. We offer an opportunity to make a difference and shape the world to benefit future generations and the natural environment. Our Water Management Consultancy Practice covers a wider range of specialisms – including environmental chemistry, water quality, catchment management, hydrology/water resource planning, and geomorphology. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work and the depth of our technical expertise. We currently have a number of new exciting and technically challenging projects in the wider quality area.

We welcome applications from enthusiastic scientists in this field. As a Water Quality specialist, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping our water management solutions. Collaborating with a friendly and accomplished team, you'll contribute to projects that safeguard our environment, enhancing water quality. This is an exciting opportunity to make a difference in an industry that's evolving rapidly. Recent projects delivered by our water quality team include simulating the whole of the freshwater River Thames to support strategic water resource options, updating catchment models used as the standard for regulatory planning across the England and Wales, developing and implementing a new approach to drainage and wastewater management, and working with regulators and the water industry to improve bathing water quality.

Reasons to use Rodeo

I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?

Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.

Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.

Start with a chat, not a search bar

Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.

P

Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme

PwC·London, UK
£35,000/yr

Why you're a good match

Strong

Your economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.

See breakdown
Save jobNot relevant
View details

It searches the market for you

Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.

Why you're a good match

You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.

See breakdown
Strong

Experience fit

Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.

See breakdown
Strong

Only hits

No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.

You will join a team of 200 water management specialists, supporting our clients in making the right strategic investment decisions for critical infrastructure, in changing futures and climates, in areas as diverse as water resources, natural capital, mature-base solutions, flood management, green infrastructure, energy and transportation. We work for clients across the UK, including central government, regulators, the water industry, NGOs, and local authorities. Beyond the UK, we play an important role in supporting major international development banks and private clients in driving forwards sustainable water management solutions for irrigation, potable water supply and wider infrastructure schemes.

Your role

You will be joining an established and successful team, working with our water quality Technical Authority leading the coordination and delivery of water quality investigations. You will work effectively as part of a team and with other professionals (environmental scientists, engineers, planners) throughout AtkinsRéalis to provide a consistent and integrated service to our clients.

  • You will work closely with our clients to develop trusted relationships, supporting them in a confident, professional manner.
  • You will champion high standards of performance, influence project development and deliver sustainable outcomes.
  • You will undertake your own work to an excellent standard, and review the work of others, leading on projects and frameworks as appropriate.
  • You will have an ability to develop innovative industry-leading approaches in new technical areas and in data-poor environments to support clients in decision-making.
  • You will lead on bid preparation and develop new areas of business for the team.

We will support and train you with all of this and make sure that you can undertake Continual Professional Development in accordance with requirements of a professional institute.

About you

  • You will have a degree or higher in an environmental or science subject; you will ideally be chartered.
  • You will have industry-leading experience in water quality modelling, for example in water quality modelling, emerging substances or catchment science.
  • You will have an expert knowledge of environmental water quality regulation; for example, the Water Framework Directive, Bathing Water Directive, Storm Overflow Assessment Framework (SOAF) and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations (UWWTR).
  • You will be highly self-motivated, possessing strong enthusiasm, commitment to delivering sustainable outcomes and focussed on delivering technical excellence.
  • You will be someone able to inspire others in a team. A skilled collaborative worker, you will have great interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate effectively with different teams, clients, and stakeholders. You will be well-organised, able to plan ahead and deal with multiple projects running in parallel.

Get help with your application

Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.

Get help applying for this job

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security Clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

Worker Type

Employee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.

Trusted by 25,000+ job seekers

“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”

Jessica, London

Get help applying for this job

Skills

Water quality modelling
Catchment science
Environmental chemistry
Hydrology
Water resource planning
Geomorphology
Project management
Stakeholder management
Regulatory compliance
Business development
Technical leadership
Data analysis
Strategic planning
Environmental regulation
Communication skills

Location

Birmingham, England, United Kingdom

Sign up to applySee more jobs like this