The Role

This role will be based in the United Kingdom and applicants must have an automatic right to work within the UK.

We are seeking an experienced hydrogeologist to lead and manage our technical team and project portfolio. Our technical team currently comprises of four staff with a mixture of hydrogeological and WASH experience.

About Groundwater Relief

Groundwater Relief is a registered charity (No. 1167458) that provides hydrogeological technical expertise and services to the humanitarian and development sectors through a core team of staff and a membership of over 550 groundwater specialists.

We engage our expertise with organisations and government authorities whose remit is to provide safe, affordable and sustainable water supplies to vulnerable populations. Over the past 5 years Groundwater Relief (GWR) has doubled the size of its team from 3 to 7 staff and its membership from 300 to over 550 members.

GWR has developed global Framework Agreements with: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Solidarités International (SI), Oxfam and Medair and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). GWR has undertaken over 50 projects in the last five years. Examples of some notable projects are described below:

Bangladesh - In collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Oxfam and Dhaka University, GWR mapped and modelled the aquifers within Teknaf Upazila, Cox’s Bazar and then sited and successfully drilled 2 production boreholes. Each were able to produce over 100m3/h to provide a target 2.7 megalitres of water per day for a Teknaf Municipality water supply project.

South Sudan - Geophysical surveys have been carried out across the country to support water supply projects, working with organisations such as International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), SI, MSF and the IOM. GWR also conducted a disaster risk reduction feasibility assessment on behalf of the IOM’s Enhancing Communities Resilience Project, to support the populations of Fashoda, Pibor, Rubkona, Twic East and Duk Counties. GWR led a consortium of organisations to assess, map and model the impacts of flood and drought, and develop a list of flood and drought investment measures that were then, through a community consultation process, refined and shortlisted.

Yemen - Groundwater resource assessments have been undertaken on the west coast of Yemen with SI and in Marib with the IOM. GWR has also worked with the MoWE, hosting key officials in the UK and supported them with the development of a preliminary 5-year water resource monitoring strategy.

Role Responsibilities

Team Management

Managing, supporting and mentoring GWR’s technical team, junior technical staff, and students, providing them with technical support and/or ensuring they are being supported by appropriate specialists from the GWR membership to ensure high quality outputs and outcomes.

Work directly with GWR members who may be providing both remote and/or field support.

Build and develop technical tools, standard operating procedures and guidance documents to support GWR’s technical team and GWR members with field and desk based activities.

Project Management

Managing and supporting GWR’s technical team, ensuring they are on track with project deliverables and have the resources they require to meet project objectives.

Overseeing the production of high-quality reports and presentation of GWR’s technical work including reviewing final project outputs.

Supporting the presentation of findings clearly to humanitarian and development partners, with recommendations being kept practical and direct.

Supporting the technical team with field work activities when appropriate.

For in-country projects you will provide technical oversight, with responsibilities that may include undertaking water resources assessments, managing drilling programmes, establishing monitoring networks, rehabilitation works, developing operations and maintenance programmes, and building the capacity of partner organisations and/or water authorities.

Providing direct technical and strategic support to International and National Non-Government Organisations (INGOs/NGOs), UN agencies and Government Agencies engaged in water supply.

Cross Functional

Working with the Finance manager to report on any changes to project budgets and timeframes.

Working with the CEO to develop and strengthen GWR’s technical capacity including staff recruitment, staff development and equipment procurement to achieve GWR’s charity objectives.

Working with GWR’s Grant and Fundraising lead and the CEO to develop new project and funding opportunities that are relevant to GWR’s goals and strategy.

General

Support innovation that will help GWR to meet its objectives as a charity.

Promoting GWR’s services within the humanitarian and development sectors, including presenting at conferences, presenting in coordination meetings, to donors and government departments.

Essential Experience

Relevant degree with an MSc or equivalent qualification in hydrogeology or similar.
Experience working in the field of water supply, including water well construction. Having worked on international groundwater projects would be an advantage.
Expertise or a good working knowledge of: water resource management, aquifer development, water chemistry, groundwater monitoring, analytical and numerical modelling.
Experience managing people, projects and budgets whilst delivering effective and timely outputs under pressure.
Demonstrable competency in writing high quality technical reports.
Demonstrable experience delivering complex ideas to non-technical personnel.
Demonstrable ability to engage with a range of different stakeholders, ideally within the humanitarian and development sector, and deliver complex ideas to non-technical personnel.

Your Profile

We are looking for an experienced groundwater professional to fill this position who can provide high quality technical support to the rest of our technical team. Humanitarian experience is not a pre-requisite, although would help, and the Technical Team Lead can be brought up to speed with the sector during their initial months of service.

The person we take on will be an individual with passion and desire to support the marginalised and extreme poor with improved water access and improve the way vulnerable aquifer systems are developed, and managed sustainably to support peace and prosperity.

The individual will be a practical problem solver with a willingness to take on responsibility and make decisions whilst simultaneously engaging experts to advise and direct those decisions. You will understand the importance of contributing to a happy and effective working environment within GWR.

You will be willing and able to travel internationally up to 25% of the year. (It is estimated that during a calendar year you may be travelling for up to 2 to 3 months on assignments that may last between 1 to 8 weeks.) You will be happy to work in demanding environments and in difficult circumstances with basic living conditions. You enjoy meeting and communicating with different types of stakeholders from all walks of life.

You must have fluency in English and be able to work in the UK.

Benefits

Competitive Salary, depending on experience.
Pension scheme (4.5% by employer, and 4% contribution by employee).
25 days Annual Leave per annum, not including bank holidays.
An additional day of annual leave for every 7 days working in-country.
Opt-in Private Health Care insurance.
Opportunities for professional development and learning.

Location and Hours of Work

The normal working location will be in our offices in Totnes, Devon, UK. We also have a flexible working policy, and arrangements can be discussed with the right candidate.
Will consider a full time (37.5 hours a week) or 4 day (30 hour) per week role. Working in-country will require you to work full time.

How to Apply

All applicants must have an automatic right to work within the United Kingdom. We will require evidence of your right to work at the assessment stage.

Please send your application for the role of Technical Team Lead to admin@groundwater-relief.org, by 09:00 (GMT +1) Monday 1st September 2025. BUT please note that applicants are advised to apply as soon as they can as applications will be considered before the closing date for the right candidate.

Your application should consist of a covering letter, which includes a personal statement detailing why you are suitable for this position (no longer than two pages), your CV, and the details of two referees. The referees will only be contacted if you are selected for the position.

It is envisaged that interviews will be held w/c Monday 8th September 2025.

Groundwater Relief has the right to close this vacancy earlier than advertised for the right candidate, so please submit your application as soon as you can. On this basis interviews may be held earlier than September.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact admin@groundwater-relief.org.

Technical Team Lead - Hydrogeologist