Flood Risk and Surface Water EIA (Principal/Associate)

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP in the UK & Ireland is seeking a Principal or Associate Consultant in Birmingham to lead on Flood Risk Assessments, Drainage Strategies, and Water EIA projects. The successful candidate will manage project teams and liaise with clients while ensuring high-quality technical outputs.

The role requires strong project management skills, technical expertise in water environment projects, and excellent communication skills. Chartered status in a relevant discipline is essential, and experience in high-profile projects will be advantageous.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing Water EIA, Flood Risk, and Sustainable Drainage deliverables.
• Proven track record in managing complex, high-profile projects.
• Excellent knowledge of regulatory context for planning and EIA in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Lead project delivery and manage client and stakeholder relationships.
• Coordinate and review inputs to deliver high-quality technical outputs.
• Support team development and contribute to the growth of technical capabilities.

Skills

Project management

Technical guidance

Client relationship management

Team leadership

Communication skills

Education

Degree in environmental, geographical, science or engineering discipline

Chartered status (C.WEM, CEnv, CSci, CEng)

Job description

Job Description

We are looking for a Principal or Associate consultant who is experienced in the management, coordination and delivery of Flood Risk Assessments, Drainage Strategies and Water EIA projects, capable of directing and leading teams on technically complex projects for a range of clients.

Our Birmingham office operates a hub of 16 water environment professionals across water quality, water resources, geomorphology, water EIA and flood risk disciplines. We seek a senior professional to provide leadership to three team members focused specifically on water EIA and flood risk.

Project delivery and technical expertise are key to the role. The successful candidate will lead the delivery of water EIA and flood risk studies supporting a 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 collaborate seamlessly across other technical areas within the Sustainable Water Management team, including LLFA technical services, permitting applications, drainage design and WFD.

Responsibilities

• Play a leading role in project delivery, including managing the interface with clients and internal stakeholders and supervising, coordinating and reviewing the inputs of others to deliver high‑quality technical outputs.
• Work with senior colleagues across WSP’s Sustainable Water Management and Earth and Environment teams to develop business opportunities and prepare successful proposals.
• Manage or direct projects effectively, balancing programme, budget and quality requirements, while ensuring the highest health and safety standards are adhered to.
• Taken a leadership role for the water EIA and flood risk team and support the growth of the office.
• Provide technical guidance, training and support to junior colleagues.
• Play a key role in growing WSP’s technical capability, knowledge and innovation base to develop new services for our clients.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience in managing Water EIA, Flood Risk and Sustainable Drainage deliverables, with strong technical capability in at least one of these areas (technical expertise in all is not required).
• Demonstrable experience leading or major contributing to technical inputs and teams for successful project delivery for planning and permitting for major infrastructure projects.
• Track record in effective delivery of complex, high‑profile projects for the water environment; experience with the Development Consent Order planning regime for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects in the UK is desirable.
• Excellent knowledge of the regulatory context for planning and EIA in the UK.
• Experience managing team members with a focus on professional and technical development.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a successful track record in managing client and stakeholder relationships.
• Practical project management experience, including management of project teams, and comfort 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.

EEO Statement

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.