Flood Risk/ Sustainable Development Officer

Attractive benefits package

• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Norfolk Pension Fund)
• Private Medical Scheme
• Generous Leave Entitlement
• Car Allowance
• Modern Office + Free Parking
• Flexible Working Practices

About Us (WMA)

The Water Management Alliance (WMA) is a group of like-minded Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) who share vision,
values and standards and have chosen to jointly administer their affairs in order to reduce costs, strengthen
their own organisations and increase influence at both regional and national level. An overview of the WMA can be
found on our homepage.

Internal Drainage Boards (“IDBs”) are local public authorities that manage flood risk and land drainage within
areas of special drainage need in England. IDBs undertake a vast range of vital work to reduce flood risk and
manage water in a way that meets the local needs of residents, businesses and agriculture in accordance with their
environmental duties whilst enhancing the ecological wellbeing of their districts.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Sustainable Development Team at the Water Management Alliance (WMA) group of Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs). Internal Drainage Boards (“IDBs”) are local public authorities that manage flood risk and land drainage.

The Sustainable Development Team works to ensure that planned changes in the IDB catchments, such as new housing developments and culvert replacements, are carried out sustainably and in a manner which will not increase flood risk. This is done by influencing planning applications and consenting works under the Land Drainage Act 1991. The caseload is varied and has a mix of office and site-based work

The WMA are willing to consider candidates across a wide range of experience levels, therefore are looking to recruit either a Sustainable Development Officer (SDO) or an Assistant SDO.

• A Sustainable Development Officer (SDO) is likely to have at least a few years of relevant experience and may be working towards membership with a professional accreditation body (e.g. CIWEM). An SDO would work largely independently (although help will always be available) with reference to policies and procedures established by the Sustainable Development Manager.
• An Assistant SDO may be new to the water management industry, and is likely to have a relevant degree such as geography, environmental management or engineering. An Assistant SDO will work alongside colleagues within the team on more complex cases to gain experience in the field.

Officer Level Salary: £30,000 – £35,000

Assistant Level Salary: £25,000 – £30,000

We offer a positive and supportive working environment with opportunities for training and development.

Role Description:

• The role will engage with party works by advising the Local Planning Authority on development proposals as well as regulating works using the ‘Land Drainage Consent’ process. The role will therefore require the following tasks to be undertaken largely independently using policies, procedures, advice and guidance available:
  Interpretation of relevant legislation to understand when consent is required.
• Interpretation and analysis of planning applications and consent applications (including technical designs, plans and model outputs) to assess the likely impact of proposals on flood risk / drainage.
• Provision of advice to Local Planning Authorities and applicants to promote best practice, ensure the Board’s requirements are met and reduce the impact of development on flood risk locally.
• Consultation with internal stakeholders (engineers, environmental officers and operations teams) and analysis of existing data sources (maps, models, historic data).
• Liaison and negotiation with Local Planning Authorities, applicants and other external authorities.
• Attendance at site visits to assess proposals, ensuring Health and Safety is paramount at all times and that Health and Safety objectives are promoted and achieved.
• Application of WMA policies.
• Application of relevant conditions where land drainage consent is granted.
• Maintaining accurate records of all planning/consenting/compliance cases reviewed and processed using the team case file register and email inbox.
• Keeping knowledge current and up to date, by way of continuous professional development.
• Assisting with projects and research, as required.
• Any other duties that may reasonably be required.

Person Specification:

Please refer to the attached job descriptions for the person specifications for either the Sustainable Development Officer and Assistant Sustainable Development Officer roles.

Other Job Information:

• The work will involve walking around watercourse and drainage catchments. Such areas are potentially difficult to access, dirty, remote and/or subject to dense vegetation.
• On occasion the post holder will be expected to work outside of ‘normal’ office hours to represent the Water Management Alliance and its member Boards at public meetings, events and committees.
• All work performed/duties undertaken must be carried out in accordance with relevant Water Management Alliance, Board and Departmental policies and procedures, within legislation, and with regard to the needs of our customers.
• Work within the public and Flood and Water Management sectors can involve dealing with new and emerging legislation. As such further duties or refinements of current workload may alter the remit of this role to meet the impact of new work areas in the organisation and/or relevant member Board’s. This highlights the importance of the post holder in being an effective advocate for this service area and having a good insight into the wider remits of the organisation.
• You will be required to actively consider the impact of your working arrangements on the organisation’s carbon footprint. Post holders should regularly review the necessity of printing hard copies of electronic documents and seek alternatives to work related travel where it is not essential and work objectives can be met by other means such as video conferencing.

For more information about the role or the WMA, please visit our website
www.wlma.org.uk
or contact Mark Ogden
on 01553 819600
or mark.ogden@wlma.org.uk.

To apply, please send your CV and a brief covering letter to mark.ogden@wlma.org.uk.