Senior Flood Risk Consultant

Ridge and Partners LLP; West of England; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Ridge and Partners LLP in Bristol is seeking an experienced Principal / Senior Flood Risk Consultant to lead flood risk assessments and drainage strategies across residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects.

The role requires a strong technical background in hydrology, hydraulic modelling and SuDS, with responsibilities spanning project leadership, modelling, stakeholder engagement, and business development.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering, Hydrology or related discipline.
• Experience in flood risk consultancy and environmental engineering.
• Strong background in hydrology, modelling and drainage design.

Responsibilities

• Lead flood risk assessments and drainage strategies from inception to completion.
• Perform 1D/2D hydrological/hydraulic modelling using Flood Modeller, TUFLOW, InfoWorks.
• Design SuDS and assess schemes to meet local planning policies.
• Engage clients and authorities to secure approvals and manage stakeholders.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to bids and proposals.

Skills

Hydrology

Hydraulic modelling

FRA

GIS

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering or related field

Tools

Flood Modeller

TUFLOW

InfoWorks

QGIS

Job description

We have an opportunity for an experienced Principal / Senior Flood Risk Consultant to join our team in Bristol. In this role, you will lead flood risk assessments, support with hydraulic modelling, surface water management designs, and drainage strategies for a diverse portfolio of residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects.

If you have a strong technical background in hydrology, hydraulic modelling, and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), we would love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Leadership: Manage and deliver flood risk assessments (FRAs), environmental statements, and drainage strategies from inception to completion.
• Hydrological & Hydraulic Modeling: Undertake 1D and 2D river, catchment, and surface water modeling using industry-standard software (e.g., Flood Modeller, TUFLOW, InfoWorks).
• SuDS Input: Design and evaluate Sustainable Drainage Systems and Flood Management Schemes in compliance with local planning policies and national regulations.
• Client & Stakeholder Engagement: Liaise with clients, local authorities, the Environment Agency, and planning consultants to negotiate and secure approvals.
• Mentorship: Provide technical guidance and support to junior engineers and consultants within the team.
• Business Development: Assist in preparing technical bids, fee proposals, and tender responses for prospective projects.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Hydrology, Environmental Science, Geography, or a related discipline.
• Experience: Minimum of 5-8 years of professional experience in flood risk consultancy or a related environmental engineering field.
• Software Proficiency: Strong proficiency in hydraulic modeling software (TUFLOW, Flood Modeller) and GIS packages (QGIS).
• Regulatory Knowledge: Sound understanding of local planning policies, flood risk regulations, and drainage design standards.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with proven experience in technical report writing and stakeholder management.
• Professional Membership: Working toward or holding Chartered status (e.g., CWEM, CEng, CIWEM).