Senior Flood Risk and Adaption Officer

Job Title: Senior Flood Risk and Adaption Officer
Starting Salary: £42,839 plus £4,342 market enhancement progressing to £47,181 plus £4,175 market enhancement per annum
Hours: 37
Location: Stevenage with hybrid working opportunities
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Growth & Environment

About the team

We’re a creative, collaborative, and forward-thinking team that thrives on partnership working. You’ll engage with internal teams across the council and external partners, from local communities to national agencies. If you’re passionate about climate resilience, eager to think outside the box, and ready to make a real difference for Hertfordshire’s future, we’d love to hear from you.

Guided by the Climate Change Act 2008 and our commitment to a resilient Hertfordshire, our team plays a vital role in helping communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems adapt to a changing climate. From rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns to more frequent extreme weather events, we’re working to ensure Hertfordshire is ready and thriving in the face of these challenges.

We hold a statutory role under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, managing flood risk from surface water, ordinary watercourses, and groundwater. But our work goes far beyond compliance. We investigate flooding, support residents, and collaborate with partners to implement both traditional and innovative flood mitigation measures. Our ambition is to help the county “live with water” embracing nature-based solutions and long-term resilience.

This role offers a unique opportunity to work across a wide range of disciplines and teams, including:

• Emergency Management & Resilience: Collaborate with our Resilience Team to support emergency planning and response, ensuring communities are prepared for climate-related events.
• Countryside & Estate Management: Work with teams managing our diverse authority-owned estates, integrating water and land management to enhance natural resilience and biodiversity.
• Sustainable Hertfordshire: Support county-wide initiatives focused on cleaner air, improved biodiversity, better water quality, and nature-based solutions that deliver multiple environmental benefits.
• Climate Adaptation: Helping the county understand climate risks and embed resilience across council services, infrastructure, and communities.

Websites

• https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/recycling-waste-and-environme…
• https://www.befloodready.uk/hertfordshire

About the role

As a Senior Flood Risk and Adaptation Officer, you’ll play a vital role in helping Hertfordshire prepare for and respond to the growing impacts of climate change. This senior technical position combines project delivery, strategic input, and cross-sector collaboration, supporting both flood risk management and climate adaptation across the county.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Deputising for the Operations Manager: Provide support and continuity in decision-making and coordination during periods of absence
• Project Management: Lead and coordinate flood risk and adaptation projects, ensuring they meet objectives, timelines, and budgets.
• Funding Bids: Prepare and submit applications to secure funding for innovative flood and climate resilience initiatives.
• Regional Engagement: Represent the council at Regional Flood and Coastal Committee meetings, contributing to strategic discussions and influencing regional priorities.
• Support to Elected Members: Offer expert advice and briefings to Councillors on flood risk and climate adaptation matters.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Present technical information to a range of audiences, including residents, professionals, and senior officers, helping build understanding and support.
• Mentoring and Support: Provide guidance and technical support to junior team members, helping them develop their skills and confidence.
• Innovation and Opportunity: Identify new opportunities and approaches to enhance the team’s work and impact.
• Section 19 Investigations: Review statutory investigations into significant flood events, ensuring robust analysis and reporting.
• Consultation Input: Provide expert responses to local and national consultations, shaping policy and practice in flood risk and adaptation.
• Partnership Working: Collaborate with a wide range of risk management authorities, council departments, and external partners to deliver integrated and effective solutions.

In addition to flood risk responsibilities, you’ll play a key role in climate adaptation, including:

• Contributing to Hertfordshire’s Adaptation Strategy: Support the development of a county-wide strategy to address climate risks and build long-term resilience.
• Building Awareness Across the Council: Help raise understanding of climate impacts and adaptation needs across departments and service areas.
• Supporting Governance and Strategic Planning: Contribute to the development of governance structures and decision-making processes that guide how Hertfordshire County Council responds to climate change.

As part of this role, you’ll have the opportunity to attend conferences and events across the country, not only to showcase and promote the innovative work happening at Hertfordshire County Council, but also to learn from others, build professional networks, and bring back fresh ideas that help strengthen our approach to flood risk and climate adaptation.

About You

Essential Criteria

• Experience working within the environmental sector or on climate adaptation or flood risk projects.
• Good understanding of different types of flooding.
• Familiarity with best practice guidance for surface water drainage and flood management techniques.
• Experience in public engagement and stakeholder interaction.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex technical matters to a range of audiences.
• Strong presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience of working with a variety of senior stakeholders (for example elected members).
• Ability to write and present technical information in accessible formats.
• Experience managing or coordinating projects, including planning and delivery.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with strategic decision-making capability.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Experience using GIS software for mapping and spatial analysis

Other Requirements

• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience applying for or managing Environment Agency funding(e.g. Flood Defence Grant in Aid or Local Levy Regional Flood and Coastal Committees (RFCCs) - GOV.UK).
• Familiarity with NEC4 (New Engineering Contract) contractsor similar procurement frameworks.
• Experience writing Section 19 flood investigations.
• Understanding of local government structures and decision-making processes.
• Ability to interpret hydraulic modelling outputs and technical design drawings.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is within the Technical Services, level TEC11 job profile. Please locate this via:

Job profiles: Technical services

To hear more about this opportunity please contact sian.Barker@hertfordshire.gov.uk or Julie.Greaves@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: 7th to 14th November 2025

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.