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. The starting salary for this role is £38,090 per annum, working 36 hours per week. Are you looking for an opportunity to build your career in flood risk management? We are hiring a Sustainable Drainage Officer to join our Sustainable Drainage and Consenting Team, based in Guildford. We offer opportunities for hybrid working including days working from home if desirable. Our Offer to You 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service (pro-rated for part time opportunities) 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 Team Surrey County Council is the Lead Local Flood Authority for the County of Surrey and is responsible for providing planning advice to Local Planning Authorities on surface water drainage on new major planning applications. The Sustainable Drainage and Consenting Team act as statutory planning consultees for surface water drainage on all major planning applications and carry out our role as regulatory authority for works affecting ordinary watercourses. We provide advice on over 1500 proposed developments per year, as well as providing pre-application advice and support on planning policy. We are passionate advocates for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), climate change action and green/blue infrastructure, and seek to enhance development within the county so that it provides better water quality, amenity, and biodiversity benefits, as well as helping to reduce flood risk. To help us achieve our goals we are looking for an officer to work within the team to: Assess planning applications against requirements for sustainable drainage within the National Planning Policy Framework and the National standards for sustainable drainage systems Provide advice to Local Planning Authority consultations and developers on drainage schemes Carry out assessments of Ordinary Watercourse consent applications Investigate and answer customer flood risk enquiries You will need to manage your own workload effectively to meet tight deadlines while being a part of a dynamic and busy team. As well as this, you must be a confident communicator and negotiator, capable of explaining technical information clearly and sensitively. In addition, you will be confident using IT systems with experience of using spreadsheets and interesting in learning how to use GIS if you do not already have these skills. Shortlisting Criteria In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours : An interest in sustainable drainage, flood risk management, environmental sustainability, climate resilience, planning, engineering or a related field, and a willingness to develop technical expertise. Experience of reviewing, analysing or interpreting technical information, reports, plans or datasets and producing clear written recommendations, advice or feedback. Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to explain technical or complex information to a range of audiences and work collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes. Experience of managing a varied workload, prioritising competing demands and meeting deadlines in a busy environment. Good IT and data management skills, including experience of working with databases, spreadsheets or mapping systems. To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions: What are your motivations for applying for this role? Please describe any knowledge, experience or interest you have in sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), flood risk management, environmental sustainability, climate resilience, planning, engineering or related fields. How have you developed this knowledge and how would you apply it in this role? Please tell us about, and provide examples of, your experience analysing reports or data against set criteria and providing written feedback. Please provide examples from your work, education, volunteering or personal experience that demonstrate how you have communicated with different stakeholders, built positive relationships and influenced an outcome. We welcome applicants with transferrable skills and there will be detailed on the job and formal training opportunities for the successful candidates. Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey. The job advert closes at 23:59 on 20/09/2026 with interviews planned to follow. 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 Amy Rodwell via email or on MS Teams. 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.

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