Senior Consultant, Flood Risk

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach have set us apart for 80 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.

The Opportunity
Our work in major infrastructure development continues to expand, particularly across the UK’s growing portfolio of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). As the need for high‑quality flood risk assessment and strategic water‑related advice increases, we are seeking a Flood Risk Specialist to take a senior technical role within our water and environmental assessment teams.

In this position, you will help shape the flood risk evidence that informs Development Consent Order (DCO) applications for large, complex and nationally important schemes. You will lead the preparation of Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs), contribute to Environmental Statements and related documentation, support examination phases, and work closely with regulators and stakeholders throughout the process. This role is well suited to someone with strong technical expertise, confidence in regulatory engagement and a solid understanding of flood risk policy, environmental assessment and the DCO framework. You will join a collaborative team of specialists where your leadership will contribute directly to some of the UK’s most significant infrastructure proposals.

What You Will Do
You will lead complex FRAs in line with NPPF, Planning Practice Guidance and NSIP‑specific expectations. This includes interpreting hydrological and hydraulic modelling, defining credible flood scenarios, assessing risks to receptors and infrastructure, and ensuring the work supports sequential testing, safe operation throughout design life, SuDS considerations, residual risk management and the safeguarding of flood infrastructure. Your assessments will form part of the robust technical evidence required for DCO submissions.
Acting as the senior flood risk lead on multidisciplinary projects, you will coordinate inputs across hydrology, hydraulics, drainage, climate resilience and construction‑phase considerations. You will shape flood‑related elements of Environmental Statements, PEIRs, consultation materials and supporting technical reports, ensuring these outputs are integrated, rigorous and aligned with project strategy.

A key part of the role involves leading technical discussions with the Environment Agency, Lead Local Flood Authorities, Natural Resources Wales, Internal Drainage Boards and planning authorities. You will support examination stages, including preparation of written representations, input to hearings and responses throughout the DCO process, helping to build regulator confidence and supporting project progression.

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

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.

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 recognizes 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.