Senior Modeller
Job Description
About the Trust
We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?
Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.
Join Our Team: Senior Modeller opportunity
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
The Water Management Team at the Canal & River Trust is responsible for understanding, monitoring, and managing water across the canal and river network to keep it safe, sustainable, and resilient. We analyse river flows, rainfall, groundwater and water levels to support flood risk management, drought planning, asset safety (such as embankments, reservoirs and culverts) and inform operational and strategic decisions. Our work helps ensure enough water is available for navigation, protects communities and infrastructure, supports environmental outcomes, and strengthens the Trust’s ability to adapt to climate change.
We are looking for a Senior Modeller to join our team and provide specialist hydrology and hydraulic analysis to support the operation and management of our assets. They will primarily be focussing on our reservoirs, but will also undertake assessment and modelling of a wide range of assets including canals, culverts and embankments.
Find out more about our Water Management team: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/specialist-teams/managing-our-water
Working Hours & Location
This role follows 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern. The vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required. Travel is a component of the role and you will be expected to undertake site visits, survey and field-based work as required across the Trust network. Occasional overnight stays may be required to facilitate site visits across our network.
Our available regional hubs include Leeds, Burnley, Ellesmere Port, Newark, Gloucester, Birmingham, Hatton, Govilon and Little Venice (London). See our network here (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/canals-and-rivers).
Role Overview
As a Senior Modeller you will deliver specialist hydrological support and modelling to internal and external clients. You will apply a wide range of technical expertise, modelling solutions and knowledge to ensure the effective and efficient management of our water resources, whilst ensuring compliance with relevant legal, environmental and operational constraints. You will have the opportunity to ground your hydrology and modelling first-hand through site investigations and surveys along the historic canal network.
Key Responsibilities
- Assess flood risk for critical assets including reservoirs and culverts, using hydrological and hydraulic analysis and modelling, applying the appropriate methods and guidance.
- Deliver high‑quality hydrological analysis, modelling and advice both internally and to external stakeholders, supporting strong working relationships and protecting the Trust’s reputation.
- Provide specialist advice on water resource management and/or flood risk management issues, to operational and central teams, and support colleagues to ensure that water management requirements and concerns are accounted for in any planned engineering works or other projects.
- Provide specialist advice on water management to Waterway teams and central colleagues, helping to ensure water requirements and risks are considered in engineering works and other projects. This includes supporting complex restoration and new canal projects by assessing water supply, demand and flood risk issues.
- Contribute to national policies, procedures and plans through involvement in specific projects, and support the Trust’s responses to consultations from regulators, government and other bodies.
- Interpret legal and regulatory requirements and help adapt working practices to ensure compliance.
About You
You have strong technical experience in hydrology, flood risk and hydraulic modelling, with a proven ability to analyse, apply modelling, and deliver practical solutions. You can communicate complex information clearly, manage your work effectively, and take a positive, problem‑solving approach. You are likely working towards, or have achieved, professional chartership and are keen to keep developing in a unique operational environment.
Skills & Qualifications
Technical Skills
- Proven experience in the development, application and reporting of UK hydrology and hydraulic modelling studies, including use of FEH, ReFH, Flood Modeller 1D/2D and/or InfoWorks ICM methods and software.
- Comprehensive experience in the handling, manipulation and presentation of hydrometric and spatial information, including use of ArcPro and/or QGIS GIS systems.
- Excellent written communication skills and numerical ability, with proven experience of writing and delivery of detailed technical communications and reports.
- A postgraduate qualification (such as an MSc), or equivalent experience in a relevant subject, for example water resources management, hydrology or hydraulic modelling.
- Experience in delivering complex technical studies, including technical leadership and project responsibility.
- Beneficial: Chartered, working at chartered level, or close to making an application for chartered membership of a professional body e.g. CIWEM.
- Beneficial: An understanding of the relevant regulatory and legislative frameworks, including the Reservoirs Act, Water Act and Flood & Water Management Act.
General Skills
- Good understanding of financial, contract and budget management within projects.
- Experience leading or supporting others, including line or functional management where applicable.
- Clear presentation skills, able to explain complex information to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
- Ability to manage time effectively, prioritise work and operate with a high level of independence.
- Awareness of organisational governance, compliance requirements and relevant standards or processes.
- A strong customer‑focused approach, with experience delivering high‑quality service in a comparable organisation.
- A valid driving licence suitable for the role.
Contact & Application
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.
What We Offer
In addition to your annual base salary of £44,750 to £46,750, we offer a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here: EVP - 1.
Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits
#INDHP
Our values
We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.
All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis.
We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.
At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers.
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us