Principal Flood Risk Consultant

Overview

In this senior role you act as a technical lead and project director for flood risk, drainage and water environment commissions across the UK. You will mentor colleagues, manage client relationships and drive delivery of complex studies from feasibility to construction support. The position integrates technical excellence with commercial and people leadership to support Waterman’s growth in flood risk services. You will shape outcomes on nationally significant infrastructure and major developments in a collaborative, cross-disciplinary team. This opportunity offers influence across policy, regulation and project delivery with a clear impact on delivery quality and client value.

Responsibilities

• Act as a technical lead and trusted advisor within Flood Risk & Drainage and Water Environment teams; oversee high‑level technical delivery and QA of complex commissions
• Lead preparation and sign-off of FRAs, Drainage and SuDS Strategies, SFRAs, WCS, FRA Plans, EIA water environment chapters and related regulatory documentation
• Direct and manage hydraulic modelling, hydrological assessments and modelling outputs; ensure outputs inform planning and infrastructure decisions
• Provide GIS analytics, hydraulic modelling and dataset support across projects
• Ensure integration of flood risk, drainage and water environment requirements with civil engineering, planning, environment, and design disciplines
• Promote technical standards, guidance, training and knowledge sharing; monitor emerging legislation and best practice
• Mentor graduate/consultant colleagues and support chartership progression
• Act as Project Manager/Director on flood risk and drainage commissions; manage multiple projects and cross-disciplinary teams
• Oversee project planning, resource management, budgets and schedule adherence; deliver to Waterman procedures
• Develop client relationships and act as trusted advisor; lead meetings with regulators and stakeholders

Key requirements

• Significant experience delivering flood risk, drainage and water environment projects
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex projects
• Experience in technical review and QA of FRA, drainage strategies, WCS, WFD assessments and SFRA
• Experience engaging regulators and stakeholders
• Strong commercial awareness and project financial management
• Experience delivering projects from feasibility through detailed design
• Chartered or near chartership with CIWEM, ICE, CEnv or C.WEM

• stakeholder management
• communication and presentation
• team leadership and mentoring
• Flood Modeller
• TUFLOW
• GIS Software

…