Flood Risk Manager

Crewe, CW1

Full Time

We are working with a market leader in the highways term maintenance industry looking for a pro-active manager to lead our Lead Local Flood Team for the Authority (LLFA).

The LLFA team is responsible for managing the risk of flooding from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. We are seeking a manager to ensure we deliver our statutory duties and priorities.

You will be delivering innovative schemes to improve flooding resilience in partnership with organisations including the Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Board and United Utilities. You will also ensure we meet our obligations under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and the Land Drainage Act 1991.

As Flood Risk Manager, you will provide advice and recommendations to Client Officers and Councillors on flood risk matters as well as engaging with members of the public and community flood groups. You will lead in the commissioning of projects, the development of policy and ensure planning applications are reviewed within agreed timescales.

The Role

• Provide Management, leadership, guidance, and direction to members of staff in the FCERM Team. Deputise for and support the Contract Manager as necessary. Demonstrate a timely and informed approach to problem solving and decision making across a broad range of matters relevant to flood and coastal erosion risk management, including guidance and provision of training in relation to legislative and service requirements.
• Review the effects of legislation, policy, and practice on the performance of the service. Ensure the team administer and implement strategies, policies, capital projects and initiatives ensuring that the delivery of the Flood and Coastal Risk Management function meets the needs of local people, elected members and stakeholders. This includes the ‘Local Flood Risk Management Strategy’, ‘Flood Risk Management Plans’, ‘Shoreline Management Plans’ etc.
• Develop and maintain a close working relationship with Central Government’s Flood and Coastal Risk Management team and other Risk Management Agencies and Authorities. Authorities’ including EA, UU, MHA and others. Identify, develop, and implement collaborative working arrangements where opportunities exist and to encourage the sharing of best practice.
• Manage all financial matters within the purview of the LLFA and future SAB functions. Manage revenue and capital budgets, grant funding, fee generation and income streams and assess budgetary implications to deliver a professional service which is value for money. Identify and implement the financial arrangements and procedures so that service cost recovery opportunities are maximised.
• Lead and manage the preparation and implementation of policies and procedures relating to the development of CEC’s SAB delivery model. Establish and implement the internal arrangements, procedures and working practices with other council services (including Highways, Legal, Planning, etc.) to enable the Council to deliver this duty as effectively as possible and ensure the consistent application of the National Surface Water Drainage Standards.
• Determine complex applications made to the Authority for the approval of drainage works and their adoption by the Council as SAB in a robust and timely manner. Endorse the recommendations made by team members and prepare evidence and appeal statements and to represent the Authority and give evidence to PLI/Hearings and at Court. Where expedient implement decisive enforcement action to remedy breaches where construction works have been undertaken in the absence of, or contrary to the details of a SuDS approval issued under Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act.

About You

• Hold a water or environmental or equivalent qualification to degree level. Essential.
• BSc/BA diploma in management or a relevant field. Desirable.
• To have experience of worked in a public facing role, representing the organisation with an ability to process complex information to advise, direct and steer senior management, Councillors, and other persons commensurate to the post.
• Experience of building effective working partnerships and working with external and national stakeholders/partners (e.g., Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Board, United Utilities).