Development and Flood Risk Officer

Development and Flood Risk Officer

Permanent, Full Time

£28,980 to £34,094 per annum

Location: Essex

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 2nd December 2025

This position has been classed as an anywhere worker role but has an expectation that the successful candidate will attend the office, in Chelmsford 1 day per month, with the remaining time for remote working if desired, in line with the organisation’s needs

To read more about our business area, please visit:

Climate, Environment and Customer Services

The Opportunity

Essex is committed to enabling inclusive economic growth, helping people get the best start and age well, helping create great places to grow up, live and work and transforming the Council to achieve more with less.  

The Development and Flood Risk Officer will log applications, assessing, deciding and informing the Planning Authority whether proposals are supported or objected to, on the basis of flood risk and inclusion of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).  This is part of the Lead Local Flood Authority’s statutory consultee role for major planning applications. 

The role is required to work across and understand the policies/processes in highways, water companies and the Environment Agency, maintaining knowledge of recent developments in the field of SuDS including flood risk, water quality, biodiversity, viability, water supply, construction and building regulations.  Knowledge and understanding of drainage design and analysis software systems is key to success in this role. 

Accountabilities

• Responsible for responding to major planning application consultations and chargeable pre-application enquiries within required timescales, updating the applications database/case management system.
• Work collaboratively with partners to address technical issues arising, to resolve quickly with no impact on response times.
• Responsible for maintaining up-to-date knowledge of leading edge practice national legislation and guidance, determining effective practical application across the Council.
• Deliver follow-up process to planning consultations e.g. logging assets on the asset register.
• Attend engagement events as required and update partners/interested groups of the team’s activities on a regular basis if appropriate.
• Screening out sites that do not require a response.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Working knowledge of water and drainage asset management, including:-general knowledge of SuDS guidance and legislation, principles of sustainable development and best practice in the application of SuDS, basics of water-related law, regulation and policy, statutory planning and SuDS Approval processes.
• Knowledge of applying a risk-based approach to asset management.
• Experience of SuDS, from an approval perspective is desirable.
• Experience of drainage design and analysis software systems (e.g. Micro Drainage), together with knowledge of data management.
• Ability to build networks of contacts and maintain effective relationships across the Council and partners in both the public and private sector.
• Proven track record of delivering excellent customer service skills.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service.  The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate.  This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.  For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please Jamielea.wallis@Essex.gov.uk

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