Senior Consultant, Flood Risk

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach have set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world. Our water team work in 90 countries, collaborating across over 50 related technical and advisory disciplines. This is how we’re able to respond to such a wide range of water projects and programmes, from the Shanghai drainage masterplan to the expertise and detailed design on Mansfield Sustainable Flood Resilience.

We use consultancy, engineering and research to bring the most insightful approaches to water projects wherever they are in the world. Arup helps the world manage its water, from the supply of clean drinking water to understanding flood risks, from drainage to sanitation. Across the UK, our multi-disciplinary water professionals support clients on projects ranging from national policy development, adaptive pathways strategies, strategic water resource and wastewater planning, and investment plans and strategic business cases.

Watch this short clip to discover how Arup are shaping a better world and how you could be a part of it!   

The Opportunity

Our work supporting major infrastructure development continues to grow, particularly across the UK’s expanding portfolio of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). As the demand for robust, defensible flood risk assessment and strategic water-related advisory support increases, we are seeking a Flood Risk Specialist to take a senior technical role within our dynamic water and environmental assessment teams.

In this position, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the flood risk evidence base that underpins Development Consent Order (DCO) applications for large, complex and nationally important schemes. You will lead the development of Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs), provide expert input to Environmental Statements and related documentation, support examination phases, and engage directly with regulators and stakeholders to influence DCO decision making. This role is ideal for an experienced flood risk specialist who brings deep technical insight, confidence in regulator engagement, and professional credibility in flood risk policy, environmental assessment, and DCO requirements. You will join a collaborative community of experts where your technical leadership will help guide some of the UK’s most high-profile infrastructure proposals.

What You Will Do

You will be responsible for leading complex FRAs in accordance with NPPF, Planning Practice Guidance and NSIP-specific assessment expectations. This includes interpreting hydrological and hydraulic modelling outputs, identifying credible maximum events, evaluating flood risk to receptors and infrastructure, and ensuring assessments support robust sequential testing, safe operation over design life, SuDS proposals, residual risk management and flood infrastructure safeguarding. Your work will ensure FRAs fully meet the technical and evidential standards required for DCO submissions.

Acting as the senior flood risk lead within multi-disciplinary DCO project teams, you will coordinate hydrology, hydraulics, drainage, climate change adaptations and construction-phase flood risk considerations. You will shape flood-related inputs to Environmental Statements, PEIRs, statutory consultation documents, and associated technical reports, ensuring outputs are integrated, defensible and aligned with project strategy.

You will lead technical discussions with the Environment Agency, Lead Local Flood Authorities, Natural Resources Wales, Internal Drainage Boards and planning authorities. You will support the preparation of examination evidence, including responses to written representations, hearings, and DCO examinations. Your expertise will help build regulator confidence and support project progression through each DCO stage.

You will provide senior review of FRAs, hydraulic modelling outputs, drainage assessments and flood mitigation strategies, ensuring all deliverables meet statutory requirements and project expectations. You will also contribute to internal assurance processes where flood-related outputs link to ISO standards and internal quality frameworks.

You will support research, innovation and internal guidance development on topics such as flood hazard mapping, climate resilience and advanced assessment methodologies. You will also mentor junior colleagues and support capability building in multi-disciplinary flood risk work, helping develop the next generation of Arup flood specialists.

Is This Role Right for You?

We are looking for someone with:

- Extensive experience preparing FRAs for major infrastructure, ideally including NSIPs.

- Strong understanding of the DCO process, environmental assessment requirements and statutory consultation mechanisms.

- Technical expertise across modelling interpretation, hazard mapping, receptor vulnerability and FRA evidence development.

- Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with confidence in regulator engagement and advantage given to those with examination-phase experience.

- A degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, Geography or similar, with chartered (or near-chartered) status through ICE, CIWEM or equivalent encouraged.

Desirable experience includes:

- Flood-related inputs to EIAs for major schemes.

- Understanding of NSIP interactions with flood defence assets and datasets such as AIMS.

- Experience preparing Scoping Reports, PEIR chapters and ES chapters for DCO applications.

- Knowledge of construction-phase flood risk and Flood Warning & Evacuation Plans.

Not ready to apply yet? Please contact Ali.Wallace@arup.com with any questions.

What we offer you
At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all our members can belong, grow and thrive through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do. We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts. 

We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Different people, shared values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact Ali.wallace@arup.com to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.

Our Application Process

To understand what to expect next, please visit  https://www.arup.com/careers/arup-careers-uk-application-process

All applications will be considered, and we will make every effort to respond within 72 hours of receipt. Please note that response times may be subject to delays during the festive period.

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