Water Strategy Consultant
Likely
Sponsorship likelihood
This employer has issued visas recently
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£50,200
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role likely qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 2431 (80% match) is an eligible occupation, with a going rate of £50,200, and Arup is a licensed sponsor. That is our reading of the rules. Whether they issue a Certificate of Sponsorship is still their call.
In 2025, Arup assigned 19 or more Certificates of Sponsorship for SOC 2431 jobs, according to the Home Office.
This could also be SOC 2152 (Environment professionals, Water/environment focus could make it an environment professional role). We read the code off the advert, so it is our best guess, not the employer's.
New graduate or PhD holder? Pick one of the lower rates.
What each route needs for this job
| Occupation code | New entrant 70% of going rate | STEM PhD 80% of going rate | Relevant PhD 90% of going rate | Standard rate 100% of going rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2431 Management consultants and business analysts Most likely code | £35,100 | £40,200 | £45,200 | £50,200 |
2152 Environment professionals Also possible | £33,400 | £33,400 | £37,500 | £41,700 |
We use the lowest threshold across the plausible codes. Likelihood is Possible at most when the pay clears only a lower rate, or only under a less likely code. How the Home Office picks the code
About the role
Joining Arup
Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach have set us apart for 80 years, guiding how we shape a better world.
The water sector is undergoing unprecedented change. Climate risks, population growth, ageing infrastructure, environmental ambition and sector reform are creating some of the most complex challenges the industry has ever faced. Our clients are looking for new ways to plan, invest and adapt, and Arup is helping shape that future.
The Opportunity
We are looking for a junior consultant to join our dynamic and growing team, in one of our offices in Bristol, Cardiff and Birmingham, who is excited by the challenge of driving innovation, delivering excellence for our clients, influencing the sector both nationally and internationally through our projects and thought leadership, and working in collaborative, diverse teams. We combine policy, strategy, economics, engineering and asset management expertise to help clients make better long-term decisions. Our work influences national policy, investment decisions and operational strategies across the water sector.
The Mid-West Strategic Water Services team provides expertise in:
- Policy, regulation and governance;
- Strategy and planning, including long-term strategies, adaptive plans, water resources management plans (WRMP), drainage and wastewater management plans (DWMP) and flood risk management strategies;
- Asset management and investment planning
As part of our growing Strategic Water Services team, you will work with leading water companies, regulators, governments and investors to tackle nationally significant challenges and help create more resilient water systems for people and the environment.
You will help us to deliver effective and professional services for a range of varied and high-profile clients, such as Welsh Water, Wessex Water, Northern Ireland Water, Severn Trent Water, The Nature Conservancy, Ofwat, Natural Resources Wales and the Environment Agency. Working as part of a team, your role will be to advise city and infrastructure clients on a range of policy, regulatory, asset management and engineering issues.
Across the public and private sectors, you will help manage client relationships with public sector agencies, private sector clients, infrastructure operators and other organisations such as regulators.
What you’ll do
Working collaboratively with colleagues across the UK and internationally, you will help deliver strategic advisory services for a range of clients in the water sector. You will contribute to research, analysis, client engagement and project delivery, helping to shape robust and forward-looking solutions.
Your responsibilities are likely to include:
- Shaping water sector strategy, policy and investment decisions.
- Supporting clients on climate resilience, water security and infrastructure challenges.
- Analysing data and evidence to develop strategic recommendations.
- Engaging water companies, regulators, governments and stakeholders.
- Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated solutions.
- Supporting project delivery, business development and client relationships.
- Contributing to thought leadership and industry best practice.
- Developing expertise through training, mentoring and varied projects.
What we’re looking for:
- Degree in Engineering, Economics, Geography, Environmental Science, Mathematics, Water Science, Public Policy, Asset Management or related field; Master's/PhD desirable.
- Experience in water, regulation, engineering, asset management, investment planning, strategy or a related field.
- Knowledge or strong interest in water regulation, business planning, price reviews, performance frameworks, asset management and investment planning.
- Interest in climate resilience, environmental improvement, water security, affordability and long-term sustainability.
- Understanding of, or willingness to learn, the water sector’s regulatory and policy environment.
Please note, to ensure we remain GDPR compliant do not send your CV directly to us via this email.
What we offer you
At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.
Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all our members can belong, grow and thrive through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.
We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.
We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.
Different people, shared values
Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.
Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup
We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact [email protected] to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.
Our Application Process
To understand what to expect next, please visit https://www.arup.com/careers/arup-careers-uk-application-process
Stay safe online – Arup will never ask for your bank details as part of our recruitment process.
Recruitment Agencies - We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on the list.
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with Arup, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
Management consultants and business analysts (SOC 2431) · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · basic pay · ~251k in sample- Middle half £40,196–71,188
- Median £53,820
- Going rate £50,200
- Threshold £41,700
- New entrant £35,100–45,200
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Browse more sponsored jobs at ArupAbout sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. Arup holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. In 2025, Arup assigned 19 or more Certificates of Sponsorship for SOC 2431 jobs, according to the Home Office. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 2431 going rate of £50,200. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.