Job Title: Engineer - 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 within the Flood Climate Resilience Management (FCRM) Maintenance Team, you will play a vital operational role in protecting communities, infrastructure, and the environment from flood risk.
This is a hands-on, varied, and highly impactful role, focused on the inspection, maintenance, and improvement of critical drainage and flood risk assets across the city. From culverts and watercourses to drainage systems and flood alleviation schemes, you will be at the forefront of ensuring these assets are safe, effective, and resilient—particularly as the impacts of climate change continue to intensify.
The role is not just about maintaining infrastructure; it is about taking a proactive, preventative approach to flood risk management. You will identify issues before they escalate, deliver maintenance programmes, and contribute to practical engineering solutions that reduce risk and improve long-term resilience.
Working closely with internal teams, contractors, and external partners, you will manage both planned and reactive works, respond to flood incidents, and help ensure the Council meets its statutory responsibilities as a Lead Local Flood Authority.
This is an excellent opportunity to be involved in the day-to-day delivery of flood risk management, where your work has a direct and visible impact on local communities. Whether responding to storm events, progressing maintenance schemes, or improving asset performance, your contribution will be essential in safeguarding the city.
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 are committed to attracting and developing talented individuals who share our values and ambition to deliver high-quality services for our residents.
Joining the FCRM Maintenance Team means becoming part of a dedicated and collaborative service, working at the heart of climate resilience and playing a key role in protecting the city now and for the future.
About You
As an Engineer in the Flood Climate Resilience Management Maintenance Team, you will bring:
Knowledge and experience of drainage and flood risk assets, including maintenance and inspection of culverts, watercourses, and drainage systems.- A practical understanding of flood risk management, particularly the importance of proactive and reactive maintenance.
- The ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing, with colleagues, contractors, and the public.
- Strong problem-solving skills, especially in responding to flooding and drainage issues.
- The ability to manage competing priorities, balancing planned maintenance and emergency response work effectively.
About the role
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We have an opportunity to join the Flood & Climate Resilience Management Maintenance Team.
- This is a practical and varied role, focused on the inspection, maintenance, and repair of drainage and flood risk assets across the city. You will support both planned maintenance and reactive responses to flooding, helping to reduce risk to communities and infrastructure.
- Working with colleagues, contractors, and partners, you will deliver effective solutions to drainage issues and contribute to keeping systems operating safely and efficiently.
- Flooding is an increasing challenge due to climate change, and this role is key to ensuring a proactive and resilient approach to managing and maintaining flood assets.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
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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 Liam Gacquin.
[email protected]
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 Responsibilitie
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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
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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.
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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
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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:
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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:
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Experience in using flow modelling applications – MicroDrainage.
Knowledge/Qualifications:
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Knowledge of hydrology and familiarity with FEH or FSR
Behavioural/Other Related Characteristics:
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Understanding of local government and experience of achieving results in a politically sensitive context.
- Understanding of and commitment to sustainability in service delivery.
