Principal Water Environmental Specialist

We are looking to recruit a Principal Water Environment Specialist to undertake and lead a range of technical work taking ownership of project management, delivery and client relationships across UK water environment projects and associated planning and permitting support.

You will lead all aspects of water-related projects, to include hydrological assessments; flood risk assessments and modelling; water and sediment quality, usage and resilience issues; and broader environmental permitting requirements. You will shape sustainable, biodiverse and safe consenting strategies, and provide confident, pragmatic advice to clients, planning authorities and regulators. The role draws directly on our specialist strengths in water, ecology, landscape architecture and environmental risk & permitting.

This role also includes the day-to-day management and growth of our in-house environment team, fully supported by the Managing Directors and the development and expansion of our water environment capabilities.

What you will be doing

As a Chartered Water Environment Specialist (C.WEM, C.Eng or equivalent), you'll lead the delivery of a diverse portfolio of water environment projects across the UK. Combining technical excellence with client leadership and commercial awareness you'll provide pragmatic advice that supports planning, environmental permitting and sustainable design.  Our work directly supports design, construction and operational delivery across key sectors including water utilities, government agencies, sports operators, renewables, defence and charitable organisations, alongside wider development and infrastructure. 

You'll take the lead on a broad range of technical work, including hydrology, flood risk, sustainable drainage (SuDS), water quality, hydromorphology, river and wetland restoration, and water resource resilience. You'll also oversee water monitoring programmes, using field data and digital tools to develop practical, evidence-based solutions for our clients.

As the principal point of contact for your projects, you'll build strong client relationships, lead meetings with clients, regulators and stakeholders, and provide clear advice on environmental risks, consenting strategies and mitigation options.

You'll be responsible for the successful delivery of projects from inception to completion, managing scope, budgets, programmes, resources and technical quality. Working closely with our multidisciplinary teams, you'll coordinate water environment inputs to larger projects and produce or oversee high-quality technical reports, including Flood Risk Assessments, Drainage Strategies, Water Framework Directive Assessments and Environmental Statement chapters.

Alongside project delivery, you'll lead and develop our in-house Water Environment team, mentoring colleagues, supporting their professional development and helping to grow our technical capability. You'll also play an active role in business development by identifying new opportunities, preparing fee proposals, leading bids and developing long-term client relationships.

As part of Johns Associates and the wider Ecology Group, you'll have the opportunity to help shape the future of our Water Environment services, contributing to multidisciplinary projects and supporting the continued growth of our business both nationally and internationally.

Qualification and experience required

• Chartered Status e.g. CWEM or C.Eng
• Post-graduate qualification in a relevant water-related subject
• Minimum of 10+ years relevant and proven experience in the UK water environment
• Experience of leading and growing a team, alongside supporting their on-going professional development.
• Business development and quoting experience
• Project, budget and technical quality management experience

This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys being the person that clients and team members rely on — leading from the front and getting things done. You will be a trusted adviser, valued for sound judgement, clear communication and defensible environmental evidence.

Part of the Ecology Group

Johns Associates became part of the Ecology Group https://www.ecologygroup.com in November 2025. Being part of this wider Group provides additional opportunities for our teams in terms of wider project involvement (including international), working from other offices across the UK, additional resources to draw on during busy periods, and a larger number of specialist colleagues to provide mentoring/ training opportunities across a range of species/ groups and habitats. It also means that we have access to further investment for state-of-the-art kit and systems, as well as the potential to work collaboratively to win larger/ landscape-scale projects and framework contracts.

Benefits

• Competitive salary £44K - £58K (depending on experience).
• Discretionary annual profit-share bonus.
• Employee Health Cashback scheme and Private Health Care.
• 36 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays).
• Up to 5 days external CPD allowance per year, plus internal training/mentoring and work-shadowing opportunities.
• Payment of annual professional membership to CIWEM/ other professional body.
• Facilties at our office includes free parking, use of a members gym plus discounted fitness classes, access to a wild swimming lake and sauna and regular social/networking events.

 

Apply now by sending a covering letter and copy of your CV to hello@johnsassociates.co.uk.