Local Government Jobs

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a one year fixed-term role, within the Strategy Group of the Environment and Infrastructure Directorate.

The principal role will be to develop a workable model of Surrey’s drainage approving body, a new requirement under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. Activity will include developing the initial technical brief for the work. You will develop a consortium of local authorities, plan a workable approvals process, charging structure and mechanisms for adoption and maintenance.

The successful candidate will see the project through to establishment of the drainage approving body, upon commencement of the legislation, likely to be in October 2012. It is also intended you will champion sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) amongst professional colleagues responsible for planning, design, maintenance of SuDs in Surrey. And develop relevant local guidance to complement national standards.

On a day-to day basis you will be working closely with borough and district councils and other risk management authorities, including partner local authorities such as the South East Seven (SE7).

You will also be responsible for establishing the client role for Section 23 Flood Defence Consents.

You will bring relevant technical knowledge and experience of planning and/ or building and development control. An understanding of fees and charges and the practicalities of a consortium approach in a similar context would be useful.

This challenging position provides the opportunity to develop a new statutory role in the Surrey context. This is a pivotal time, with fundamental changes being made to local flood risk management and the planning system. New responsibilities are emerging for the county council as a lead local flood authority. These include developing a local flood risk strategy, maintaining an asset register and partnership opportunities such as the Surrey Flood Risk Partnership Board.

You will be highly self-motivated in seeking out information from a range of sources, and able to form a consensus across the 11 local authorities in Surrey. You will communicate what SuDS mean for the county council, and wider Surrey, to bodies such as the Surrey Flood Risk Partnership Board, Surrey Planning Officers Association and Surrey Building Control Group. You will be able to work to tight timescales and on short bursts of activity. Excellent writing skills and attention to detail, as well as being able to work proactively and positively in partnership with colleagues (internal and external), are essential requirements of this position.

A professional qualification, such as in a planning-related or civil engineering discipline is required, and an aptitude or previous working experience in this area would be useful.

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact Deborah Fox, Strategy and Commissioning Team Manager on 020 85419381 or 07968 834150 (mob). Surrey County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Closing Date: 13 February 2012