Flood Planning and Projects Officer

Are you looking for an exciting development opportunity in the Council in the Flood Risk Management Team?

You will have the opportunity to work across a wide range of disciplines including; highways, planning, environmental and emergency planning disciplines and with various external partners.

Our Flood Risk service has a proven track record and is nationally recognised for its work and excellent achievement of delivering priorities including the provision of a flood risk management service to a number of neighbouring Lead Local Flood Authorities.

We are a Lead Local Flood Authority and provide a number of flood-related functions including providing statutory responses to planning applications, undertaking flood investigations, land drainage consents and scheme/project delivery. We act as the lead and co-ordinating body to reduce flood risk to residents and businesses within Staffordshire.

The Flood Risk Management Team also provide a similar service to Black Country Authorities and comes under the wider remit of Highways and the Built County.

You will largely carry out the powers and duties of the Lead Local Flood Authority function as described in the Flood and Water Management Act (2010) in addition to managing a large portfolio of flood alleviation schemes.

We also offer this service to Black Country Authorities.

This role is exciting as you will shape the future of flood risk in Staffordshire and the Black Country! Each day will be varied as you work on a number of different planning applications and/or areas prone to flooding.

This post typically has two roles and you would typically lead on one of these but be expected to have a good understanding of both roles.

Planning Role is to respond to local flood risk issues on planning applications, which involves being a statutory consultee in the planning process. As part of that role you will provide pre-application advice to proposed new developments and respond to a mix of different planning applications. This will help shape future development so that they are safe in terms of flood risk and surrounding areas are not made worse by proposed development.

Projects Role relates to flood investigations and flood alleviation schemes. Whenever there is significant flooding, there will be a requirement to investigate flood incidents once certain criteria are met. You will need to work with other risk management authorities to outline solutions. Sometimes this leads into flood alleviations schemes which are typically externally funded and which will be varied as you work on a number of different planning applications and/or areas prone to flooding.

The main responsibilities are to:

• contribute to the development and maintenance of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.
• project management on a range of projects, studies and schemes.
• work collaboratively with a range of internal and external stakeholders
• provide commentary on flood risk and surface water management aspects of Planning Applications at various stages

You will have:

• Degree or equivalent level qualification or experience
• Experience in flood risk management/ drainage management and/ or land use planning.
• Knowledge and understanding of the administrative, statutory and legal procedures relating to land use planning, land drainage and flood risk management
• Good knowledge of policies, design and maintenance standards in relation to flood risk management and drainage systems on new development
• Excellent understanding, experience and use of drainage asset and flood risk mapping
• The ability to travel around the county and to those authorities covered by collaborative working arrangements, a full driving licence is essential.
• Computer literacy (e.g. GIS)

“We’re happy to talk flexible working”

Don’t feel you meet all the requirements? We value transferable skills, experiences, and qualifications so consider applying anyway or for an informal chat about the role please contact Jamie Cooper, Flood Risk Manager at: jamie.cooper@stafordshire.gov.uk

Interviews will be held week starting 1 September 2025.

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.