Job Title: Engineer - Development Control - Flood & Climate Resilience Management

Salary: SO2 £37,280 - £39,152

Hours: 37 hours

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House, Knowsthorpe Gate, Waterside and Hybrid

Could you make a difference to the future of our city?

The impacts of a changing climate are challenging for countries and cities across the world. The Flood & Climate Resilience Management (FCRM) team here in Leeds is doing innovative and important work to make Leeds a more climate resilient city. If you’re motivated to help protect Leeds from the impacts of climate change both now and in the future, we’d love for you to join us.

As an Engineer in Development Control you’ll thrive on the diverse and challenging workload which flooding represents, both now and in to the future as the impacts of climate change become apparent.

It’s not just about building flood defences. It is about seeking innovative and sustainable solutions as part of development proposals to mimic natural processes and reduce flood risk.

To find out more about some of our ongoing and completed schemes visit: Have Your Say Today – Leeds City Council Flood Resilience – Commonplace

To watch videos on the impact of our schemes and what it’s like to work in the FCRM team visit: Leeds Flood and Climate Resilience Team Impacts and Projects

Leeds is a growing, vibrant and diverse city, and Leeds City Council is the second largest local authority in England, as well as being an inclusive, modern and flexible employer. We are also one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As an Engineer in Development Control, you will bring to the role:

Knowledge and experience of flood risk and drainage design
An understanding of the planning process and the role of the Planning Authority and Lead Local Flood Authority
The ability to communicate key issues clearly and succinctly both in writing and verbally.
The ability to resolve conflict.
The ability to manage competing priorities whilst delivering on a range of schemes and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.

About the role

We have a rewarding opportunity for a professional working in Flood & Climate Resilience Management and the wider Civil Engineering service area and are looking for someone with experience of working within the Flood & Climate Resilience Management sector. Your background may be hydrology, geography, civil engineering, Town & Country planning, or a related subject. This is a role which offers a diverse and challenging workload. You will provide technical support to not only the other members of the Development Control team, but also to other teams within Flood Risk Management. In addition, you will develop partnerships both within the council and with external parties to ensure we protect against present and future flood risk. The Development Control team provides a Statutory function advising on surface water risk on planning applications. The team deal with nearly 2000 planning applications a year. In addition, the team are required to approve 'Watercourse consents', advise on highways and Section 38 schemes, develop policy and advisory notes, and influence working practises.

Flooding represents a crucial challenge both now and into the future as the impacts of climate change become apparent.

We are always looking for better and smarter ways to work and are seeking the right person to help us do that.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, contact Nazneen Malik (Nazneen.Malik@leeds.gov.uk).

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

Working as part of the Flood Risk Management team, you will reduce the risk of flooding to people, properties, and infrastructure by ensuring that flood risk is considered at all stages of the development process, asset management and scheme development.

Responsibilities

Principal Responsibilities

To support and contribute towards reducing the risk of flooding by ensuring that flood risk is taken into account at all stages of the development process.
To live and model the values and behaviours to help us to achieve our ambition to become the best city council in the country.
To play an important role in ensuring the Council is more enterprising and efficient and ensuring that the authority has in place proper arrangements for the administration and delivery of flood risk management.
To be motivated to achieve Corporate Plan, Service Plan and Divisional Plan objectives.
Promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and equality in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement areas, focusing on equality of outcome.
Provide technical support to the processes and procedures operated within the team.
Work towards achieving a good level of technical competence. Provide technical support to the processes and procedures operated within the team.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Specific Responsibilities

To ensure the team delivers against its KPIs.
Provide a high quality and cost-effective flood risk advisory service to support the growth agenda for the city.
Support and assist in the development of policies.
Maintain good awareness of Health and Safety legislation.
Awareness of key planning and drainage legislation, as it applies to the work of the team.
Working knowledge of surface water drainage design and associated software, including SuDS.
Provide expert advice to other sections of the council on flooding and drainage.
Ensure that own work complies with Council's policies and contributes to the sustainability agenda.
Awareness of various hydrological and hydraulic modelling methods and associated surface water drainage designs.
Carry out investigation of land drainage and flooding problems as directed and report thereon.

Qualifications

HNC/HND or similar relevant qualification or can demonstrate relevant experience at a senior level

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Ability to work as part of a team to achieve positive outcomes
Knowledge of equal opportunities in both employment and service delivery.
Ability to contribute to initiatives to improve standards and performance.
Knowledge and experience of flood risk and drainage design
Ability to manage competing priorities whilst delivering on a range of schemes and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.
Be able to work competently, to strict deadlines, as an effective team member
Ability to plan and organise own work and that of others competently with minimum supervision, and to strict deadlines
Ability to communicate key issues clearly and succinctly both in writing and verbally.
Ability to resolve conflict.
An understanding of the planning process and the role of the LPA and the LLFA.
Ability to promote a professional image of self, the department and the Council.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Skills:

Possess a current driving licence
Ability to interpret corporate visions and values and put into practice through agreed policies and strategies.
Ability to develop and contribute to partnerships involving various stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.

Experience:

Experience in using flow modelling applications – MicroDrainage.

Knowledge/Qualifications:

Knowledge of hydrology and familiarity with FEH or FSR

Behavioural/Other Related Characteristics:

Understanding of local government and experience of achieving results in a politically sensitive context.
Understanding of and commitment to sustainability in service delivery.