Climate Adaptation Specialist

Role Location: London (or Bristol, Epsom, Oxford, Peterborough)

SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering, and project management consultancies, and is playing a key part in leading the global agenda on climate change.

Atkins’ Climate Futures network works across technical advisory in climate change policy, climate risk, adaptation and resilience, international development, climate finance, climate-related financial disclosure (TCFD), Net Zero transition, and nature-based solutions. The core team sits within Atkins’ Water Management Consultancy (WMC) located across the UK, which operates at the interface between people and the water environment, working with clients to provide innovative research and advisory services. The team work collaboratively across the wider business, in particular with Atkins’ Advisory & Economics team on international projects, and with Atkins’ Sustainability team on projects involving Net Zero transition planning, carbon reduction, and environmental impact assessments.

Our exciting portfolio of projects and clients continues to expand, and we are looking to recruit a number of people with an understanding of climate risks and climate change advisory services. For this role, we require a driven Consultant / Assistant Consultant to contribute to our work on climate risk assessments, adaptation planning, climate disclosure, and the development of weather and climate services.

The successful candidate will have a background in some or all of these areas.

• Our climate change work is diverse and includes, for example, the following:
• Water sector (e.g. assessing the impact of climate change on future water supplies, advising on adaptation options, and TCFD reporting)
• Transport sector (e.g. reviewing technical standards and identifying areas which may require additional measures to account for climate change projections)
• Energy sector (e.g. evaluating the financial impacts of climate change across supply chains and operations)
• Cities and local authorities (e.g. climate risk assessments, adaptation plans, and how to integrate climate resilience into investment decision-making)
• Working with clients to help them meet climate-related reporting requirements (TCFD, Paris-Alignment, EU Taxonomy, Adaptation Reporting Power etc), and develop strategies to manage climate risks.
• Multilateral development banks and governments (e.g. enhancing organisational capacity by developing climate risk frameworks, climate risk assessments for infrastructure investments, and providing advisory support for international development projects, including climate finance).
• In general, the work is a mixture of strategic planning, applied science and economics, evidence-based policy advice, and engineering, supported by other Atkins specialist teams in these areas.
• Additionally, the post holder may also work on a wider array of projects, which may include engineering feasibility studies, ESIAs, water resources planning, flood risk assessment, urban redevelopment or policy work, depending on the post holder’s background, interests, and business requirements.
• Our clients include UK water companies, the Environment Agency, energy and transport companies (e.g. High Speed Two Ltd)., government agencies and local authorities, European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Asian Development Bank, and the World Bank.

Requirements

• A degree in a relevant technical discipline (at least a 2:1 in geography, environmental science, climate science, environmental economics or engineering)
• Desirable that the candidate has a relevant Masters or PhD in a relevant discipline
• Ideally the candidate has 2 or more years’ experience in the climate change industry, preferably in a consulting/ advisory role
• Experience in working in project teams/workstreams and in developing proposals/bids to win work from clients is a positive
• Some skills in GIS and coding skills in Python or R is a positive but not essential (e.g. experience in climate risk mapping, experience in processing climate change data).
• High level proficiency in Excel and other Office tools (Word, Teams, Powerpoint).

Responsibilities

• To work effectively as part of a team and with other professionals (environmental scientists, engineers, planners, economists) throughout Atkins and our partners, to provide a consistent and integrated service to our clients.
• To contribute to developing offers for our clients to win new projects.
• To support the delivery of new digital products and projects within the Climate Futures and Water Management Consultancy team and work collaboratively with other Atkins’ businesses.
• Depending on experience, to support delivery of key service areas such as climate risk assessment, adaptation & resilience planning, climate finance, climate & weather services

The Individual

• Driven to create positive impact and climate action
• Highly motivated and proactive; focussed on achieving and delivering technical excellence to high standards.
• Skilled at collaborative working in teams with range of different technical backgrounds, with good interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate effectively.
• High-level technical performance in climate change analysis and report writing
• Flexible and keen to take on new challenges, learn, and develop new approaches to a wide range of problems.
• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and visual), and able to adapt communication style to different audiences.
• Well organised - able to plan ahead and manage multiple projects running at the same time.

What we offer

Atkins recognises that there are many well-qualified people who are looking to further their career, but who cannot commit to full time employment. We support flexible working arrangements and welcome discussions on how we can best accommodate individual requirements. As part of this commitment, we understand the need for a diverse and flexible workforce, where a work-life balance is important. Atkins offers flexible working, where there is no fixed 9 ‘til 5, no need for a 5-day week and no requirement to spend all your working time in the office.

Our IT systems support home-working, so where you have parental or carer duties; or you simply need to be elsewhere for a parcel, servicing your car, or waiting in for a tradesperson; Atkins will work for you.

Similarly, Atkins’ corporate social responsibility provides the opportunity to give something back to the community, and we run professional networks supporting groups such as local schools, charities, parents, those coming out of the armed-forces and women in engineering.

Training

Atkins develops individuals through a portfolio of training and development activities designed to help you make the best of your abilities and talents. These are reviewed with individuals through an annual development process. We support staff in achieving and maintaining membership of relevant institutions. You will also be part of our global Technical Networks, which provide a flow of technically orientated information and ideas through the company.

Atkins will support you in your professional development, including gaining professional accreditation such as chartership. This includes paying your annual membership and providing access to training.

Rewards and Benefits

We offer a competitive salary that is regularly tested against other consultants with a default 25-days leave each year plus bank holidays and options to buy or sell leave. We also operate a Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) system for any hours undertaken above contracted hours which can be used throughout the year. To support and safeguard your physical and mental wellbeing we provide an employee assistance programme offering advice and support in times of need.

Our offices run their own sports and social club providing wide ranging activities such as wine tasting, surf trips and a kids’ Christmas party. You will also have access to our Flexible Benefits, where you can opt in to a wide range of benefits to complement your work/life balance: such as medical insurance, gym membership, the cycle-to-work scheme, charitable giving, additional pension contributions etc. Please refer to our website for details of our full benefits package: https://yourrewarduk.snclavalin.com/.

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview.

If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

Atkins recognise that there are many well qualified people who are looking to further their career, but who cannot commit to full time employment. We support flexible working arrangements and are interested to discuss how we can accommodate individual requirements.

ATKINS, part of the SNC Lavalin Group, is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.