Sustainable Drainage Team Leader

Are you an experienced flood risk or drainage professional looking for an opportunity to lead a specialist team and influence how growth is delivered across Buckinghamshire? This is an exciting opportunity to lead Buckinghamshire Council's Sustainable Drainage Team and play a pivotal role in ensuring new development is supported by high-quality sustainable drainage, effective surface water management and climate-resilient design.

As Sustainable Drainage Team Leader, you will oversee the Lead Local Flood Authority's role within the planning process, influencing major development proposals, strategic infrastructure projects and planning policy across one of the country's largest unitary authorities. You will help shape how Buckinghamshire responds to the challenges of climate change, growth and flood risk while supporting the delivery of sustainable places for communities and businesses.

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.

The Planning, Growth and Sustainability Directorate works with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire. We deliver planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, and transport strategy services, helping to create thriving communities, successful businesses and sustainable development.

The Climate Change and Flood Risk Management (CCFRM Team) manages flood risk in Buckinghamshire and the council’s response to climate change. The Team is comprised of the Flood Management Team, the Sustainable Drainage Team, Project Groundwater, the Flood Capital Programme Team, and the Climate Response Team, with officers who are enthusiastic and passionate about managing local flood risk and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The CCFRM Team delivers the statutory duties of the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), under the Flood and Water Management Act (2010) and Land Drainage Act (1991); develops and delivers a wide range of flood management and research projects; guides the flood management approach regarding large infrastructure projects; manages large tree planting and sustainable energy projects; and the council’s Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy.

Buckinghamshire presents a unique and varied flood risk management challenge, encompassing major growth areas, nationally significant infrastructure projects, market towns, rural catchments and environmentally sensitive locations. This diversity provides excellent opportunities to develop your expertise while making a tangible difference to local communities.

As Sustainable Drainage Team Leader, you will lead Buckinghamshire Council's Sustainable Drainage Team and oversee the Lead Local Flood Authority's role within the planning process. You will manage a team of specialist officers, providing technical leadership on surface water drainage and flood risk matters for major and non-major developments, strategic growth sites and nationally significant infrastructure projects.

Working closely with planning officers, developers, consultants and other Risk Management Authorities, you will promote high-quality sustainable drainage, blue-green infrastructure and climate-resilient development across Buckinghamshire. You will play a key role in shaping local planning policy, contributing to Strategic Flood Risk Assessments and supporting the emerging Buckinghamshire Local Plan, while driving service improvements and helping to shape the future direction of flood risk management across the county.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced flood risk or drainage professional to combine technical expertise, leadership and strategic influence within a highly respected Flood Risk Management service.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated flood risk or drainage professional who has the technical expertise, leadership skills and strategic awareness to lead a specialist team within a busy Lead Local Flood Authority environment. You will have:

• A degree, or equivalent qualification, in a relevant discipline such as Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Geography, Flood Risk Management or a related subject.
• Significant experience within a Lead Local Flood Authority, local planning authority, consultancy, Environment Agency, water company or similar organisation involved in drainage, flood risk and development planning.
• Extensive knowledge of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), surface water management and flood risk legislation, policy and best practice.
• Experience leading, managing or mentoring technical staff.
• A strong understanding of the planning system and the role of the Lead Local Flood Authority.
• Experience of working on major development proposals and strategic sites.
• The ability to manage competing priorities while delivering high-quality outcomes within statutory timescales.
• Strong analytical, communication, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience contributing to planning policy, strategic flood risk work, guidance documents or wider service improvements.
• The confidence and credibility to represent the Council in public and professional settings.
• Professional membership of CIWEM, ICE or a similar professional body would be advantageous.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions.

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture include being Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy. By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect a fair and inclusive culture, health and well-being initiatives, ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us.

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

It’s a great time to join one of our teams. As part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability function you will not only get to help shape the economic future of Buckinghamshire; you’ll also be involved in delivering high-profile development projects and work on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK.

We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme.