We are seeking two enthusiastic and proactive Flood & Coastal Risk Management Officers to join Westmorland & Furness Council’s Flood & Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) team. These roles will support the full range of the Council’s flood and coastal risk management functions, including the delivery of capital projects, flood investigations, and statutory consultee responses to planning applications. Depending on team priorities and individual experience, each officer may take a lead on specific areas such as coastal scheme delivery, surface water drainage in new developments, or stakeholder engagement through community task groups and technical partnerships. The FCRM team fulfils the Council’s statutory flood and coastal risk management responsibilities. This includes Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) duties; Coast Protection Authority (CPA) duties; and as a statutory consultee on planning applications, which covers sustainable surface water drainage (SuDS) and flood risk with respect to new developments. The team is also responsible for ordinary watercourse consenting activities, flood investigations, and delivery of the FCRM capital works programme. An FCRM Officer is required to actively engage with a wide range of technical partners and stakeholders throughout the region, to ensure collaborative working and efficient delivery of outcome measures intended to mitigate flood and coastal risks. In addition, regular engagement with elected members and the public by the FCRM Officer will ensure that an appropriate level of consultation is undertaken, feedback is fed into the activities, and stakeholders are kept up to date with proposed and ongoing actions. In the role, you will contribute to the Council’s flood and coastal risk management responsibilities by scoping, designing, and overseeing the delivery of protection projects, responding to statutory planning consultations, and supporting community and stakeholder engagement. You will review surface water drainage proposals for new developments, provide technical advice as a statutory consultee, and help implement sustainable drainage principles. You will also be responsible for project planning and oversight—undertaking site visits, supervising on-site works, and representing the service at external meetings. The role includes preparing funding applications through DEFRA’s Flood Defence Grant-in-Aid (GiA) mechanism, identifying partnership funding opportunities, and collaborating with technical partners to deliver shared outcomes and exchange data and insights. The FCRM Officer also provides advice to colleagues, other officers, and external parties on the interpretation and application of flood and coastal policies, technical principles, regulations, and legislation in respect of the areas of responsibility. Please refer to the post specification for further details. Who we are looking for… We are looking for experienced individuals with a good understanding of the mechanisms that drive flooding and coastal erosion processes. You will have a track record within the coastal, flooding, or civil engineering sectors and hold a relevant degree in an appropriate discipline, or equivalent demonstrable experience. Highly self-motivated and able to work independently using your own initiative, the candidates will have: experience of managing projects, consultants and contractors, including commercial, schedule and delivery oversight; experience of multi-agency working, working in partnerships, and with other professional partners, in supporting the delivery of flood and coastal risk management projects; experience of leading task groups and chairing meetings; an understanding of the funding mechanisms available to public sector organisations, such as DEFRA’s Flood Defence Grant-in-Aid, and; experience of preparing and submitting successful funding bids. You will be able to understand and produce technical drawings and reports, with excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the preparation and presentation of information and reports tailored to suit the audience. Knowledge of NEC contracts and CDM:2015 regulations, and ability to use AutoCAD and GIS software is desirable. Due to the regular need to attend site visits and external meetings, a valid driving licence is essential for this role. For more information or to discuss the role further, please contact Matthew Waning (FCRM Lead Officer) on Matthew.Waning@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk What can we offer you! Working at Westmorland and Furness Council you will receive a variety of benefits, including a competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and other various perks and discounts schemes. For more information about life at Westmorland and Furness Council and what we can offer you, please visit our Careers site. Our benefits | Careers (westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk) Would you like to find out more? For further information about this role, such as responsibilities and essential criteria please view the below attachments: Post Specification Role Profile To apply please click the Apply Now link below.