Programme and Commissioning Officer - Flood and Climate

Job Introduction We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all. This role has a starting salary of £42,958 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week. We are excited to be recruiting an Officer to join the Place, Programme & Commissioning Flood Team. We're a busy, friendly, and active team who care about flood risk reduction! We offer a hybrid working model with a minimum of 2 to 3 office days per week, site visits or home working. This role is currently based near Guildford, but the office location is likely to change to the eastern half of the County with the upcoming Local Government Reorganisation. Our Offer to You 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service (prorated for part time staff) Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave A generous local government salary related pension Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year Paternity, adoption and dependents leave An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents. About the Role Are you looking for an opportunity to build your career in flood risk management? Surrey County Council is the Lead Local Flood Authority for the County of Surrey and is responsible for managing the flood risk from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. This is a varied and technically focused role that combines flood risk management, programme commissioning and the analysis of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to support the development of resilient communities across Surrey. The successful applicant will play a key role in identifying, developing and delivering flood mitigation and environmental improvement projects, using spatial data and evidence to inform investment decisions and programme priorities. Typical responsibilities will include: Developing and managing programmes and projects that reduce flood risk, improve drainage, enhance water management and support climate adaptation objectives Using GIS, flood mapping and spatial analysis tools to identify priority areas, assess risks, evaluate options and support the development of business cases and funding bids Analysing environmental, technical, demographic and asset data to provide evidence-based recommendations for project development and investment decisions Working closely with the Environment Agency, local authorities, infrastructure providers, elected Members and community groups to develop and commission effective flood resilience schemes Managing project budgets, monitoring performance, tracking risks and ensuring delivery against agreed outcomes and timescales Producing reports, maps, presentations and briefing papers to communicate complex information to both technical and non-technical audiences A typical day could involve interrogating GIS datasets to identify flood hotspots, meeting partners to discuss project opportunities, preparing funding applications, reviewing consultant outputs, undertaking site visits and presenting recommendations to stakeholders. Alongside these routine responsibilities, the post holder will respond to emerging priorities such as flooding incidents, severe weather events, policy changes and new funding opportunities. The role offers a diverse workload requiring strong analytical, project management and partnership-working skills, with the opportunity to use data, mapping and local intelligence to shape practical solutions that improve flood resilience, protect communities and support sustainable place-making across Surrey. Over the next 6 months you will support the disaggregation of the team and its data and help prepare the team for Local Government Reorganisation. Your Application To be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours: A good level of experience in manipulating Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Previous experience of developing and managing schemes as a project manager and a client Experience of working with stakeholders, partners and members of the public Experience of writing funding applications To apply, we request that you submit a CV, and you will be asked 4 questions based around the following: Please describe your experience in flood risk management and/or the development of flood risk programmes. What was your role, what challenges did you face, and what outcomes were achieved? Tell us about a time when you used GIS and/or spatial data analysis to inform decision-making, identify risks, or support a project. What tools and techniques did you use, and how did your analysis contribute to the outcome? Provide an example of a project or initiative where you worked with multiple partners or stakeholders. How did you build relationships, manage differing priorities, and ensure successful collaboration? Describe a situation where you had to manage competing priorities while delivering one or more projects. How did you determine priorities, manage risks and resources, and ensure successful delivery? Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Contact Us Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. For an informal discussion please contact Mark Howarth via email. The job advert closes at 23:59 on 20/09/2026 with interviews to follow. We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities. Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council Our Commitment We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.