A public conservation agency that manages over 70,000 hectares of nature in Flanders needs a junior water engineer with a strong ecohydrology background to support a site-level assessment of habitat hydrology. The role focuses on ecohydrological analysis and data analysis using field sensors, time series and AutoCAD DWG files to assess the effects of planned earthworks at the Haasop site and propose practical adjustments to the inrichtingsplan.
The mission
The project assesses the hydrological consequences of an existing inrichtingsplan for the Haasop area on the left bank of the Scheldt, a reclaimed polder with heterogeneous fill and important habitat patches for species such as green knolorchis and rugstreeppad. The work matters because planned maaiveldverlagingen and new water-control structures could change groundwater and surface-water dynamics that sustain those habitats. You will review existing documentation, access dataloggers and historic archives, and combine field inspections with model runs and maps to quantify current versus planned conditions.
You will work in a small project setting, coordinating with conservation managers and external stakeholders to produce actionable recommendations within a constrained timeframe: the assignment spans 40 days across 4 months and is extendable. Day-to-day work includes AutoCAD DWG review, time-series data analysis, targeted field visits to set up or validate sensors, and regular reporting in feedback meetings so the inrichtingsplan can be adjusted as needed.
Your responsibilities
- Analyse the inrichtingsplan and existing studies to identify hydrological risks and measurable indicators for habitat quality.
- Run ecohydrological assessments and time-series data analysis on datalogger records to compare current and planned conditions.
- Produce technical maps and annotated DWG/AutoCAD deliverables that show expected water-level changes and proposed structural adjustments.
- Formulate clear, evidence-based proposals to improve water control, recharge or drainage measures and prioritise them by feasibility and ecological benefit.
- Present findings and recommendations in stakeholder meetings and produce concise technical reports for project managers.
Your profile
Essential skills
- Practical knowledge of ecohydrology, able to translate hydrological processes into measurable indicators.
- Competence with AutoCAD and DWG files for producing and annotating plan-level maps.
- Solid data analysis capability, including time-series analysis of datalogger data, using tools such as R, Python or equivalent.
- Strong problem analysis skills, able to design an independent small research task and derive policy-relevant conclusions.
- Effective stakeholder communication, able to explain technical findings to conservation managers and local partners.
- Junior level, approximately 0 to 3 years of relevant experience in water resources, environmental engineering or ecohydrology.