Principal Flood and Water Management Officer in London

Lead vital flood resilience projects to protect our neighbourhoods and keep our communities safe, prepared and future-proofed. As our Principal Flood and Water Management Officer, you'll play a pivotal role in strengthening flood resilience across Kensington and Chelsea. It's a position with real borough-wide impact – giving you the chance to drive forward innovative climate adaptation schemes, protect local infrastructure and support residents when they need it most.

Working Style
You'll be based in the Borough for two or three days each week, playing a key role in serving the local community. Whether you're visiting sites, meeting residents or collaborating with colleagues in our accessible office near the high street, you'll be part of a dedicated team making a real difference to people's everyday lives.

What you'll be doing
Your focus will be leading our response to planning applications, providing essential drainage advice on major developments whilst managing strategic flood mitigation projects across the borough. Every day, you'll be out and about driving high-profile, nationally recognised initiatives, such as innovative sustainable drainage on Portobello Road and Holland Park. Working across Council departments and alongside external partners, you'll explore fresh approaches to flood resilience and secure vital grant funding from government bodies to keep projects moving forward.

A key part of your role will involve guiding our statutory responsibilities as the Lead Local Flood Authority. You'll ensure our asset register and flood risk strategies remain up to date and technically robust, while investigating flooding incidents, commissioning technical research and coordinating infrastructure schemes that deliver lasting protection for our residents.

What you'll bring
You'll bring extensive experience in delivering flood management projects at a senior or principal level, alongside a degree in planning, civil engineering, environmental management or a related discipline. We're looking for someone with chartered membership of a relevant professional body, or someone actively working towards it. You'll have a strong background in public sector procurement and a proven track record of securing external funding. Because you'll be engaging directly with residents affected by flooding, you'll approach conversations with empathy and understanding, communicating complex technical advice clearly and listening to local concerns. Highly organised and calm under pressure, you'll confidently handle a varied workload and manage competing priorities with ease. You'll also bring a collaborative, partnership-led approach, working closely with Thames Water, the Environment Agency and your wider network of officers across London to build lasting resilience.

Why join us
At RBKC, we're all in – investing in our people, our communities and our future. You'll join a supportive, forward-thinking team where your technical expertise is genuinely valued and your leadership can drive positive change. This role offers genuine autonomy, empowering you to shape strategic priorities and deliver well-resourced projects that are recognised nationally for their quality and innovation. We will invest in your professional development through continuous learning, offering you the space to collaborate across different service areas and work on world-renowned local sites. Alongside a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a flexible hybrid working pattern and an environment where you can see the direct, tangible impact of your work on the ground.

About us
Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough. As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our work every day, ensuring our services are delivered with care and competence. We listen to our residents, act with integrity and work together to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all.

In this role, the 'We're All In' mindset is central to everything you do. Whether you're assessing plans in the office, collaborating with regional partners or meeting residents out in the community, you'll turn complex climate challenges into practical, protective solutions. It won't always be plain sailing, but your dedication and care will play a defining part in keeping our local neighbourhoods safe, resilient and prepared for the future.

Interview Details
Interviews for this position will be held in person at Kensington Town Hall week commencing 23rd November. Ready to join us? We're all in – are you? If you share our values and have the skills to contribute, we'd love to hear from you. Please apply online explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description.

We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants. We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible. We are committed to fair, transparent, and consistent pay practices. New hires will start at the minimum of the advertised salary range. Employees receive annual salary increases until they reach the top of the pay scale. In addition, employees will receive any agreed cost of living pay rises.