Development and Flood Risk Officer
Permanent, Full Time
£28,980 to £34,094 per annum
Location: Essex
Closing Date: 2nd December 2025
This position has been classed as an anywhere worker role but has an expectation that the successful candidate will attend the office, in Chelmsford 1 day per month, with the remaining time for remote working if desired, in line with the organisation's needs
The Opportunity
Essex is committed to enabling inclusive economic growth, helping people get the best start and age well, helping create great places to grow up, live and work and transforming the Council to achieve more with less.
The Development and Flood Risk Officer will log applications, assessing, deciding and informing the Planning Authority whether proposals are supported or objected to, on the basis of flood risk and inclusion of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). This is part of the Lead Local Flood Authority's statutory consultee role for major planning applications.
The role is required to work across and understand the policies/processes in highways, water companies and the Environment Agency, maintaining knowledge of recent developments in the field of SuDS including flood risk, water quality, biodiversity, viability, water supply, construction and building regulations. Knowledge and understanding of drainage design and analysis software systems is key to success in this role.
Accountabilities
* Responsible for responding to major planning application consultations and chargeable pre-application enquiries within required timescales, updating the applications database/case management system.
* Work collaboratively with partners to address technical issues arising, to resolve quickly with no impact on response times.
* Responsible for maintaining up-to-date knowledge of leading edge practice national legislation and guidance, determining effective practical application across the Council.
* Deliver follow-up process to planning consultations e.g. logging assets on the asset register.
* Attend engagement events as required and update partners/interested groups of the team's activities on a regular basis if appropriate.
* Screening out sites that do not require a response.
* Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.
The Experience You Will Bring
* Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience.
* Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
* Working knowledge of water and drainage asset management, including:-general knowledge of SuDS guidance and legislation, principles of sustainable development and best practice in the application of SuDS, basics of water-related law, regulation and policy, statutory planning and SuDS Approval processes.
* Knowledge of applying a risk-based approach to asset management.
* Experience of SuDS, from an approval perspective is desirable.
* Experience of drainage design and analysis software systems (e.g. Micro Drainage), together with knowledge of data management.
* Ability to build networks of contacts and maintain effective relationships across the Council and partners in both the public and private sector.
* Proven track record of delivering excellent customer service skills.