Flood Risk and Surface Water EIA (Associate/Associate Director)

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Cheltenham is looking for an Associate or Associate Director Flood Risk and Water EIA consultant. This role involves project delivery, team leadership, and managing high-profile infrastructure projects. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in Water EIA and Flood Risk, excellent communication skills, and a relevant degree. The successful individual will play a key role in growing the technical capability and fostering innovation within the team. Competitive benefits and professional development opportunities available.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing Water EIA and Flood Risk deliverables.
• Demonstrable experience leading technical inputs for successful project delivery.
• Track record of delivering complex infrastructure projects.
• Excellent knowledge of the regulatory context for planning and EIA in the UK.
• Experience managing team members focused on professional development.
• Practical project management experience with challenging projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead project delivery and manage client relationships.
• Coordinate inputs from team members for high-quality outputs.
• Direct projects ensuring programme, budget, and quality are balanced.
• Provide leadership and support to team growth and development.
• Grow technical knowledge and innovation base in water management.

Skills

Water EIA management

Flood Risk assessment

Project management

Team leadership

Client relationship management

Excellent communication skills

Education

Degree in environmental, geographical, science or engineering discipline

Chartered status with C.WEM, CEnv, CSci or CEng

Job description

A Little More About Your Role…

We are looking for an Associate or Associate Director Flood Risk and Water EIA consultant who can take a leadership role in our Bristol office and work collaboratively on technically complex projects for a range of clients.

Our Bristol office provides a hub for 18 water environment professionals across water quality, water resources, geomorphology, water EIA and flood risk disciplines. In particular, we are seeking a senior professional who can provide leadership to 3 team members who focus specifically on water EIA and flood risk.

Project delivery and technical expertise is also a key part of the role. The successful candidate will lead the delivery of water EIA and flood risk studies to support our strong portfolio of major infrastructure projects such as renewable energy schemes in Wales, major highway schemes in the South West and Heathrow’s expansion in London. Working as part of our national team, the successful candidate will also be able to work seamlessly across other technical areas within the Sustainable Water Management team. This includes but is not limited to LLFA technical services, permitting applications, drainage design and WFD.

Responsibilities

• Playing a leading role in project delivery, including managing the interface with clients and internal stakeholders, supervising, coordinating and reviewing the inputs of others within the business to deliver high‑quality technical outputs that meet client requirements.
• Working with senior colleagues across WSP’s Sustainable Water Management and Earth and Environment teams to develop business opportunities and prepare successful proposals.
• Managing or directing projects effectively, balancing programme, budget and quality requirements, and ensuring that the highest health and safety standards are adhered to.
• Adopting the role of the Bristol Team Lead to provide people management to 3 existing members of the team and supporting the recruitment and growth of the Bristol office.
• Providing technical guidance, training and support to junior colleagues.
• Playing a key role in growing WSP’s technical capability, knowledge and innovation base to develop new services for our clients.

Your Team

The Sustainable Water Management business comprises over 350 staff across water consultancy and engineering. Due to strong and sustained growth we are seeking new colleagues who have experience in Water EIA and Flood Risk Assessments to further strengthen our technical capability and lead the delivery of a range of project work, including planning and DCO applications for major infrastructure development. The Sustainable Water Management business operates as a national team: work, training and technical expertise are shared around the local teams ensuring project allocation considers personal interests and personal development aspirations and much as practicable. As a senior member of the team you would be actively involved in the continued growth, development and resourcing of the team.

What We Will Be Looking For You To Demonstrate…

• Experience in managing Water EIA and Flood Risk deliverables, with strong technical capability in either Water EIA or Flood Risk (noting that expertise in both is not a requirement).
• Demonstrable experience of leading or major contributor to technical inputs and teams for successful project delivery for planning and permitting for major infrastructure projects. This could include preparation of water EIA, FRA and WFD inputs to planning applications, participation in DCO examinations or planning inquiries, and developing applications for environmental permits.
• Track record in effective delivery of complex, high profile projects for the water environment; in particular, experience of the Development Consent Order planning regime for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects in the UK.
• Excellent knowledge of the regulatory context for planning and EIA in the UK.
• Experience of managing team members with a focus on professional and technical development.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Successful track record in managing client and stakeholder relationships.
• You should have practical project management experience, including management of project teams, and be comfortable managing challenging projects.

Qualifications

• A degree in a relevant environmental, geographical, science or engineering discipline is essential.
• Chartered status with C.WEM, CEnv, CSci or CEng.

About Us

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our 72,800 passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long‑lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 9,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

Equal Opportunity

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.