Associate​/Associate Director; LLFA & Flood Risk Management

Job Description A little more about your role…

We are looking for Associate or Associate Directors who can take a leadership role in our Glasgow/ Edinburgh/Bristol/Cardiff or Leeds offices with strong experience of working with Local Authorities flood management teams. You must have a competent understanding of key legislation and policies such as the Flood Risk Management Act, National Planning Framework 4, SEPA guidance and local authority policies.

You will contribute to a diverse range of projects but the main focus of your work is likely to be delivering and taking lead roles on flood risk management projects for local authorities which can include a large range of projects including flood investigations, developing flood strategies, helping deliver solutions for flood alleviation, natural flood management, sustainable drainage master‑planning, and supporting the planning process to ensure the most sustainable solutions are achieved for the water environment.

Our various offices offer opportunity to deliver and grow local authority flood management services with existing clients. Focus in these locations will be of key importance to the role although as a national team there will be opportunity and expectation to deliver projects throughout the UK.

Your work will be varied but will include technical, management and commercial responsibilities. Sharing your technical expertise and mentoring others in the team will also be an important part of your role.

• Engaging positively and professionally with clients and developing trusted advisor role as you grow a network of client contacts.
• Leading the delivery of good quality technical deliverables to clients, often as 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 and leading opportunities to secure projects and extensions to existing projects.
• Demonstrating positive H&S behaviours and championing this amongst the wider team.
• Playing a key role in growing WSP’s technical capability, knowledge and innovation base to develop new services for our clients.

• Experience working in flood risk management with local authorities or a combination of public and private sector flood risk management experience.
• Demonstrable experience of understanding budgets and leading delivery of projects or technical outputs related to flood risk management or sustainable drainage.
• Understanding of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, the Land Drainage Act the Planning Practice Guidance:
  Flood Risk and Coastal Change and its application for management of flood risk for Local Authorities in the UK. Desirable wider knowledge of the regulatory context for planning in the UK.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Experience in supporting and/or mentoring more junior colleagues whilst having the ability to successfully liaise with more senior colleagues when needed.
• Knowledge and understanding of surface water drainage modelling and Sustainable Drainage Systems.
• Experience in preparing Local Flood Risk Management Strategies and Strategic Flood Risk Assessments.
• Demonstrable 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 is desired for Principal or evidence of working towards chartership for Senior.

If you don’t meet all that we are looking for please still consider applying. Not everyone will meet all the requirements, but you might have skills we didn’t know we need.

At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community.

Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in…