Flood Programme Manager

Overview

We are seeking an enthusiastic, dedicated and experienced programme manager to manage Buckinghamshire Council’s exciting >£11million flood resilience capital programme.

This role involves progressing the Flood Capital Programme and its diverse schemes through required project life cycle stages (including identifying new opportunities, scoping, feasibility, stakeholder engagement, design development, implementation, monitoring and review) that vary widely in scope from initial business case development, undertaking analysis (modelling and mapping), working with communities to deliver flood resilience projects, including nature-based solutions and property flood resilience measures, to delivering hard engineering solutions to reduce flood risk in our communities.

You will manage a team of up to 5 people and collaborate with both in-house and external specialists and partners to ensure the successful delivery of the programme.

About us

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 (until 2027), 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 Flood Risk Management Team deliver the statutory duties of the LLFA under the Flood and Water Management Act (2010) and Land Drainage Act (1991) as well as guiding the flood management approach on large infrastructure projects impacting Buckinghamshire. This role would help us develop and deliver a number of flood management projects in collaboration with partners like Highways, Parks and Greenspaces, and smarter water catchments across the county. These are non-statutory areas of work which have a high profile and are critical to achieving the objectives of our Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.

The council’s Capital Flood Programme has included the delivery of an impressive range of flood management and resilience projects across Buckinghamshire, including at Marlow, Chesham and nature-based solutions in North Buckinghamshire river catchments. The projects are typically funded from external public sources (e.g. DEFRA/Environment Agency), but the Capital Flood Programme also benefits from a multi-million pound investment from the council.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced and motivated project/programme management professional who has the technical expertise in relation to flood risk management, leadership skills, and strategic awareness to lead a specialist team within a busy Lead Local Flood Authority environment.

The main responsibilities and duties of the Flood Programme Manager are to:

• Work closely with the Climate Change and Flood Risk Manager, team members, and internal/external stakeholders to effectively deliver the Flood Capital programme.
• Provide strategic leadership and specialist technical advice to internal teams, partners and stakeholders to identify and drive the successful development and delivery of the programme.
• Lead programme and project planning and implementation to ensure timely and budget-compliant delivery.
• Robustly manage programme budgets.
• Lead the identification and acquisition of external funding opportunities to ensure continued programme growth.
• Lead and monitor procurement activities, ensuring all relevant procurement processes, policies and governance requirements are followed and compliant.
• Secure technical, financial, and cabinet member approvals through correct governance procedures.
• Lead the production and delivery of high-quality programme and project documents and records such as risk and issue logs, business cases, and reports.
• Ensure proactive and reactive communications are fit-for-purpose.
• Represent the council within catchment partnerships, Smarter Water Catchments programmes, Regional Flood and Coastal Committees (RFCCs) and other strategic forums, fostering collaborative working.
• Champion a catchment-based approach to flood risk management, building effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to coordinate investment, priorities and project development, ensuring the delivery of integrated and sustainable flood resilience outcomes across the county.

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

 

About you

You will have substantial experience of managing construction projects and flood management projects (including projects funded by the Environment Agency/Defra). As such you will have excellent planning and organisation; stakeholder relationship; procurement, budget and contract management skills, and have knowledge of relevant systems, legislation, policies, and funding in relation to flood risk management.

For additional details, please see the attached job summary.

Other information

Interview-type / process: In person at Walton Street Offices, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1UA.

For additional information or an informal conversation about this role or the team’s work, please contact Hannah Joyce ([email protected]; 01296674472)

Interview dates to be confirmed but likely to be October/November 2026.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate works with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire.  We deliver services on planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property.

 Our key priorities include developing the economic narrative for Bucks, creating more jobs and delivering the right infrastructure to help businesses and residents thrive. We also aim to provide a proactive planning service that is responsive, whilst making the best use of the Council’s land and property portfolio. This will in turn support community services and create housing, jobs, regeneration and income to support public services.

 It’s a great time to join one of our teams. As part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability function you will not only get to help shape the economic future of Buckinghamshire; you’ll also be involved in delivering high-profile development projects and work on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK. You will support us to deliver the results that our local residents and businesses deserve.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/