Operational Lead - Coastal Adaptation

East Suffolk Council; Woodbridge; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in Woodbridge seeks an Operational Lead - Coastal Adaptation to oversee coastal works and manage a professional team. The ideal candidate will have a strong leadership background, project management skills, and a degree in a related field. Benefits include generous leave, a local government pension scheme, and flexible working arrangements. The role allows for work in an agile environment, balancing home and office arrangements.

Benefits

Generous leave entitlement

Local government pension scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Learning and development opportunities

Staff support networks

Discounts on various products and services

Qualifications

• Proven track record at senior level.
• Experience managing multiple projects.
• Exceptional communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Support the Head of Energy Planning and Coastal Management.
• Oversee and deliver Shoreline Management Plan policies.
• Cultivate a resilient team for coastal works.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Education

Degree in a related subject

Job description

• East Suffolk Council, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1RT or Lowestoft, NR33 0EQ
• £54,495 to £58,809 per annum
• 37 hours per week
• Permanent

East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work, delivering essential local services and making a real difference to its 250,000 residents.

We currently have an opportunity to join East Suffolk Council's Coastal Management and Adaptation team as our Operational Lead - Coastal Adaptation.

The role:

You will support the Head of Energy Planning and Coastal Management and the Strategic Lead Coastal Management and Adaptation in cultivating a resilient team of professionals to oversee a program of coastal works which move East Suffolk Council towards achieving a climate-ready coast.

Leading on the Coastal Adaptation theme, you will oversee and deliver the Shoreline Management Plan policies for the Suffolk Coast and progress the output of the Resilient Coast project through a programme of integrated themes.

What you will need:

Being highly motivated with the ability to inspire, develop and lead your team, you will have a proven track record in a professional area at senior level along with a degree in a related subject.

Experience of building and maintaining teams in a fast-paced environment and proven experience in simultaneously managing multiple demanding projects and meeting strict deadlines is essential.

You will be an exceptional communicator, with ability to relate effectively at all levels with our Council Members, other officials, external agencies, stakeholders and the community we serve.

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

Why work for us?

East Suffolk Council is a great place to work and there are lots of benefits our employees can access. To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council, take a look at our video and hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work (YouTube).

Here are some of the main benefits:

• Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 25 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays)
• Local government pension scheme
• Flexible working arrangements
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• A wide variety of staff support networks including access to health and wellbeing initiatives and programmes.
• Discounts on mobile phones, computers, holiday and travel, fashion and clothing, health and beauty and many other products and services.

Find more information about what we offer in our benefits brochure (pdf).

The majority of our teams are working in an agile way, with a mixture of home and office working, depending on service requirements. If you wish to discuss how that might impact your working arrangements if you were the successful candidate, please contact the recruiting manager listed at the bottom of this advert.

To find out more

For an informal discussion regarding this post, please contact Karen Thomas, Strategic Lead - Coastal Management and Adaptation, by emailing [e-mail] or by calling 07920411955.

Closing date:

12pm, 30 th December 2025

Interview date:

w/c 12 th January 2026

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the advert and the Job Description and Person Specification

Step 2 - Complete the Supporting Statement template (docx). Your statement needs to indicate how you meet each of the criteria contained within the Person Specification. Please use the template provided (other formats will not be accepted).

Step 3 - Complete the online application and upload your statement. Please note, CVs are not accepted.

For more information, visit the How to Apply section of our Career Site.