Senior Consultant, Flood Risk

Joining 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 works in 90 countries, collaborating across more than 50 related technical and advisory disciplines. This enables us to respond to a wide range of water projects and programmes, from the Shanghai drainage masterplan to the expertise and detailed design on Mansfield Sustainable Flood Resilience.

The Opportunity: Our work in major infrastructure development continues to expand, especially 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.

What You Will Do: You will lead complex Flood Risk Assessments (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 technical evidence required for Development Consent Order (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; 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. We provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each member. This includes competitive, fair and equitable pay; a wide range of learning opportunities; and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do. We also provide private medical insurance, life assurance, accident insurance and income protection cover and flexible benefits to help you support your wellbeing and those of your family.

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. We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates and will provide reasonable adjustments when required.