Senior Flood Risk Management Officer

Job Introduction

About Us

At Oxfordshire County Council, we are passionate about creating a safer, more resilient future for our residents. As a forward-thinking local authority, we are committed to tackling the challenges posed by climate change and extreme weather events. Our Flood Risk Management Team plays a crucial role in this mission, working to reduce the risk and impact of flooding across the county.

We are proud to foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement. Our values—always learning, being kind and caring, acting with integrity, taking responsibility, and daring to do things differently—are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in empowering our staff to deliver their best work, and we support agile and flexible working to help you achieve a healthy work-life balance.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Flood Risk Management Team as a Senior Officer, where you will take a leading role in shaping and delivering our flood resilience strategy. You will be at the forefront of our efforts to protect communities from flooding, working closely with residents, local authorities, and national agencies to develop and implement practical, community-focused solutions.

Your work will involve leading on community engagement initiatives, helping residents understand and manage their flood risk, and supporting the development of local flood plans and small-scale resilience measures. You will also play a key role in managing data and mapping projects to identify high-risk areas and inform our strategic planning.

In this role, you will collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including internal teams such as Highways and Climate Resilience, as well as external partners like the Environment Agency and local water companies. You will be responsible for developing and delivering projects, preparing reports and guidance, and representing the council at public meetings and events.

This is a varied and rewarding position that offers the chance to make a tangible difference to the lives of people across Oxfordshire. You will be supported by a dedicated team and will have the opportunity to contribute to the continuous improvement of our services.

About You

We are looking for a motivated and experienced professional with a strong background in flood risk management or a related field. You will have a deep understanding of flood and water legislation, as well as the wider issues surrounding climate change and community resilience.

You will be confident in working with a range of stakeholders, from residents and community groups to senior officers and elected members. Your ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively will be essential, as will your skills in project management and data analysis.

To succeed in this role, you will need to be proactive, adaptable, and committed to delivering high-quality services. You should be comfortable working independently as well as part of a team, and be able to manage a dynamic and sometimes challenging workload.

A relevant degree or equivalent experience is essential, and a valid driving licence is required due to the county-wide nature of the role. Experience with GIS mapping and data software, as well as professional membership of a relevant organisation such as CIWEM, would be advantageous.

Rewards and benefits

• Culture of flexible and agile working;
• Technology to support agile working, where role permits;
• 30 days’ holiday p.a. plus bank holidays (Increasing to 32 days after 10 years’ service);
• Offer access to a Relocation Scheme, depending on circumstances and conditions, should you need to consider moving closer to or into the County from where you currently live. Further details are available on request;
• Option to ‘buy’ additional holiday;
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support;
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%;
• Enhanced family friendly policies;
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel;
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development.

Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:
Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, full time and part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk