Associate / Associate Director – Flood Risk and Sustainable Water Management – London, Leeds or Bristol

Overview

In this role you will lead and shape a portfolio of development-led flood risk and sustainable water projects within the UK. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams to integrate flood risk and water management into planning, EIA, and catchment studies, delivering robust, deliverable solutions. You will provide practical, commercially informed advice to navigate policy, regulation, and stakeholders. Your work will combine technical leadership, client engagement, and contribution to bids and business development, with mentoring to develop junior colleagues. This is a opportunity to influence resilient places through expert guidance and cross-team collaboration.

Pay / Benefits

• hybrid working
• UK-wide travel
• opportunity to work across the UK

Responsibilities

• Lead and support development-led projects with a focus on planning applications, Environmental Impact Assessments, and catchment studies
• Provide clear, practical advice on flood risk, drainage and sustainable water management to clients
• Prepare, review and oversee technical reports and supporting documents for planning and environmental submissions
• Apply hydraulic modelling knowledge to inform advice and solution development
• Collaborate with environmental consultants, planners, engineers and PMs to integrate flood risk into project design
• Engage with clients, planning authorities, Environment Agency, Lead Local Flood Authorities, water companies and other stakeholders
• Contribute to project management, fee proposals, bid writing and wider business development
• Mentor, coach and provide technical guidance to junior colleagues

Key requirements

• Extensive experience in flood risk management, drainage or environmental water management consultancy at a senior level
• Strong understanding of UK flood risk policy, planning guidance and regulatory context
• Ability to lead technical conversations, work with multidisciplinary teams and build stakeholder relationships
• Self-management with a focus on quality, collaboration and delivery
• Excellent written and verbal communication; concise reporting and effective presentations
• Experience on major development, regeneration or infrastructure projects; knowledge of DCO, EIA or other statutory processes
• Familiarity with sustainable drainage, nature-based solutions, local authority planning processes and flood risk consultation
• UK project experience and a full UK driving licence; eligibility for SC clearance is advantageous

• confident communicator
• strong report writing and presentation skills
• collaborative and proactive
• flood risk management
• drainage and environmental water management
• hydraulic modelling

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