Senior Consultant: Local Government - Flood Risk Management and Sustainable Drainage

Role Overview

Senior Flood Risk and Drainage Consultant who will deliver flood risk assessments, flood management projects and sustainable drainage solutions to Local Authority clients. The role is technical, managerial and commercial, and involves mentoring junior colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Contributing to or leading the delivery of good‑quality technical deliverables to clients, often as a technical reviewer and approver.
• Supporting and mentoring junior colleagues, overseeing small project teams.
• Managing and directing projects effectively, balancing programme, budget and quality requirements.
• Contributing to opportunities to secure projects and extensions to existing projects.
• Being multi‑disciplinary and client‑facing, coordinating project meetings both internally and externally.
• Demonstrating positive H&S behaviours and championing this amongst the wider team.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience delivering local authority flood risk services such as Sustainable Drainage Systems, Flood Risk Management Plans, Strategic Flood Risk Assessments, flood investigations and planning review support.
• Experience delivering Flood Risk Assessments and Drainage Strategies to support planning applications for new development.
• Demonstrable experience of understanding budgets and leading delivery of projects and technical outputs related to flood risk management, flood risk assessment or sustainable drainage.
• Understanding of the Flood Risk Management Act, National Planning Framework 4, SEPA guidance and local authority policies; wider knowledge of the regulatory context for planning in the UK is desirable.
• Experience in supporting and/or mentoring more junior colleagues.
• Experience in technical report writing and checking.
• Confidence in presenting and leading meetings with team members and clients.
• A degree in a relevant environmental, geographical, science or engineering discipline is essential.
• Chartered status with C.WEM, CEnv, CSci or CEng, or evidence of working towards this.

Benefits

Work‑life balance: hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, with opportunities to collaborate in modern offices across the UK.

Health & Wellbeing: access to virtual GP service, reasonable workplace adjustments, Gymflex scheme offering up to 40% off gym memberships, comprehensive menopause support package.

Flexibility: "WSP My Hour" allows one hour each day for personal activities with flexible time; part‑time and flexible working arrangements; option to purchase additional leave; use of bank holiday entitlement.

Development: supportive environment investing in growth through training, mentoring and chartership.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria; please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.