Flood Risk Officer

West Northants Council; Northampton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

West Northamptonshire Council's Flood and Water Team is seeking a Flood Risk Officer to provide specialist technical advice on surface water drainage and flood risk, supporting the Council as Lead Local Flood Authority in the planning process.

You will collaborate with developers, planning authorities and landowners to assess drainage proposals, promote SuDS, regulate watercourses and help shape local strategies that reduce flood risk while supporting sustainable growth across the county.

Qualifications

• Experience in flood risk management or drainage design.
• Strong understanding of hydrology, hydraulics and drainage principles.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information to diverse audiences.
• Knowledge of Flood and Water Management Act 2010, Land Drainage Act 1991 and planning policy for SuDS.

Responsibilities

• Assess drainage proposals for new developments.
• Promote sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).
• Regulate activities affecting ordinary watercourses; review applications and provide technical guidance.
• Support strategic flood risk management and development of local standards and policies.

Skills

Hydrology

Hydraulics

Drainage design

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Civil engineering degree

Environmental science degree

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to join West Northamptonshire Council's Flood and Water Team and play a key role in managing flood risk and promoting sustainable development across the area.

As a Flood Risk Officer, you will provide specialist technical advice on surface water drainage and flood risk matters, helping the Council fulfil its responsibilities as the Lead Local Flood Authority and statutory consultee within the planning process.

What will you be doing?

Working closely with developers, planning authorities, landowners and key stakeholders, you will assess drainage proposals for new developments, promote the use of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), and help ensure that growth is delivered in a way that minimises flood risk and protects communities. You will also regulate activities affecting ordinary watercourses, reviewing applications and providing technical guidance to ensure works are sustainable, compliant and do not adversely impact water flow.

The role offers the opportunity to contribute to strategic flood risk management across West Northamptonshire, supporting the development of local standards, planning policies and flood risk strategies. Working within a collaborative and supportive team, you will help shape resilient places, protect local environments and support the delivery of sustainable growth across the county.

We're looking for a motivated professional with the following skills and experience

We are looking for a knowledgeable and motivated professional with experience in flood risk management, drainage design or a related environmental or engineering discipline. You will have a good understanding of hydrology, hydraulics and drainage principles, together with strong analytical and problem‑solving skills and the ability to communicate complex technical information to a wide range of audiences.

You will ideally have experience assessing surface water drainage proposals and an awareness of planning and development processes, together with knowledge of relevant legislation including the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, Land Drainage Act 1991 and planning policy relating to sustainable drainage. A degree in a relevant subject such as civil engineering, environmental science or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience, is essential.

About West Northants Council

At West Northants Council, it's about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like‑minded people.

Our vision is 'to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive'. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential. We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner.

The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain.

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West Northants Council, where careers thrive.