Water Neutrality Officer
Salary: £38,223 - £41,418 pa
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Permanent
Closing date: 12 Jul 2024 12:00
Interview date: 30 Jul to 2 Aug 2024
Ref: P1661
About the role:
Horsham District Council, alongside Crawley Borough Council, Chichester District Council, Mid Sussex District Council, South Downs National Park Authority, and West Sussex County Council (the Sussex North authorities) are required to demonstrate ‘water neutrality’ for new development in the Sussex North Water Resource Zone. This means that any new development in this area cannot use more water than before the development existed. Therefore, offsetting water use on existing developments in the Sussex North area is a critical part of the process to demonstrate water neutrality. This role will support the Water Neutrality Project Manager with activities associated with the development and implementation of a multi-million pound joint local authority-led water offsetting scheme to support planned development in Sussex North.
The post holder will be employed by Horsham District Council in the Strategic Planning team, working on behalf of all the Sussex North authorities. The role will be based at Horsham District Council’s Parkside office in Horsham, with occasional visits to the offices of the other Sussex North authorities and site visits to offsetting properties and opportunities.
As a Water Neutrality Officer you will identify and engage with potential offsetting providers across the Sussex North area and secure properties and opportunities to be used as part of the water offsetting scheme, as well as managing ongoing relationships with property owners and offsetting measure providers. You will need to prepare regular progress reports and updates on the status of offsetting activities for internal and external stakeholders in line with the projects reporting requirements. You will also be required to support the Project Manager and wider project team with other project comms and engagement activities, including supporting the Project Manager or others representing the Sussex North authorities at Local and Neighbourhood Plan examinations, hearings and public inquiries, and NSIP examinations, presenting as required, to seek to ensure that development takes place in accordance with national and local planning policy guidance.
About you:
To succeed as a Water Neutrality Officer, you will be educated to Degree level in a relevant subject, or have equivalent experience demonstrating a high level of applied knowledge in environmental issues with a focus on water resources management, land or property management or development, ‘neutrality’ issues, or offsetting. You will have Chartered Membership, eligibility to progress to membership, or willingness to work towards membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. CIWEM, RTPI, RICS, APM).
You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage with a diverse range of stakeholders and to convey complex and/or contentious issues to various audiences through various means, successfully building credible working relationships and positive partnership working. You will have a proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dispersed team in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and deadlines, and using strong problem-solving skills to identify, evaluate and secure water offsetting opportunities. You will have excellent time management and organisational skills, be computer literate and able to use a variety of programs as part of your work.
We would particularly welcome applications from those with a sound understanding of water management principles, including water efficiency and/or water scarcity; knowledge of relevant UK legislation; experience in securing land use agreements, negotiating contracts, and managing supplier relationships; proficiency with project management tools, scheduling, and reporting; and/or those with experience working in the public sector or with local authorities.
For an informal discussion about this role please contact Clark Gordon, Water Neutrality Project Manager, at Clark.Gordon@horsham.gov.uk (between 13th to 25th June, and 8th to 12th July), or Catherine Howe, Strategic Planning Manager, at Catherine.Howe@horsham.gov.uk (between 26th June to 5th July).
About us:
We have a friendly and supportive working environment and being a smaller Council, you can really get to know everybody.
We encourage and support our employees to have a healthy work life balance by offering 28 days’ (207.2 hours) annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata), and flexible/hybrid working options where applicable.
We offer a generous benefits package including an online platform offering discounts from online retailers and access to a car lease scheme. Staff are also eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), where the Council contributes circa 20% of pensionable salary.
To support employees’ professional development the Council provides reimbursement for professional subscriptions and a number of training opportunities, including extensive in-house learning resources, short courses, Apprenticeships, and qualifications such as Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM), Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Visit our Jobs and careers page to find out more about Working for Horsham District Council and Our employment commitments.
To apply:
If you would like to apply for the role, we highly recommend you show clearly within the ‘Experience Section’ of the application form how you meet the essential criteria detailed within the Role Profile when applying. If you do not make this clear, it is unlikely you will be shortlisted for interview.
Internal applicants, if you would like to apply for the role, please submit an expression of interest to HR@horsham.gov.uk explaining clearly how you meet the criteria and what you feel you can bring to the role.