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…