Job Title: Flood Engagement Officer 

 

Region	Rochdale
Post Type	Permanent
Working Pattern	Full Time – 37.5 hours per week.
Role Type	Operational delivery
Salary	£24,500 rising to £27,840.90 per annum
Pension	The Company operates and auto enrolment pension scheme
Annual Leave	30 days per year including statutory and public holidays plus your birthday
Security checks	DBS check required

Additional information

This position is home based but with extensive travel within the Rochdale area and can involve travel across England & Wales A full driving licence and access to a car is essential for the role. The role requires time flexibility including evening and occasional weekend work DBS check and references will be obtained.

Job description

The National Flood Forum is partnering Rochdale Borough Council to deliver one of 25 national projects comprising Defra’s Flood and Coastal Resilience and Innovation Programme (FCRIP) which is managed by the Environment Agency and runs until March 2027. The programme aims to test and create new, innovative approaches to flood and coastal resilience that can be adapted and rolled out more widely as good practice and new ways of delivering positive change.

 

Our project centres on two frequently flood affected and vulnerable neighbourhoods in the Roch Valley in Rochdale district The communities are complex and include a high incidence of social, economic and environmental disadvantage. It aims to develop a more holistic approach to flood and climate resilience with better management of residual flood risks through new, innovative cross-sectoral approaches that also address climate justice and both flood and fuel poverty. The project will deliver a step change in flood literacy and community participation, increase peoples’ capabilities to respond to flooding, improve flood and climate resilience of ageing housing stock, enhance surface water management, neighbourhood water conservation, natural flood risk management and local green infrastructure and develop better financial resilience for homes and businesses.

 

This is an exciting role for someone who has experience working at community grassroots or who is passionate about people and working with communities. We give flooded people tools to advocate and speak for themselves, and we want someone who is passionate about community empowerment.  Are you articulate and confident and able to facilitate in partnership discussions? If so, we would love to hear from you.

 

About Us

The National Flood Forum (NFF) is the only independent national charity dedicated to supporting and representing people at risk of flooding. Established in 2002 by those affected by flooding, we passionately put people at the heart of flood risk management. Our goal is to empower individuals and communities to recover from flooding and get the best possible outcomes. We put people first.  We act as an honest, trustworthy and independent broker on behalf of flooded people.

We work across four key areas:

• Providing information via our helpline and website

• Recovery Services in flooded areas

• Flood Action Groups

• Policy and Advocacy

With over 300 Flood Action Groups across England and Wales and handling more than 1000 calls annually through our helpline, NFF plays a crucial role in supporting and representing flood-affected and at-risk communities. We collaborate closely with flood risk management agencies, local authorities, and government bodies. We also aspire to a collaborative, supportive, and solution-focused environment for our staff.

About the Role

This is a key role acting as a delivery partner on our projects, working on streams of community work, and within the staff team.

Responsibilities

• Projects and Workstreams: Outstanding delivery on community projects.

• Community Engagement: Engage and empower communities, supporting and representing them and pushing for the best outcomes.  Being ambitious on their behalf and advocating for change. Supporting senior staff to develop and build community engagement work streams.  Draft and deliver reports.

• Stakeholder Relationships: Manage key stakeholder relationships, ensuring strong partnerships.

• Political and Fundraising Support: Provide data, case studies, and research to support political influencing and fundraising activities.

• Support Senior Team with conferences, flood training, external presentations and other NFF activities

Day-to-Day Activities

• Deliver community projects and work streams.

• Liaise and build relationships with stakeholders to ensure smooth operational and community engagement activities.

• Work with and for community groups and support communities to develop Flood Action Plans

• You will work with other colleagues to support income and other initiatives to support NFF activities

Skills & Knowledge

• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Listening: Outstanding listening skills to understand community needs.

• Stakeholder liaison: Partnership working and managing stakeholders.

• Empathy: Ability to empathise with flooded individuals and communities.

• Organisation: Highly organised and flexible

• Collaboration: Team player with a solution-focused mindset

• Experience: Direct flooding experience is valuable but not essential.

How This Role Contributes to Our Strategy

• Community Support: Empowering and supporting communities.

• Partnerships: Developing strong relationships with partner organisations.

• Income Generation: Supporting income streams via projects and opportunities.

• Collaboration: Fostering a collaborative approach within the organisation.

TO APPLY

For further details about the role or informal discussion please contact Alan Rouane at [email protected]

To apply please send  your CV (maximum 2 sides) and Supporting document (maximum 1 side) demonstrating how you meet the requirements and why working for the National Flood Forum appeals to you.

Please also complete the Equal Opportunities form via this link  https://forms.gle/cfddnXxAEze7UcH26  

Please tell us how you heard about this position on your application. Send to Jean Timmins,  [email protected] or post: National Flood Forum, PO Box 7643, Bewdley, Worcestershire, DY12 9BL

Closing date for applications is midnight  Sunday 28^th September 2025  

WE ARE ACTIVELY INTERVIEWING AND RESERVE THE RIGHT TO WITHDRAW THE ADVERT