Flood Risk/Senior Flood Risk Officers Bournemouth, England
Job description
Flood Risk Officer Posts (Various Levels £34,723 - £45,495)
Would you like to live in an area renowned for its natural beauty? With long stretches of golden sand and stunning landscapes, we have an international reputation which attracts millions of visitors each year. With the New Forest National Park and Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site on our doorstep, there is something for everyone.
We have roles available, at various levels, in our Inland Flood Risk team, which sits within our growing Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Service. Our service is increasingly recognised as a Centre of Excellence within Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP) and more broadly across the South West.
We are looking for outstanding candidates who clearly understand the needs and deliverables of a Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) and who have the drive and passion to help us develop as an FCERM Centre of Excellence. You will be exposed to new challenges including those posed by Climate Change, but will be ably supported by an experienced, multi-skilled FCERM team and offered training & professional qualification opportunities that will enable you to succeed and reach your potential. Our professional networks mean that we can offer successful candidates’ opportunities to attend regional and national forums influencing FCERM policy, strategy, and finance themes nationwide. We have a healthy (currently £50m) and expanding capital programme (www.twobays.net) and an exciting portfolio of future studies and schemes to see through to delivery. As a Centre of Excellence there is also the prospect of sharing our experience and expertise through our work with partners across the area.
We are eager to expand our Flood Risk Team and are looking for people with flood risk and surface water management expertise, who have a keen interest in using their skills to influence urban planning at a strategic and site level. Recent Government announcements regarding creation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Approval & Adopting Bodies (SAB), mean that you would be joining us at an exciting time, as we seek to build this capacity and ensure delivery of high-quality, well-maintained SuDS that help to reduce flood risk and contribute towards our Green Infrastructure goals.
Growing our understanding of Inland Flood Risk and how to manage it, in the face of climate change, is an ongoing challenge (especially in a predominantly urban area like BCP). We are therefore seeking people interested in helping us develop Surface Water Management Plans (SWMP). To progress these plans, an understanding of flood defence funding and experience in applying for finance would be helpful as would modelling experience. Of more importance, however, is an ability to think creatively and holistically about potential solutions and build relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders to achieve this. As is a willingness to learn skills from senior staff already in post who can offer exposure and training in modelling, planning strategy and policy, SuDS design, land drainage law and many other areas.
We are also responsible for undertaking flood investigations and for working with our community to help residents manage local flood risks themselves. We therefore work closely with the public, elected members, the Environment Agency, Wessex Water, and others in BCP Council to achieve this. Hence, a sound knowledge of the UK’s legislative and regulatory framework, around flood risk and land drainage, would be advantageous for interested candidates.
Within the FCERM service of approximately 30 staff, the Inland Flood Risk Management Team are complimented by the Asset Management, Capital Projects and Strategy, Policy & Environment Team. We work collaboratively across these areas on our differing work, and successful candidates will have opportunities to work across the service.
The Flood Risk Team is in the process of being formed. You will therefore be able to help shape your role (and the team) as we develop and grow. We are looking for people who want to make a difference within our community and, given the variety of the work we undertake, and different specialisms involved, we will consider applicants from a wide spectrum of experience and qualifications.
The roles will operate under a flexible working policy giving control to the individual as to what times are worked with remote/home working forming the majority of the working week. If you think you’re up for the challenge and want to take advantage of this opportunity, please send us your CV, along with an expression of interest of no more than 2 pages, explaining why you would like to work for us and why you would be suitable for the role.
Email your CV and expression of interest to [email protected]. For an informal conversation about the roles available, please email to arrange a time.
For the right candidate(s), a relocation package maybe available.
As a result of the creation of BCP Council in 2019, we are working on simplifying our terms and conditions of service and will be creating a single pay structure which all of our employees will move on to. It is important to us that we offer benefits that our colleagues value as part of their total employment package and we are reviewing these to make sure we have it right. We’re hoping to implement these changes in April 2024 and all colleagues joining us will be included in these changes.
