Senior Flood Management Officer

Do you want to help us, our partner organisations, and our communities to better manage flood risk, with a focus on leading on assessing and regulating the flood risk and drainage impacts of HS2? We have a great opportunity for a Senior Flood Management Officer to join the Strategic Flood Management Team.

We are a team of fifteen who are enthusiastic about delivering the statutory responsibilities of managing local flood risk in Buckinghamshire Council’s role as the Lead Local Flood Authority. We also develop and deliver flood management projects, from a range of large-scale engineering approaches such as culvert replacement and hard defences, through to Natural Flood Management options. Another key part of our role is to help to guide the flood management approach on large infrastructure projects, including HS2, which will be the focus of this post.

About the role

Are you keen to be involved in Europe’s largest infrastructure scheme, helping the Council and our stakeholders ensure that HS2’s flood and drainage mitigation is designed appropriately and helping to secure betterment where possible? This is an exciting opportunity for someone with substantial experience in a flood or water management role, which you may have gained while working for a previous local authority, other Risk Management Authority, or consultancy. This work will be delivered through working with internal and external stakeholders, members of communities and other Risk Management Partners.

The main focus of the role is to review and issue consent under Schedule 33 of the HS2 Act for HS2 structures which might affect the flow of ordinary watercourses (similar to Land Drainage Consenting) and to provide advice to the Council’s HS2 Planning Liaison Team under Schedule 17 of the HS2 Act on the drainage and flood mitigation aspects of HS2 works applications (similar to the statutory planning consultee role of the LLFA).

The role also has the potential to support the wider team with the statutory areas of Flood and Water Management Act 2010, including Land Drainage Consenting, Flood Investigations, responding to enquiries, and developing and applying our Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. There may also be some opportunity to support with project management and providing technical input into flood alleviation schemes.

As wider context, the Strategic Flood Management Team are part of the wider Planning, Growth and Sustainability Directorate, which works with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire. We deliver services on planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property. The key priorities of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability Directorate include developing the economic narrative for Buckinghamshire, creating more jobs and delivering the right infrastructure to help businesses and residents thrive. We also aim to provide a proactive planning service that is responsive, whilst making the best use of the Council’s land and property portfolio. This will in turn support community services and create housing, jobs, regeneration and income to support public services.

It’s a great time to join one of our teams. As part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability function you will not only get to help shape the economic future of Buckinghamshire; you will support us to deliver the results that our residents and businesses deserve.

Any Desk

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office at least twice a week, depending on your role and team requirements*.

The role is likely to also require some work out on site or in the community, such as engaging with community groups to discuss specific aspects of the HS2 proposals.

*subject to current Government Covid-19 Guidance

About you

Key Accountabilities

• Assess flood risk mitigation proposals and drainage schemes, providing consultation responses on behalf of the Council for HS2 Schedule 33 approvals (similar to Land Drainage Consenting) and Schedule 17s (similar to the planning consultee role of the LLFA), giving authoritative but constructive advice to HS2 Ltd and their contractors.
• Negotiate with HS2 Ltd and their contractors through the HS2 Schedule 33 and Schedule 17 pre-approval process to ensure flood and drainage mitigation is designed in line with the Act and best practice, and to secure appropriate flood risk improvements where possible
• Engage with planning case officers as necessary (in calls or meetings) to clarify consultation responses or answer follow-up queries.
• Engage with partners (particularly the Environment Agency) and HS2 stakeholder groups such as elected members and community groups.
• Take a lead in working with HS2/their partners, and internal and external partners to ensure delivery of the Undertaking and Assurance 1001 on groundwater.
• Respond to escalated challenging situations such as complaints.
• Work in a dynamic team to support the statutory duties of the LLFA where required.
• Work with a diverse range of partners and members of the community to mitigate local flood risk

Skills & Experience

• Substantial relevant experience and technical skills in flood and drainage assessment within the planning process and/or watercourse regulation, which you may have gained while working in a previous consultancy, local authority or other Risk Management Authority. Including:
• Excellent understanding of drainage proposals and engineering drawings, including experience of using or interpreting outputs from hydraulic modelling, drainage software packages and Computer Aided Design drawings
• Excellent understanding of relevant best practice guidance for surface water drainage and fluvial flood management techniques
• Good ability to interpret drainage calculations
• Good understanding of hydrology, hydraulics and geomorphology relevant to drainage and flood risk
• Strong understanding of all sources of flooding, including groundwater flooding mechanisms
• Ideally, experience of making technical comments on drainage plans and schemes
• Initiative to form decisions and ability to work independently with little supervision
• Confident in delivering constructive yet authoritative advice under pressure to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to negotiate based on regulatory standards and best practice
• Good understanding of the planning process
• Strong working knowledge of water related law, regulation and policy
• Experience of representing work area in a professional capacity
• Well developed customer service skills, with an ability to deal with challenging situations or escalated complaints, utilising significant persuasion and influencing skills.
• Ability to manage and prioritise work to meet deadlines
• Experience of building and maintaining relationships with a range of stakeholders
• Strong analytical, communication and presentation skills.
• Degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline is essential.
• Membership of a relevant professional organisation is welcomed.

For additional details, please see the attached job summary, but do pay close attention to the above requirements from this advert.

Other information

Number of positions available: 1 fixed term contract (18 months).

Working hours: This position is advertised full-time. However, we would be open to considering candidates who would like to work part time (minimum of 2.5 days per week). Please state in your application if you would like full-time / part-time hours.

Closing date: 20^th November 2022

Interviews are anticipated to take place w/c 28^th November 2022 and/or w/c 5^th December 2022.

Interview-type / process: In person at Walton Street Offices, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1UA.

For additional information or an informal conversation about this role, please contact Andrew Waugh (andrew.waugh@buckinghamshire.gov.uk; 01296 382621).

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• Unspent convictions and/or unspent conditional cautions only

For further information on how long it takes for convictions and conditional cautions to be spent, please refer to Nacro’s guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate works with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire. We deliver services on planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property.

Our key priorities include developing the economic narrative for Bucks, creating more jobs and delivering the right infrastructure to help businesses and residents thrive. We also aim to provide a proactive planning service that is responsive, whilst making the best use of the Council’s land and property portfolio. This will in turn support community services and create housing, jobs, regeneration and income to support public services.

It’s a great time to join one of our teams. As part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability function you will not only get to help shape the economic future of Buckinghamshire; you’ll also be involved in delivering high-profile development projects and work on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK. You will support us to deliver the results that our local residents and businesses deserve.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. We also offer a salary sacrifice personal car lease scheme and the opportunity to gain membership to Costco. We have discounted gym memberships, Travel discounts with Arriva and Chiltern Railways and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/