Freshwater environments are under pressure. Rivers, lakes, reservoirs and canals across the UK and Ireland face growing threats from climate change, abstraction, pollution and habitat loss. The aquatic ecologists who understand these systems deeply and can translate that understanding into solutions that genuinely protect and restore them have never been more important.
At Stantec, we are growing our Freshwater Aquatic Ecology Team and are looking to connect with talented aquatic ecologists at all grades, from Consultant through to Senior Principal. Whether you are looking to deepen your technical expertise, take on more complex projects or help shape the future direction of a growing team, we would love to hear from you.
About The Role
You will work on nationally significant and technically challenging projects across the water, energy, infrastructure and development sectors, collaborating with a supportive, multidisciplinary team that values knowledge sharing and professional development alongside technical excellence.
Your project portfolio will span strategic water resource and drought resilience schemes, nationally significant infrastructure projects, river restoration and nature recovery initiatives, fisheries and fish passage assessments, Water Framework Directive assessments, freshwater ecological monitoring programmes, hydropower and renewable energy developments, and ecological and environmental impact assessments. No two projects are the same, and the team genuinely values that variety.
You will also have the opportunity to collaborate with specialists across ecology, hydrology, hydrogeology, geomorphology, hydraulic modelling, environmental planning and engineering, contributing freshwater aquatic ecology expertise to integrated solutions for complex environmental challenges.
As the team continues to grow, there are real opportunities to influence technical capability, mentoring, service development and project delivery across the UK and Ireland. We are committed to creating an environment where people are supported to grow, develop technical specialisms and pursue their own professional interests whilst contributing to the success of the wider team.
We are actively interested in hearing from candidates across the UK and Ireland and recognise that great talent can come from anywhere.
Your Impact
The work you contribute to here will directly shape how freshwater environments are understood, protected, enhanced and restored across some of the UK's most significant projects. Your ecological assessments, monitoring programmes and regulatory inputs will help clients deliver sustainable development while leaving rivers, lakes and freshwater habitats in a genuinely better condition.
At more senior grades, your influence will extend to the team itself, through the colleagues you mentor, the technical standards you help set and the client relationships you build and sustain over the long term.
About You
You hold a degree in Aquatic Ecology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Fisheries Science, or a related discipline, and you are a member of a relevant professional body, such as CIEEM, IFM, or CIWEM. Chartered status is desirable for more senior roles, or a clear commitment to working towards it.
Your experience spans freshwater ecological surveys and assessments, knowledge of relevant environmental legislation and planning policy, and strong written and verbal communication skills. Your technical background may include fish, macrophyte, macroinvertebrate or diatom surveys; fish passage and barrier assessments; aquatic habitat surveys including RHS, RCA and MoRPh; hydroecology and environmental flows; river restoration and nature-based solutions; EcIA and EIA; HRA; or WFD assessment and compliance.
For Principal and Senior Principal grades, we would also welcome experience in technical leadership and mentoring; survey and monitoring programme design and management; project and budget management; business development; technical review and quality assurance; and the development of team capability and services.
We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in macrophyte survey, assessment, and reporting, including WFD methodologies and LEAFPACS interpretation, or aquatic ecological data analysis using R. Neither is essential for all roles, and we welcome expressions of interest from candidates with strengths across the wider discipline. If your experience does not tick every box, we still want to hear from you. We hire people, not checklists.
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 in 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 professional subscriptions. A professional progression plan, supporting you to become chartered.
- We are better together: A supportive and collaborative team environment and Early Careers peer group, and a 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.
#UKWater #LI-MH1