Managing Consultant Hydrologist (Mid-Senior Level)

ERM; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental consultancy in Edinburgh is seeking a Managing Consultant, EIA Hydrologist to lead flood risk assessments and drainage design. This role involves managing projects while ensuring compliance with UK regulations and liaising with regulators. Candidates should have a degree in Hydrology or a related discipline, experience in delivering flood risk assessments, and strong stakeholder engagement skills. The position offers opportunities for mentoring junior staff and developing technical expertise in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in Hydrology or related discipline; Chartered or working toward chartership preferred.
• Proven experience delivering FRAs and drainage strategies for UK projects.
• Strong knowledge of UK planning policy, NPPF, and local authority requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver Flood Risk Assessments for major infrastructure and development projects.
• Develop outline drainage strategies and designs, including sustainable drainage systems.
• Provide technical input to EIAs and planning submissions.

Skills

Hydrology

Flood Risk Assessments

Stakeholder engagement

Report writing

Education

Degree in Hydrology or related discipline

Tools

Hydraulic modelling tools (e.g., Flood Modeller)

GIS platforms (ArcGIS, QGIS)

Data analysis tools (Excel, Python/R)

Job description

Role Overview

As a Managing Consultant, EIA Hydrologist / EIA Flood Risk & Drainage Specialist, you will lead technical delivery for flood risk assessments and outline drainage design within Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and planning applications. This role combines advanced technical expertise with project management responsibilities and client engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver Flood Risk Assessments (FRA) for major infrastructure and development projects, ensuring compliance with UK planning policy and regulatory requirements
• Develop outline drainage strategies and designs, including sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and preliminary hydraulic calculations
• Provide technical input to EIAs and planning submissions, integrating flood risk and drainage considerations
• Manage data collection, hydrological modelling, and interpretation of flood mapping and climate change allowances
• Liaise with regulators (Environment Agency, Lead Local Flood Authorities) and clients to secure approvals
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to technical quality assurance.

Skills & Experience

• Degree in Hydrology, or related discipline; Chartered or working toward chartership preferred
• Proven experience delivering FRAs and drainage strategies for UK projects
• Strong knowledge of UK planning policy, NPPF, and local authority requirements
• Familiarity with SuDS principles and outline drainage design for renewables and infrastructure
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and report writing skills
• Experience technically reviewing others work
• Experience writing FRA proposals

Tools & Software

• Hydraulic and hydrological modelling tools (e.g., FEH, Flood Modeller, HEC‑RAS, InfoWorks ICM)
• GIS platforms (ArcGIS, QGIS) for spatial analysis
• Data analysis tools (Excel, Python/R for environmental datasets)
• Collaboration tools (MS Office Suite, SharePoint)

ERM is committed to where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive, it’s an essential part of what makes ERM a great place to build a career and helps us create better solutions for our clients.

We welcome talent from all backgrounds and provide equal opportunities for every candidate. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or need accommodations during the selection process, we’re here to support you. Our commitment doesn’t stop at hiring. Once you join us, we’ll ensure you have the tools, support, and adjustments needed to succeed and feel a true sense of belonging. Learn more about our Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (DIB) efforts by visiting our website or exploring our .