The Opportunity

Urban drainage is at the centre of some of the water sector's most significant environmental and infrastructure challenges. From reducing storm overflow impacts and improving water quality to managing flood risk and building more resilient wastewater networks, water companies are investing heavily in smarter, more sustainable solutions. At Stantec, our Urban Drainage Modelling teams are helping lead this transformation through technical excellence, digital innovation and multidisciplinary collaboration.

We're looking for a Senior Principal Urban Drainage Modeller to join our growing Water team in Leeds or Newcastle. This is a senior leadership opportunity to shape technical direction across major wastewater modelling programmes, influence client relationships and help drive the continued growth of our Urban Drainage Modelling capability across the North.

Working alongside a nationally recognised community of over 175 specialists across the UK and internationally, you'll have the opportunity to:

Provide senior technical leadership across complex urban drainage and wastewater modelling programmes.
Influence innovative solutions for storm overflows, water quality, flood risk and network resilience.
Develop future technical leaders and strengthen capability across our growing modelling teams.
Build trusted client relationships and help shape the future direction of our UDM capability.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Senior Principal Urban Drainage Modeller, you'll provide high-level technical and strategic leadership across a diverse portfolio of wastewater and urban drainage projects. You'll act as a trusted technical advisor to clients and project teams, influencing modelling strategy and ensuring the delivery of innovative, high-quality solutions across the full project lifecycle.

You'll lead and assure complex technical studies covering areas including storm overflows, water quality management, developer assessments, flood investigations and wastewater network performance. Working closely with multidisciplinary teams, you'll help develop new digital tools, modelling approaches and smart applications that improve the solutions we deliver for our clients.

Alongside project leadership, you'll play a significant role in developing people, providing technical direction, mentoring senior colleagues and supporting the growth of our teams in Leeds, Newcastle and across the wider business. You'll also contribute to client engagement, framework delivery, business development and the strategic direction of Stantec's Urban Drainage Modelling capability.

YOUR IMPACT

Your leadership will influence major investment decisions and infrastructure programmes across the UK water sector. Through your technical expertise, you'll help clients develop solutions that improve water quality, reduce pollution, manage flood risk and strengthen the resilience and long-term performance of wastewater networks.

Beyond individual projects, you'll help shape the future of Urban Drainage Modelling at Stantec. By driving technical excellence, championing innovation and developing the next generation of modelling specialists, you'll strengthen our capability and support lasting improvements for clients, communities and the environment. Your influence will help reinforce Stantec's position as a trusted technical partner throughout AMP8 and beyond.

ABOUT YOU

Essential

Degree qualified (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, Environmental Engineering or a related discipline.
Chartered or Incorporated Engineer (CEng/IEng) or actively working towards.
Extensive experience delivering complex urban drainage or wastewater modelling projects.
Advanced technical expertise across a broad range of urban drainage modelling activities.
Strong experience using InfoWorks ICM.
Proven experience providing technical leadership across major projects or programmes.
Experience leading, mentoring and developing modelling and engineering teams.
Excellent client-facing, stakeholder management and communication skills.

Desirable

Membership of a relevant professional institution such as ICE or CIWEM.
Experience across storm overflow, water quality, flood risk and wastewater network modelling.
Experience developing digital tools, smart applications or innovative modelling solutions.
Experience supporting major UK water company frameworks and long-term client relationships.
Experience supporting business development, bids, technical strategy or discipline growth.

WHY JOIN US

We put people first: We're proud of our friendly, inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and driven to succeed.

We are driven to achieve: Named in the top 50 companies to work by Glassdoor 2025. Recognised by Corporate Knights as one of the world's top 10 most sustainable companies 2025. Named ‘Best Place to Work’ and ‘International Consulting Firm of the Year’ at the NCE Awards 2024.

We do what is right: Industry leading training and development as well as paid for professional subscriptions. A professional progression plan, supporting you to become chartered with ICE.

We are better together: A supportive and collaborative team environment and Early Careers peer group and wider ERG network (see more on our ERGs here: Stantec Employee Resource Groups).

Growth: We're on an exciting growth journey across the UK - we want you to be part of it!

Great Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days, private medical insurance, group income protection & life assurance included as standard as well as discounted gym membership and lots more.

Hybrid / Flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with our hybrid approach to flexible working.

If you're ready to take a senior leadership role in shaping the future of Urban Drainage Modelling, we'd love to hear from you. Join Stantec in Leeds or Newcastle and help lead the delivery of innovative solutions that will improve wastewater infrastructure, protect the environment and benefit communities for generations to come.

About Stantec

The Stantec community unites more than 34,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities.

Our teams provide effective and relevant solutions, translating our clients’ vision into valued consents, deliverable plans for projects and programmes, and efficient designs for delivery, based on technical excellence and deep market insights. We deal with today’s challenges, but also keep a fairer, better tomorrow in sight, looking at how we deliver clean growth, support radical changes in our economy and meet the needs of future communities.

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment.

Building an inspired, inclusive work environment that attracts, supports, and develops world-class talent is a crucial key to our success. If you are excited by this role but worry that your experience doesn’t exactly align, we encourage you to apply.

At Stantec we want you to perform your best at every stage of the recruitment process and are committed to ensuring it is accessible to all. If you need any support or require adjustments to be made then please contact [email protected] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

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