Flood Risk & Drainage – Engineer – Birmingham / Reading

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Website Talent Ali

Flood Risk & Drainage Engineer

Employer: PJA

Location: Birmingham or Reading (Hybrid/Flexible)

Employment Type: Full-time

Professional Job Summary

PJA, one of the UK’s leading independent consultancies, is seeking a talented Flood Risk & Drainage Engineer to support the growth of their Water Resources team in either their Birmingham or Reading office. This is a strategic role for an engineer with at least 3 years of UK experience, offering the opportunity to work on high-impact projects ranging from small-scale developments to massive residential initiatives (up to 10,000 units). You will play a key role in developing drainage strategies and Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs) that shape the future of urban and infrastructure development.

Key Responsibilities

  • Strategic Delivery: Prepare and deliver Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs) and conceptual/preliminary drainage strategies for both public and private sector clients.

  • Technical Design: Utilize industry-standard modelling and design software (Causeway Flow, AutoCAD, Civils3D, and GIS) to create detailed surface and foul water drainage solutions.

  • Policy & Compliance: Navigate national planning policies and legislation, including the NPPF & PPG, SuDS Manual, and the Flood and Water Management Act.

  • Stakeholder Liaison: Act as a technical representative in meetings with architects, local authorities, contractors, and other statutory bodies.

  • Problem Solving: Apply a practical, engineering-led approach to complex drainage challenges, ensuring projects are both innovative and compliant.

Required Qualifications & Skills

  • Experience: Minimum 3+ years in the UK drainage and flood risk sector.

  • Academic Background: Degree in Civil Engineering or a related science discipline.

  • Technical Proficiency: Hands-on experience with Causeway Flow, AutoCAD, Civils3D, and GIS.

  • Communication: Exceptional report-writing skills and the ability to articulate complex drainage concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

  • Professional Goals: Ideally, you are already Chartered (ICE/CIWEM) or actively working toward your professional qualification with PJA’s support.

  • Bonus Expertise: Familiarity with Flood Risk Activity Permitting and Land Drainage Consent processes is highly valued.

Rewards & Benefits

PJA emphasizes a commitment to professional growth and work-life balance:

  • Career Development: Fast-track progression opportunities with direct mentorship from senior professionals.

  • Flexible Working: Genuine flexibility regarding working arrangements.

  • Financial Package: Competitive salary, company share ownership scheme, and life assurance.

  • Wellbeing & Lifestyle: Private healthcare, 25 days annual leave (with the option to purchase more), Cycle to Work/Tech schemes, and paid professional subscriptions.

Market & Industry Context

In 2026, the intersection of climate change and housing demand makes the role of a Flood Risk Engineer more critical than ever. Developers are facing stricter planning conditions regarding surface water management and biodiversity net gain. PJA is positioned at the forefront of this, and the successful candidate will gain exposure to complex infrastructure models that are increasingly essential for modern planning approvals.

Interview Preparation Insights

  1. The “SuDS” Specialist: Be ready to discuss the SuDS Manual. How do you balance the requirement for effective drainage with the need for high-quality placemaking and landscape integration?

  2. Technical Mastery: Expect questions regarding your experience with Civils3D and Causeway Flow. Be prepared to talk through a project where your modelling helped solve a specific flood risk issue.

  3. Planning Policy: Demonstrate your familiarity with the NPPF. How do you approach a project where the Local Authority is particularly challenging regarding drainage consent?

  4. Professionalism: PJA values “friendly team members.” Emphasize your ability to work collaboratively—they want someone who can communicate just as effectively with a contractor on-site as they can with a high-profile client in a boardroom.

    Core Summary: Flood Risk & Drainage Engineer

    Category Details
    Role Title Flood Risk & Drainage Engineer
    Employer PJA
    Location Birmingham or Reading (Hybrid)
    Contract Type Full-time
    Experience Required Minimum 3 years in UK drainage and flood risk sector
    Primary Focus Drainage strategies, Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs), and SuDS
    Project Scale Small-scale to large initiatives (150 – 10,000 residential units)

    Key Responsibilities

    • Technical Strategy: Preparing FRAs, SuDS, and conceptual drainage strategies to support planning applications and Local Plan representations.

    • Engineering Design: Utilizing industry-standard software (Causeway Flow, AutoCAD, Civils3D, GIS) to produce detailed surface and foul water strategies.

    • Stakeholder Management: Liaising with clients, architects, contractors, and statutory bodies (e.g., Local Authorities).

    • Regulatory Compliance: Applying deep knowledge of the NPPF, PPG, SuDS Manual, and the Water Framework Directive.

    Candidate Profile

    • Academic Background: Degree in Civil Engineering or a relevant science discipline.

    • Professional Status: Chartered status (ICE/CIWEM) or actively working towards it is highly advantageous.

    • Soft Skills: Excellent technical report writing, time management, and a practical approach to problem-solving.

    • Bonus Experience: Understanding of Flood Risk Activity Permitting and Land Drainage Consent processes.

    Rewards & Benefits

    • Career Growth: Opportunities for rapid progression and ongoing mentoring from senior professionals.

    • Financial: Competitive salary, company share ownership scheme, and payment of professional subscriptions.

    • Wellbeing: Private healthcare, life assurance, and a cycle-to-work/tech scheme.

    • Flexibility: Flexible working arrangements and 25 days annual leave (with the option to purchase more).

    Application Tip

    Since PJA is a leading independent consultancy, your application should emphasize your track record in successfully delivering drainage strategies for large-scale residential developments. Ensure your covering letter explicitly connects your experience with specific software (Civils3D/Causeway Flow) to the scale of projects they manage.

To apply for this job please visit pja.co.uk.