Assistant Programme and Commissioning Officer

Job Introduction This role has a starting salary of £38,090 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week. We are excited to be recruiting an Assistant Programme & Commissioning 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 and is likely to remain in the western half of the County in 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 role that combines technical analysis with community engagement to help develop projects that reduce flood risk for Surrey residents. You will investigate areas at risk of flooding, identify the factors contributing to flood events, and support the development of effective and sustainable solutions. Typical responsibilities will include: Conducting site visits, desk studies and deep dive investigations into flood affected areas Speaking to residents to find and understand local knowledge of issues 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 Producing reports, maps, presentations and briefing papers to communicate complex information to both technical and non-technical audiences A typical day could involve site visits to understand flood risk issues and opportunities within a catchment, assisting with the analysis of historical flood and drainage data, and helping to develop project proposals with partners and stakeholders. You will contribute to the preparation of funding applications, review technical information and consultant reports, and support the development of recommendations and briefings for a range of audiences. You will also assist the team in responding to emerging priorities such as flooding incidents, severe weather events, policy changes, and new funding opportunities. Working alongside experienced colleagues and partner organisations, you will help progress projects from initial investigation through to delivery. This varied role offers an excellent opportunity to develop technical, project management and partnership-working skills. By using data, mapping tools, technical evidence and local knowledge, you will support the development of practical and sustainable solutions that reduce flood risk, improve community resilience, protect homes and businesses, and contribute to the creation of thriving places 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: Knowledge and understanding of managing flood risk, drainage or environmental improvements Experience of working with the public or residents Good IT skills, including MS Office. Knowledge of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) mapping tools would be preferred but training can be provided Experience of project management principles Experience of working with stakeholders/contractors Ability to work on own initiative with solution focused problem solving skills Surrey has both urban and rural areas and officers will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job. To apply, we request that you submit a CV, and you will be asked the following 4 questions: How would you explain the importance of sustainable drainage and natural flood management to a local community? Describe a situation where you had to respond to concerns from residents. What was the outcome? Describe a project where you worked with several organisations or stakeholder groups. What was your role and what did you achieve? Tell us about a time when your analysis or written briefing influenced a decision or recommendation. Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey. 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 at mark.howarth@surreycc.gov.uk . The job advert closes at 23:59 on 01/11/2026 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 and will move to new authorities in April 2027. This role is currently employed by Surrey County Council and will remain so until then. If you are employed by Surrey County Council on 1 April 2027, your employment will transfer under TUPE arrangements to one of the new councils, with your current terms and conditions protected. The provisional allocation for this post is West Surrey Council, subject to final confirmation through the wider transition process later this year. 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.