Principal Flood Risk and Drainage Consultant

Tetra Tech, Inc.; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consultancy firm is seeking a Senior Flood Risk Consultant in the UK to manage flood risk assessment projects and interface with clients. The ideal candidate has over 5 years of experience in flood risk consultancy, capable of utilizing software for hydrological analysis and producing detailed reports. Responsibilities include assessing flood risks, writing assessments, and managing client relations. Join a collaborative team committed to delivering innovative solutions in flood risk management.

Benefits

Flexible working models

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years relevant experience as a flood risk consultant.
• Ability to assess and review surface water drainage strategies and calculations.
• Experience in hydrology studies and hydrological estimation software.

Responsibilities

• Assessing all sources of flood risk for Flood Risk Assessments.
• Interpret flood data from authorities and modelling studies.
• Writing detailed technical reports for various stakeholders.
• Managing projects, resources, and client communications.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Analytical skills

Project management

Team collaboration

Hydrological analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field

Master's degree (desirable)

Tools

WINFAP software

ReFH2 software

QGIS

ArcGIS

Job description

Are you looking for your next career step? Do you want the opportunity to work on a broad range of flood risk management projects, utilising your technical skills and experience to help support our clients with the development of their projects? This role will provide you with this opportunity whilst working within a market‑leading team. We are home to one of the most successful groups of consultants in the fields of renewables, industry, offshore, coasts, rivers, ports and other inland developments. Our group within the wider company is around 200 people strong and growing and is based in 10 offices in the UK (Brighton, Leeds, Newcastle, Peterborough, London, Edinburgh, Exeter, Manchester, Birmingham & Liverpool). We work closely with other groups in the UK, such as Maritime, Mobility & Infrastructure and Industry & Buildings, as well as our overseas teams, to deliver collaborative multi‑disciplinary projects for our clients. You will share our passion for Enhancing Society Together by collaborating with our clients to achieve their outcomes whilst also maximising the opportunities for sustainable solutions.

The Role: We require a dedicated Senior Flood Risk Consultant to join our team, for the delivery of projects for various public and private clients such as the Environment Agency, Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs), Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs), infrastructure developers and renewable energy companies. As a key member of our Flood Risk and Hydraulic Modelling team you will have the opportunity to work on a range of projects including both urban and rural flood risk, nature‑based solutions, hydrology and hydro‑geomorphology. Our team encompasses a range of different skill sets all designed to help clients understand, assess, mitigate, and manage flood risk and at strategic and specific levels. On a day‑to‑day basis our team are involved in writing Flood Risk Assessments, Flood Warning and Emergency Planning, Surface Water Drainage Design and Strategies as well as many wider flood risk management projects. Current projects include preparing Flood Risk Assessments to support planning applications for residential, industrial, and commercial developers, developing surface water drainage design for Local Authority review. We specialise in providing flood risk support to the development of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) for Development Consent Order (DCO) applications including renewables, water infrastructure and flood modelling studies.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Assessment of Flood Risk to support the development of Flood Risk Assessments and Surface Water Drainage Strategies:
  • Assessing all sources of flood risk;
  • Interpret flood data from the Environment Agency, SEPA and Natural Resources Wales and from hydraulic modelling studies;
  • Develop Flood Risk Assessment reports for a range of sizes and complexities of developments independently, including larger NSIP developments which are undertaken within the DCO / EIA process;
  • Knowledge of relevant policy in England, Wales, and Scotland, including National Planning Policy Framework and supporting Planning Practice Guidance, TAN15 and Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4);
  • Communication and liaison with other disciplines across the business for example, civil engineers, geomorphologists, and ecologists;
  • Communication and liaison with clients, external stakeholders including the Environment Agency, LLFAs and IDBs.
• Hydrological Analysis: Supporting the Senior Hydrologist by utilising WINFAP and ReFH2 software to undertake catchment analysis and estimate hydrological inflows.
• Technical Reporting: Writing clearly and concisely, summarising technical concepts for a wide range of audiences such as the Planning Inspectorate, Environment Agency, LLFAs, Clients and the Public.
• Commercial/Project Management: Involved in winning work, preparing project proposals, managing resources, subcontractors, contracts and invoicing. Act as a project lead (including understanding contract and cost implications to successfully deliver the project).
• Quality Assurance: Knowledge and experience in contributing to and maintaining high quality deliverables as well as application of best practice within the team and identifying innovative approaches.
• Collaboration: We require a strong team player who values independent thinking and is capable of communicating effectively with other consultants and disciplines to deliver comprehensive and sustainable design solutions.
• Client Relations: Build and maintain relationships with clients, ensuring effective communication and liaison with Project Manager, Project Director and the Principal Modeller(s).
• Mentoring: Provide support to graduate and junior staff leading by example to ensure quality and innovation in approach.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an appropriate analytical subject (e.g. Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Water Resources, Geography).
• Minimum of 5 years relevant experience as a flood risk consultant.
• Ability to assess and review surface water drainage strategies and calculations.
• Experience in hydrology studies and the use of hydrological estimation software (e.g. WINFAP).
• Excellent communication, analytical and report writing skills.
• Ability to manage commercial aspects of projects.
• Carrying out technical reviews.
• Awareness of hydrology & hydraulic modelling approaches and relevance to flood risk assessment.
• Able to plan your own time, be organised and meet deadlines.
• Independent thinker able to work competently within a team.
• Flexibility to work concurrently across different projects, activities and locations.
• Experience with the planning process, especially DCO applications / EIA, and dealing with Private Developers.

Desirable

• Master's degree in appropriate subject.
• Chartered, or working towards, chartership with CIWEM, ICE or other similar relevant body / institution (or progressing structured training scheme in relevant discipline).
• GIS experience in QGIS and / or ArcGIS.

What we offer you

Ambitious. Exciting. Lively. Collaborative. Dynamic. That's how our colleagues describe our company. Want to contribute to Enhancing Society with your expertise? Be part of an open network where you're connected with the brightest and smartest people and technologies? Join us! You can look forward to growing your career in a dynamic workplace with development opportunities and support on your career path. We have flexible working models to ensure a balance of family and working life, including part time options.