Flood Defence Team Member

Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Voluntary and Community Organisations Limited; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 25,000 - GBP 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A major environmental organization in the UK seeks an individual to operate and maintain flood and coastal risk management assets. This exciting role involves responding to environmental incidents and working outdoors to address flooding challenges. Opportunities for career development and further training are included. The role requires a valid UK manual driving license and the ability to work in varied environments. Competitive salary starting at £25,308 with potential increases after three years.

Benefits

25 days holiday + 8 bank holidays

Maternity, paternity, and adoption leave

Training in tools and equipment

Qualifications

• Ability to work in all weather conditions in urban and rural environments.
• Valid UK manual driving license.
• Ability to travel to your base depot within 60 minutes.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain flood and coastal risk management assets.
• Respond to incidents and emergencies related to flooding.
• Utilise tools and equipment for various maintenance tasks.

Skills

Passion for the outdoors

Literacy and numeracy skills

Understanding of site health and safety requirements

Job description

Job Location

Locations: Barnsley, Beverley, Borehamwood, Bridgwater, Chelmsford, and more

Location: Barnsley, Beverley, Borehamwood, Bridgwater, Chelmsford, Chippenham, Cramlington, Dymchurch, Ealing, Edgware, Gainsborough, Honiton, Ipswich, Lechlade, Leigh, Levens, London SE18, London SW20, Northfleet, Norwich, Nottingham, Pickering, Rainham, Essex, Redruth, Rothley, Sales, Selby, Spalding, Uttoxeter, Wigton, Winterbourne Gunner

Job Type: Permanent, Full-time

Pay: £25,308 + London Weighting Allowance where applicable rising to £27,293 + London Weighting Allowance for Team Member Level 2C after 3 years, subject to

Highlighted points for this job

• £25,308 + London Weighting Allowance per annum
• Multiple locations across the UK
• Operate and maintain flood and coastal risk management assets
• Respond to environmental incidents and emergencies
• Requires a valid UK manual driving license
• Opportunities for overtime and career development
• £25,308 + London Weighting Allowance of £2,186 or £4,406 per annum where applicable rising to £27,293 + London Weighting Allowance for Team Member Level 2C after 3 years subject to satisfactory performance

Permanent, full-time

Are you passionate about the outdoors and eager to contribute to a greener, more sustainable future? This is your chance to be part of a dynamic team working on the front line to combat climate emergency and address environmental challenges like flooding, drought, and coastal changes.

This is an exciting time to join the UK’s biggest environmental organisation and influence how we do things in the future. As part of the Environment Agency, you will play your part in protecting and improving the environment. We are working with government, local councils, businesses, civil society groups and communities to meet these challenges and at the same time make our environment a better place for people and wildlife.

Job responsibilities:

• Operate and maintain flood and coastal risk management assets, ensuring their optimal performance in safeguarding communities.
• Respond to incidents and emergencies related to flooding and other environmental challenges, playing a vital part in our 24/7 standby roster. Your dedication will be compensated in addition to your basic pay.
• Operate our assets during incidents and contribute to initiatives, such as installing flood barriers, building sandbag walls, deploying high-volume pumps, and providing assistance to affected communities during flood situations.
• Utilise a wide range of tools and equipment, which may include chainsaws, strimmers/brush cutters, heavy plant machinery, boats, and more.
• Participate in various tasks such as structure maintenance, vegetation management, small construction projects, soft engineering methods, beach maintenance, and culvert and grill clearances.

Your work will be critical both to improve the environment and to protect local communities from flooding, and you will operate, maintain and respond to a range of assets, from a large flood relief channel and flood storage reservoirs to local flood defences.

Your day-to-day duties will involve working in both urban and rural environments and will typically involve a mix of asset operation and response, asset maintenance, for example vegetation control and small construction tasks and incident response. Use of IT devices will also be required to track work tasks and communicate with team members.

Why choose us:

• Meaningful Impact: As an emergency responder, you will safeguard communities and ecosystems. Your efforts contribute to our goal of Carbon Net Zero by 2030, with a lasting positive environmental impact.
• Diverse and Exciting Job: A diverse range of duties including maintenance, vegetation management, small construction, soft engineering, beach maintenance, and flood response. Every day is different.
• Training and Support: You will be enrolled in our Water Environment Worker Apprenticeship and receive training in tools, equipment, and health & safety protocols, mentored by experienced colleagues.
• Continuous Learning: Opportunities for further development and specialist training when required.
• Team Environment: Work as part of a close-knit team dedicated to protecting the environment.

As an organisation we strive to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, and religion.

What you will need:

• This is a physical job. The ability to work in all weather conditions in a mix of urban and rural environments, as part of a dedicated team is required.
• A valid UK manual driving license.
• Ability to travel to your base depot within 60 minutes in order to respond to incidents and meet urgent business needs.

We’re looking for people with:

• A passion for the outdoors and a genuine commitment to protecting the environment.
• Literacy and numeracy skills, along with a willingness to learn our in-house systems and use IT devices.
• Some understanding of site health and safety requirements, but full training will be provided.

Where you will work

You will be expected to travel to your depot to check in daily and then will be dispersed from there in smaller teams to carry out the field work tasks for that day within our geographical area. More on this and the shift patterns will be explained at the interview.

What’s in it for you?

You’ll benefit from a culture that embraces difference and is inclusive where you’ll feel supported and trusted to do the right thing. We’ll invest in you and allow you to grow and shape your career. Specifically, and where appropriate, we will support you to complete and achieve our Water Environment Worker apprenticeship. What’s more, you’ll have access to our great benefits package including:

• Starting salary of £25,308 + London Weighting Allowance of £2,186 or £4,086 per annum where applicable rising to £27,293 + London Allowance for Team Member Level 2C after 3 years subject to satisfactory
• Overtime opportunities through standby and incident pay
• 25 days holiday + 8 bank holidays for full-time employees working a standard business hours pattern – our Flood Defence Team Members work non-standard business hours pattern, for example a 9-day fortnight, so holiday entitlement will be adjusted accordingly.
• Great career opportunities
• Maternity, paternity, and adoption leave scheme
• This is a full-time job. In rare cases, there may be an option for a job share or working set days a week rather than full time, but full days will need to be worked.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the UK’s biggest environmental organisation. Join us and together let’s tackle the challenges of a changing climate and build a more sustainable future.

Apply now and embark on a rewarding and fulfilling career journey with the Environment Agency.

*Please note, job title will differ on appointment due to internal alignment.

Please note, artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application; however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our careers site for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Please note that providing false or misleading information at any stage of the application or recruitment process may result in withdrawal of your application, or where applicable, disciplinary action in line with internal processes.

We will maintain a reserve list for 6 months and may offer similar roles at other locations linked to this position.

Candidates selected for interview will be notified by email at least five days in advance. Please check both your inbox and junk mail folders to ensure you don’t miss our message.

Closing Date: Monday 23 rd February 2026.

If this job opportunity is not suitable, then check out the other LGBT friendly jobs across UK!