Flood Modelling Technical Lead

Overview / Responsibilities:
Due to strong growth in our Water Management business, Wood is seeking an experienced and capable flood modeller to join our 60-strong team of water science professionals. This is a technical leadership role with responsibility for delivery of flood modelling tasks on projects, developing and winning hydrology related business, and developing our flood modelling technical capability.

The appointment would be at Principal Consultant grade and could be based in any of our Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Shrewsbury, London, Reading, Bristol or Glasgow offices. The option of hybrid office-home working is also available.

Wood's Water Management team works across a wide spectrum of services covering water resources and security, hydrology and hydraulics, water quality, hydroecology and hydrogeology. Through our projects we provide high quality technical services and advice to a wide range of high profile customers in the UK and overseas, including government departments and agencies, the water industry, and a wide range of other industrial sectors, including power, transport, nuclear, mining, commercial and oil and gas.

**Key Responsibilities**

You will contribute to a diverse range of floods and water-related projects, with a particular focus on supporting flood risk assessments (FRA) for major infrastructure developments. Recent project examples include the following:

- Development of river models to support flood risk assessment (FRA) and river diversion design around a proposed airport extension
- Pluvial flood model development to support updating of the safety case for an operational nuclear power station
- Coastal inundation and pluvial modelling to support natural capital assessment for British Overseas territories
- River modelling to support river restoration proposals for chalk streams in southern England

Key duties will be to:

- lead the delivery of hydraulic modelling tasks for projects, including development of methodologies, supervision of tasks and review of deliverables
- engage with engineering and environmental colleagues, clients and stakeholders to explain the implications of results from hydraulic modelling modelling
- participate in hydrology and flood risk related business development and proposal preparation
- develop the flood modelling capability within Wood’s UK Water Management team, ensuring we are at the forefront on latest developments in this discipline, and providing training and development support to more junior members of the team

We offer a dynamic, but supportive environment for a motivated and talented individual to fulfil their potential. You would be co-located along with a wide range of other environmental and engineering disciplines in in one of our larger offices.

Fairness, support in development and a safe work environment - these are all of great importance to us. Where people look out for each other, are respected and are recognised. Where people work ethically and safely. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognises the value of a diverse workforce. We truly believe that diversity within our workplace promotes an incredible diversity of ideas. We are happy to consider applicants who are interested in the role on a part-time basis and support flexible working arrangements.

Skills / Qualifications:
**Skills / Experience**
- Relevant professional experience as a flood modeller, some of which should have been in consultancy
- Demonstrable experience of leading technical inputs and teams for successful project delivery for a range of projects, including site-specific and strategic flood risk assessments, flood alleviation schemes and flood risk mapping
- A high level of expertise in the following areas: development of hydrological inputs to flood models (including Flood Estimation Handbook methods); development of pluvial and fluvial models (including use of FloodModellerPro, TUFLOW and Infoworks ICM); commissioning and procurement of surveys to support model development; use of GIS for processing of model inputs and outputs; use of models to support options appraisal and design for flood mitigation measures
- A good understanding of the regulatory and policy context for flood risk assessment for new developments (e.g. NPPF, SPP) and flood and coastal erosion management (FCERM guidance) in the UK is essential
- Experience of cost-benefit analysis for new flood alleviation schemes (Multi-Coloured Manual) is desirable
- Although the focus of this post would be on inland flood modelling (fluvial and pluvial), understand of approaches for coastal flood and erosion modelling is desirable
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a successful track record in managing client and stakeholder relationships
- Proven experience of work winning through development of client relationships and the preparation of successful proposals
- Experience of the development and delivery of technical training and the technical mentoring of ju