Fluvial Geomorphologist / Hydraulic Modeller

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Fluvial Geomorphologist / Hydraulic Modeller

Organisation:

JBA Consulting

Application Deadline:

Sunday, December 6, 2026

Website:

Click to visit website

Location: Skipton

Salary: Competitive, depending on experience
 

Help shape the future of our rivers

Rivers are changing. Climate change, historic modifications, biodiversity decline and increasing pressure on our water environment mean that understanding how rivers respond to flow, sediment transport and restoration interventions has never been more important.

At JBA, we believe healthy rivers are at the heart of resilient landscapes, thriving communities and sustainable infrastructure. We're looking for a Geomorphologist or Hydraulic Modeller to join our growing team and help deliver some of the UK's most exciting river restoration, natural flood management, environmental enhancement and flood risk projects. This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the interface between geomorphology and hydraulic modelling, helping us further develop our capabilities in geomorphological hydraulic modelling and sediment-related assessments.

This is an opportunity to work alongside industry-leading geomorphologists, hydraulic modellers, ecologists and engineers on projects that genuinely improve the water environment. You'll contribute to innovative, process-based solutions that improve river condition, reduce flood risk and deliver environmental and societal benefits.

Whether you're analysing river processes in the field, building and interpreting hydraulic models, assessing sediment dynamics, developing restoration strategies or supporting the design of nature-based solutions, you'll play a key role in helping clients make evidence-based decisions for rivers and catchments.

Projects you'll work on

From catchment-scale studies to detailed modelling and design projects, you'll work on schemes that help rivers function more naturally and deliver multiple benefits.

Recent and upcoming projects include:

• Developing catchment and reach-scale river restoration strategies informed by hydraulic and geomorphological evidence.
• Supporting flood risk management projects through hydraulic modelling, geomorphological assessment and sediment investigations.
• Assessing sediment transport, erosion and deposition processes to better understand river behaviour and inform management decisions.
• Designing floodplain reconnection, wetland creation and nature-based solutions schemes.
• Using hydraulic modelling outputs, GIS, drone imagery, LiDAR and field evidence to understand river and floodplain processes.
• Supporting major water company, Environment Agency and local authority programmes.
• Delivering Water Framework Directive (WFD), environmental enhancement and Watercourse Biodiversity Net Gain assessments.
• Contributing to innovative approaches that integrate hydraulic modelling, sediment dynamics and river restoration design.
• Working within multidisciplinary teams alongside hydrologists, ecologists, environmental scientists and engineers.

The role

As a Geomorphologist or Hydraulic Modeller, you'll play an important role in delivering a broad range of river, flood risk and environmental projects.

Depending on your experience and background, you'll be involved in:

• Hydraulic modelling using industry-standard software such as HEC-RAS, TUFLOW, Flood Modeller or equivalent.
• Assessing and interpreting river processes, sediment movement and channel change.
• Planning and undertaking geomorphological field surveys and fluvial audits.
• Developing conceptual models of river behaviour and sediment dynamics.
• Integrating field observations with hydraulic modelling and GIS analysis.
• Identifying geomorphological and hydraulic risks, constraints and opportunities.
• Producing high-quality technical reports and client-facing deliverables.
• Supporting river restoration, natural flood management and environmental enhancement projects.
• Working closely with geomorphologists, hydraulic modellers, ecologists and engineers to deliver integrated solutions.
• Managing tasks, project budgets and programmes of work.
• Supporting bids, proposals and client relationships.
• Helping develop innovative approaches to geomorphological hydraulic modelling within the team.

About you

We're looking for someone with strong analytical skills, technical curiosity and a genuine interest in rivers and fluvial processes.

You may come from a geomorphology, hydraulic modelling, river restoration, engineering or environmental science background and be excited by the opportunity to work across disciplines.

Essential

• A degree (or higher qualification) in Geography, Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Civil Engineering, Water Engineering or a related discipline.
• Experience in either fluvial geomorphology, hydraulic modelling or both.
• Understanding of river processes and channel adjustment.
• Experience using GIS and analysing spatial datasets.
• Ability to interpret and synthesise multiple sources of evidence, including field data, hydraulic model outputs, aerial imagery and LiDAR datasets.
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to undertake occasional fieldwork across the UK.

Desirable

• Experience with hydraulic modelling software such as TUFLOW, Flood Modeller Pro, HEC-RAS or similar.
• Understanding of sediment transport, sediment dynamics or geomorphological modelling.
• Experience undertaking geomorphological surveys or river restoration projects.
• Knowledge of Water Framework Directive assessments and environmental regulation.
• Experience of river restoration planning, option appraisal or design.
• Project management experience, including budget and programme management.
• Progress towards Chartered status (CGeog, CEnv, CIWEM, ICE or equivalent).

Don't worry if you don't have direct experience of sediment modelling. We're particularly interested in candidates with strong geomorphological or hydraulic modelling foundations and can provide training and support to develop specialist sediment modelling skills.

Why join JBA?

At JBA, you'll be part of one of the UK's leading river restoration, geomorphology and hydraulic modelling teams, working on projects that deliver real environmental outcomes.

You'll benefit from:

• Meaningful work that helps restore rivers and improve environmental resilience.
• Opportunities to develop specialist expertise in geomorphological hydraulic modelling and sediment processes.
• A supportive and collaborative multidisciplinary environment.
• Hybrid and flexible working.
• Structured career development and mentoring.
• Support towards professional chartership.
• A comprehensive benefits package.
• Employee ownership and profit share opportunities.
• A culture that values technical excellence, innovation and continuous learning.

Most importantly, you'll join a team of people who are passionate about rivers and committed to making a positive difference.

Interested?

If you're excited by the prospect of combining hydraulic modelling, geomorphology and environmental problem solving to create better rivers for the future, we'd love to hear from you.

To apply, please visit via the JBA Consulting website (Fluvial Geomorphologist Hydraulic Modeller). If you’d like an informal chat please contact Natasha Todd-Burley (natasha.todd-burley@jbaconsulting.com) and Samuel Watkiss (Samuel.watkiss@jbaconsulting.com).