Flood Risk Consultant

Waterman Group; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Waterman Infrastructure & Environment Ltd is seeking a Flood Risk Consultant to join our Flood Risk & Drainage team in a flexible UK office location with hybrid working. The role involves delivering flood risk, drainage and water environment projects across sectors including residential, commercial and infrastructure.

You will contribute to technical delivery, client service, project management and business development while progressing towards chartership.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline; environmental science, hydrology, water management, geography also acceptable.
• Experience with flood risk, drainage design or hydrology preferred.
• Competence in technical report writing and communication.

Responsibilities

• Prepare Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs) in support of planning applications and development projects.
• Produce Outline and Detailed Drainage Strategies.
• Undertake flood risk analysis using national, regional and local datasets.
• Undertake hydraulic modelling and hydrological assessments where appropriate.
• Support the development of SuDS strategies and designs.
• Prepare technical reports and supporting documentation to a high professional standard.
• Progress towards chartership and professional development.

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering

Job description

Flexible UK Office Location (Hybrid Working Available)

Waterman Infrastructure & Environment Ltd is seeking a motivated and technically capable Flood Risk Consultant to join our growing Flood Risk & Drainage team.

The successful candidate will support the delivery of flood risk, drainage and water environment projects across a wide range of sectors including residential, commercial, mixed-use, regeneration, infrastructure, energy and public sector development.

This role provides an excellent opportunity to develop technical expertise across flood risk, drainage design, hydraulic modelling and wider water environment disciplines whilst working within a multidisciplinary consultancy environment. The role will involve supporting projects through all stages of delivery from site appraisal and planning through to detailed design and project implementation.

The successful candidate will contribute to technical delivery, client service, project management, work winning and innovation activities whilst progressing towards professional chartership and future leadership responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Delivery

• Prepare Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs) in support of planning applications and development projects.
• Produce Outline and Detailed Drainage Strategies.
• Undertake flood risk analysis using national, regional and local datasets.
• Complete greenfield runoff assessments and surface water management calculations.
• Support the preparation of Sequential Tests and Exception Tests.
• Undertake hydraulic modelling, hydrological assessment and associated technical analysis where appropriate.
• Assist with the preparation of:
• Strategic Flood Risk Assessments (SFRAs);
• Water Framework Directive (WFD) Assessments;
• Environmental Permit Applications;
• Flood Risk Activity Permit Applications;
• Flood Investigations and Flood Risk Management Studies.
• Use GIS software and digital mapping tools to assess flood risk constraints and opportunities.
• Support the development of Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) strategies and designs.
• Prepare technical reports, drawings and supporting documentation to a high professional standard.
• Develop knowledge of planning policy, flood risk legislation, environmental permitting and drainage standards.

Technical Excellence

• Continuously develop and broaden technical capability through project experience, training and professional development.
• Demonstrate a proactive approach to learning and developing expertise in flood risk, drainage, hydrology and water environment disciplines.
• Develop an understanding of Waterman's wider multidisciplinary service offering and how flood risk and drainage services integrate with other disciplines.
• Progress towards professional chartership through a recognised institution.
• Contribute technical ideas and best practice initiatives that improve project delivery and service quality.

Project Delivery

• Deliver assigned workstreams and technical tasks to agreed programme, budget and quality requirements.
• Manage individual workload effectively across multiple projects.
• Support Project Managers and Project Directors with project delivery.
• Coordinate with colleagues across multidisciplinary teams.
• Ensure technical outputs are accurate, robust and suitable for issue.
• Where appropriate, take ownership of smaller projects or workstreams under supervision.

Compliance and Quality Assurance

• Comply with Waterman management systems, technical procedures and quality standards.
• Maintain awareness of relevant legislation, standards and best practice guidance.
• Support quality assurance reviews and technical checking processes.Identify potential project risks and raise issues appropriately.
• Understand the commercial objectives of projects and workstreams.
• Support fee proposal preparation and project budgeting activities.
• Assist Project Managers in identifying and managing project risks and opportunities.
• Be aware of scope management and alert project managers to potential scope creep issues.

Client and Stakeholder Engagement

• Liaise with clients, local authorities, Lead Local Flood Authorities, Environment Agency officers and other stakeholders.
• Attend project meetings and contribute technical input.
• Build positive working relationships with clients and project teams.
• Develop an understanding of client needs and project objectives.

Business Development and Work Winning

• Support preparation of fee proposals, tender submissions and capability statements.
• Contribute to business development activities where appropriate.
• Develop professional networks both internally and externally.
• Identify opportunities for repeat business and follow-on commissions and communicate these to senior project team members.
• Contribute ideas that improve project efficiency, technical delivery and service quality.
• Support research and development initiatives where appropriate.
• Promote innovation and continuous improvement within project teams.

Collaboration and People Development

• Work closely with multidisciplinary project teams.
• Share knowledge and support less experienced colleagues where appropriate.
• Contribute positively to team culture and collaboration.
• Support graduate and apprentice development through informal mentoring and knowledge sharing.
• Actively participate in professional development and training activities.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering, Geography, Environmental Science, Hydrology, Water Management or a related discipline.

Experience

• Experience preparing Flood Risk Assessments and Drainage Strategies.
• Understanding of the planning and development process in England and/or Wales.
• Experience working within a consultancy, local authority or related engineering environment.
• Experience supporting multidisciplinary project delivery.
• Competent technical report writing and communication skills.

Technical Knowledge

Knowledge of:

• National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF);
• Flood Risk and Coastal Change Planning Practice Guidance;
• Flood and Water Management Act 2010;
• Land Drainage Act 1991;
• SuDS principles and best practice;
• CIRIA SuDS Manual;
• Environment Agency and LLFA requirements.

Software and Technical Competencies

Experience Using

• GIS software;
• TUFLOW;
• Hydraulic modelling techniques;
• Hydrological assessment methodologies;
• Strategic Flood Risk Assessments (SFRA);
• Flood Risk Activity Permits (FRAPs).

Appreciation, Knowledge and Awareness of

• InfoDrainage;
• MicroDrainage;
• InfoWorks ICM;
• Water Framework Directive Assessments.

Professional Development

Waterman actively supports professional development and progression towards chartership through organisations including:

• CIWEM;
• ICE;
• Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv).

About us

At Waterman we are committed to our people, our communities, and the planet. We are transforming our business and offering our most exciting opportunities yet so now is the time to join us.

We are a Disability Confident organisation, committed to an active Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy starting with our recruitment and selection process.

Life Here

'All the hard work you put in will result in something that will remain long after you are gone. Its like a stamp you have left on the world.'

Bodunde Balogun - Apprentice, Infrastructure and Environment

'I have felt so welcome during my time here and even in such a short time have learnt a great deal!'