Flood Risk & Water Resources Team Manager

We are looking for a Team Manager (Flood Risk and Water Management) to lead our Flooding and Water Management Team in Leeds. The team sits within Sweco's Water Environment Department. The role will be based in Leeds and can be worked flexibly with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office and the option of adjusted start and finish times.

You will lead a growing team of environmental scientists, hydrologists/flood risk specialists and fluvial, surface water and urban drainage modellers; the team undertake a range of assessments to support strategic studies, and planning and design including environmental impact assessments (EIA), flood risk management, surface water management and SuDS, water quality and hydromorphological assessments, biodiversity net gain (river condition assessments) and river restoration.

Your role will be to lead the delivery of a wide variety of projects for several key clients both in the UK and Europe including water, energy and transport infrastructure companies, government agencies, local authorities and private developers. The work will cover a range of activities including project feasibility and strategic studies, planning and impact assessments and design and construction support.

You will also help in developing the skills and client's portfolio of the Water Environment Department, for example in the Nature Based Solutions sector, supporting the strategic growth of the team.

Your role is accountable for ensuring the quality of our client outcomes, organisational business performance, projects deliverables and the people experience of your colleagues. Your role is key in developing your colleagues and generating growth by looking for opportunities.

Core duties and responsibilities will include:

• Supporting and developing colleagues within your team, to enable them to be at their best.


• Providing technical guidance, support and training to colleagues leading in the development of the technical skills within the Water Environment Department.


• Implementing improvements to technical policy, processes and design solutions where applicable, and sharing via the knowledge management channels as appropriate.


• Actively leading and supporting input into the bidding process to ensure strong pipeline of work across the team.


• Managing and developing the clients' portfolio taking an active role in developing business strategy and growing the future workload for the Water Environment Department.


• Ensuring a proactive health, safety and wellbeing culture and compliance to all Health and Safety procedures within the team to maintain colleague safety.


• Ensuring effective and consistent delivery of projects within your team, using the project management framework (PMF).


• Leading water environment input into large multidisciplinary projects or programmes.


• Ensuring all team projects and colleagues conform with Sweco governance, policies and operating procedures.


• Accountable for financial KPIs including team budget P&L within the team.


• Working in close collaboration with and supporting colleagues from other disciplines as required., Sweco UK&I have an internal resourcing team who are responsible for all recruiting activity. We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted agencies who we work with on those "hard to fill" roles.


We have defined processes for recruitment applications and it is company policy not to accept speculative CVs. Any speculative CVs received into the business (whether to a manager or member of the resourcing team) will become the property of Sweco and the agency will not be eligible for an introductory fee.

Our Preferred Supplier List was reviewed in December 2022 and we are not looking to add any additional agencies. We'll be reviewing the PSL again at the end of 2024 and non-compliance with the above statements could be detrimental to you having the opportunity to be included.

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• Higher degree in environmental science, engineering or similar subject with significant water science, hydrology, or hydraulics content.


• Chartered with a professional body such as CIWEM.


• Proven track record in Flood Risk and/or Water Resources Management including governance.


• Knowledge of the UK legislation governing the technical discipline including planning policy and relevant design standards.


• Proven ability in the leadership and motivation of individuals and teams.


• Commercial experience of managing P&L budgets, producing work winning tenders and understanding commercial risk, and influencing strategic decision-making within the business.


• Experience of managing projects and resources, project governance and acting as discipline lead on multi-disciplinary projects is essential.


• Strong interpersonal / team working skills.


• Excellent consultancy, communication and interpersonal skills with a good working relationship with all levels of the organisation, clients and contractors.


• The ability to communicate in a fluent and positive manner with other team members.


If you believe you have the skill set required, are keen to join a business with genuine opportunities for career progression, then we'd love to hear from you.

Transforming society together, we're planning and designing sustainable communities and cities of the future.

Solving the great societal challenges of our time is more relevant, demanding and inspiring than ever before. At Sweco, we bring together experts with different perspectives and skills to develop solutions that address the challenges of urbanisation, harness the positive power of digitalisation and make societies more sustainable.

We offer our clients a combination of global expertise and local presence, adapted to their business and reality. Our ambition is to be our clients' most relevant partner, working together to help them solve their challenges, today and into the future.

Sweco is committed to enabling all its colleagues to achieve a great balance between work and their other priorities, such as caring responsibilities, leisure activities, further learning or other interests. We offer flexible start and finish times, part time and hybrid working options so that you can flex your hours around your day to day needs.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

It's important to us that that all our colleagues thrive at work - we strive to have a friendly and inclusive culture which respects the contribution individuals can bring to Sweco. We aim to promote equality, inclusivity and diversity for everyone.