REGIONAL FLOOD & COASTAL COMMITTEES
Regional Flood & Coastal Committees
Independent Members
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing our planet. Record breaking weather events and natural disasters feature in the news with alarming regularity. We know that climate change causes rising sea levels and more intense storms, and this increases the risks of flooding and coastal change across the country.
We’re committed to reducing flood and coastal risk, making communities more resilient and adapting to the challenges of a changing climate. We can’t do this without our Regional Flood & Coastal Committee (RFCC) members.
By joining your local RFCC, you can help us manage this risk in communities across your region.
RFCCs are independent bodies that play a vital role in reducing the risk of flooding and coastal erosion. They:
- represent the views of local communities in how we manage flooding and coastal erosion
- help make communities more resilient and able to adapt to the challenges of a changing climate
- approve the programmes of work that better protect the homes and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people
- help create the local partnerships that pay for, build and manage the projects in our programmes
You can hear more about how important these roles are in this short video by Josie Bateman from the Environment Agency.
We will be running a drop-in session on 13 November at 2pm where we will talk about the roles in more detail and take questions from potential applicants. If you are interested in these roles and wish to join, you can sign up here.
If you can’t make the session, a recording will be made available.
The independent member roles
We’re looking for new independent members to join our RFCCs around the country. These are voluntary, unpaid roles, but as an independent member you’ll have an amazing opportunity to:
- get involved with issues that really matter in your area
- gain new skills, experience and build your network
- make a real difference to people’s lives, livelihoods and to the environment we all live in
It’s vital that RFCC members represent the true diversity of the communities we work with. We know that a diverse workforce increases productivity, innovation, and employee satisfaction.
We’re looking for candidates who:
- have an active interest in flood and coastal risk management
- can represent the interests of communities across our regions
- come from a diverse range of backgrounds.
- are impartial and not representatives of any particular organisation
You don’t have to be a technical expert or have specific qualifications to be a member. It’s your enthusiasm and commitment to your local community that is most important. However, an interest in one or more of the following areas may be useful:
- local community flood forums or action groups
- climate change and associated flood risk
- spatial planning, engineering or construction
- business and economics
- asset management
- managing resilience and recovery
- conservation
- farming and land management
“RFCC committee members play an important role in influencing decisions about flood and coastal risk management in their local area and communities. Independent RFCC members bring a variety of experience, knowledge and skills to their committees, ranging from personal experience of flooding to academic research and it is important that the membership of our committees reflects the diversity of the communities in the region. If you are interested in making a difference to how flooding and coastal management is delivered, please apply.”
Paula Hewitt, Thames RFCC Chair
We cover reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. You’ll be expected to attend regular RFCC meetings and prepare by reading papers in advance. The overall commitment is typically around 12 days per year. This may vary between RFCCs and depends on any additional responsibilities you undertake such as attending workshops, site visits, sub-groups and other committee meetings.
You’ll receive a full induction and the chance to visit flood schemes in your region.
You should ideally live or work in the RFCC area you are applying for.
Please note that current employees of the Environment Agency are not eligible to apply.
Read our candidate pack which tells you more about being an RFCC member.
How to apply
You can apply now for roles in early 2027. Click on your local RFCC below to see the roles available and apply using our simple online form.
Explain why you are interested in being an independent RFCC member and what you would bring to the role. Outline your relevant skills, knowledge and experience, and include any qualifications or specialist expertise relevant to the vacancy.
Before you apply, you should read our Privacy Notice. It outlines how your personal data will be collected, used, and protected throughout the recruitment process. Understanding this information ensures transparency and helps you make informed decisions. If you have any questions after reading it, please email: [email protected]
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Anglian Eastern RFCC covers large parts of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, and the unitary authorities of Southend and Thurrock. The area includes Britain’s largest wetland, the Broads, and rivers including the Waveney, the Wensum, the Yare, the Stour and the Colne. The area is particularly vulnerable to the risks of flooding and coastal erosion.
Our vacancies
We have 2 vacancies for independent members, general. We also have 1 vacancy for an independent member with coastal experience.
Vacancies 1 & 2 – Independent members, general
We are recruiting for 2 independent members, general. These roles start in January 2027.
Vacancy 3 – Independent member, coastal
We are looking for an independent member with an interest in coastal processes, including flood and coastal erosion risks present at the coast. This role starts in January 2027. It will help if you have interest in or knowledge of:
- our local coastline
- recent and emerging policies and procedures relevant to coastal management
- wider issues affecting coastal communities
Apply using our online application form and select which role you are applying for. Please explain why you are interested in becoming an independent RFCC member, what you would bring to the role, and outline your relevant skills and experience.
The closing date to apply is 29 November 2026.
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Anglian (Great Ouse) RFCC stretches from King’s Lynn in the north to Stevenage in the south. It reaches as far east as Attleborough and as far west as Banbury.
Our vacancies
We have 2 vacancies. 1 for an independent member, conservation and 1 for an independent member, water. These roles start in January 2027.
Vacancy 1 – independent member, conservation
We are looking for an independent member with a background in conservation.
It will help if you:
- can provide a link between the committee and conservation organisations in the committee area
- have knowledge of nature conservation and wider environmental issues, environmental legislation and relevant plans and strategies
- can provide an environmental perspective at committee meetings and help the committee understand the views of the conservation community
Vacancy 2 – independent member, water
Water Members are expected to contribute to general Committee discussions and should also:
- act as a liaison between water companies and the RFCC and provide a perspective of water in the Committee’s area
- help the Committee to understand flood risk issues facing this interest
- understand how the Committee and water companies can work together to improve flood risk management within the Area.
Apply using our online application form and select which role you are applying for. Please explain why you are interested in becoming an independent RFCC member, what you would bring to the role, and outline your relevant skills and experience.
The closing date to apply is 29 November 2026.
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No vacancies.
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English Severn and Wye RFCC runs along the England-Wales border from Lydney up to Oswestry and reaches eastwards to Rugby. It covers the counties and council areas of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Coventry, and Dudley. It is a predominantly rural area but includes some major towns and cities.
Our vacancies
We have 1 vacancy, for an independent member, general.
Vacancy 1 – independent member, general
We are recruiting for an independent member, general. This role starts on 5 February 2027.
Apply using our online application form and select which role you are applying for. Please explain why you are interested in becoming an independent RFCC member, what you would bring to the role, and outline your relevant skills and experience.
The closing date to apply is 29 November 2026.
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North West RFCC runs from the Scottish border in the north to Cheshire in the south. Its western border is the Irish Sea and its eastern border is the Pennines. Around seven million people live and work in our region.
Our region has an incredibly diverse environment from industrialised and urban areas in Manchester and Liverpool to the beautiful countryside of the Lake District, rural Lancashire and Cheshire.
Around 370,000 people are at risk of flooding from rivers and the sea, and over 600,000 people are at risk of flooding from surface water. There is a history of flooding with the major events of 2015 and 2020 having particularly significant and widespread impacts.Our vacancies
We are recruiting for 1 independent member to join us in February or March 2027.
Vacancy 1 – Independent Member
We are looking to appoint an Independent Member who can bring skills, experience and fresh perspectives to the Committee.
We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. It would be particularly helpful if you have knowledge or experience in one or more of the following areas:
- sustainable green growth
- infrastructure
- growth and planning (including housing)
- economics
- farming and land management
Apply using our online application form and select which role you are applying for. Please explain why you are interested in becoming an independent RFCC member, what you would bring to the role, and outline your relevant skills and experience.
The closing date to apply is 29 November 2026.
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Northumbria RFCC is responsible for land stretching from the Scottish borders to North Yorkshire. The area is bounded by Cumbria to the west and the North Sea coast to the east. It covers a landscape of extraordinary beauty with the remote Kielder Forest and the Pennines to the north and west and a coastal landscape in the east which varies from sandy wild estuaries to rocky cliffs and bays stretching from the Tees in the south, north to the Scottish borders.
Approximately 2.6 million people live in the Committee’s area, primarily in a concentration of urban areas around the River Tees corridor and within the Tyne and Wear conurbation, with more rural communities in Northumberland and West Durham. There are over 80,000 properties at risk of surface water flooding and over 35,000 receptors at risk from flooding and/or coastal erosion.
“Heavy rain can bring rapid changes to flow and many towns and villages remain at risk of flooding from the main rivers and the tributaries that feed them, especially so as climate change seems set to give us heavier rainfall in the coming years. If you add the problems of rising sea levels on a vulnerable yet economically very important coast our RFCC has a vital role to play in managing the long-term programme for flood and coastal risk reduction and in education and warning those of our communities that remain at risk.”
—Phil Rothwell, Northumbria RFCC Chair
Our vacancies
We have 2 vacancies for independent members. We are looking for 1 general independent member and 1 independent member with knowledge of agriculture and land management issues.
Vacancy 1 – independent member, general
We are looking for an independent member, general. It would be helpful if you have experience in the following:
- flood experience from a local perspective
- finance
- onstruction experience
This role starts in March 2027.
Vacancy 2 – independent member, Agriculture and Land management
We are looking for an independent member with a knowledge of agriculture and land management issues.
You should be able to:
- provide a land management perspective at committee meetings
- help the committee understand issues affecting inland communities, landowners and farmers and how this impacts on river processes and the coast
- provide a link between the committee, land management and farming groups
- advocate good soil management with the farming sector to benefit flood risk and reduce diffuse pollution
This role starts in June 2027.
Apply using our online application form and select which role you are applying for. Please explain why you are interested in becoming an independent RFCC member, what you would bring to the role, and outline your relevant skills and experience.
The closing date to apply is 29 November 2026.
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South West RFCC covers Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly.
Our vacancies
Vacancy 1 – independent member, coastal
We are looking for an independent member with an interest in coastal processes, including flood and coastal erosion risks present at the coast. This role starts on 1 March 2027. It will help if you have interest in or knowledge of:
- our local coastline
- recent and emerging policies and procedures relevant to coastal management
- wider issues affecting coastal communities
Apply using our online application form and select which role you are applying for. Please explain why you are interested in becoming an independent RFCC member, what you would bring to the role, and outline your relevant skills and experience.
The closing date to apply is 29 November 2026.
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Southern RFCC covers coastal and inland areas from the Thames Barrier to the New Forest – with London boroughs, large counties and a number of unitary city authorities among our members. We also have internationally important aquatic habitats such as the chalk streams and sea kelp.
By most measures we have the largest coastline in Britain with high risk of coastal flooding and erosion, and we also face major issues with flooding from surface and ground water and from smaller rivers.
Our vacancies
We have 2 vacancies for independent members, general. These roles start in July 2027.
Apply using our online application form and select which role you are applying for. Please explain why you are interested in becoming an independent RFCC member, what you would bring to the role, and outline your relevant skills and experience.
The closing date to apply is 29 November 2026
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Thames RFCC stretches from Oxfordshire and Swindon to London and Essex and includes Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey and Hampshire. It encompasses over a quarter of England’s population. The region covers both large rural regions as well as the nation’s largest urban landscape providing a variety of different fluvial and surface water flooding challenges.
We have several unique challenges within the Thames catchment which our work looks to address, including:
- slowing the flow of water in the upper catchment and upstream of settlements
- helping built up areas adapt to become more “rain ready”
- empowering village communities to become more resilient to flooding
- supporting plans for managing tidal flood risk in the Thames estuary
With our changing climate, the risk of flooding in the Thames Valley and London is increasing. The Thames RFCC requires a diverse range of experts and stakeholders who can help the committee make the best decisions to protect communities, residents and businesses from flooding.
Paula Hewitt, Thames RFCC Chair
Our vacancies
We have 4 vacancies. 3 of these vacancies are for independent members, general. 1 vacancy is for a member with a conservation background.
Vacancies 1, 2 & 3 – independent members, general
These roles start on 1 January 2027, 31 March 2027, and 30 June 2027.
Vacancy 4 – independent member, conservation
We are looking for an independent member with a background in conservation. This role starts on 22 January 2027.
It will help if you:
- can provide a link between the committee and conservation organisations in the committee area
- have knowledge of nature conservation and wider environmental issues, environmental legislation and relevant plans and strategies
- can provide an environmental perspective at committee meetings and help the committee understand the views of the conservation community
Apply using our online application form and select which role you are applying for. Please explain why you are interested in becoming an independent RFCC member, what you would bring to the role, and outline your relevant skills and experience.
The closing date to apply for these roles is 29 November 2026.
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Trent RFCC is home to around 6.9 million people, and includes the cities of Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby, Leicester and Nottingham.
There’s a huge variation in the physical characteristics of the area. This includes low lying ground, such as the broad flat flood plains of the Tame and Trent, to steep dramatic landscapes, such as those found in the Peak District National Park. Nearly two thirds of the overall area is agricultural. This leads to big differences in how the area responds to rainfall and the resulting risks of flooding.
Our vacancies
Vacancies 1 & 2 – Independent members, general
These roles start on 1 August 2027. It would be helpful if you have knowledge of:
- partnerships and collaborative projects in infrastructure and growth
- finance and business
- planning, economics, development, and/or regeneration
Apply using our online application form and select which role you are applying for. Please explain why you are interested in becoming an independent RFCC member, what you would bring to the role, and outline your relevant skills and experience.
The closing date to apply is 29 November 2026.
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Wessex RFCC covers a very diverse geographical area which forms the eastern part of the South West Peninsula, running along the south coast from Lyme Regis in the west to Christchurch in the east, along the Bristol Channel from Lynton to Thornbury, and stretching inland to Devizes.
The natural environment in Wessex is very special with a diverse range of habitats supporting a varied biodiversity. The marine environment is equally special with around a third of its coastal waters in marine protected areas.
Its coastlines are very different, and its wide range of drainage basins and rivers mean that Wessex is subject to coastal, fluvial, surface water and groundwater flooding. Multiple causes of flooding affect many locations in both urban and rural areas.
Our vacancies and how to apply
Vacancy – independent member, utilities
We are looking for an applicant with a utilities background (for example water companies) to be our next independent member, utilities. This role starts on 1 January 2027.
Independent members, utilities are expected to contribute to general Committee discussions, as outlined in the General Interest roles above, but are also responsible for:
- acting as a liaison between water and utilities companies
- providing a perspective of utilities in the Committee’s area
- helping the Committee to understand flood risk issues facing this interest
- understanding how the Committee and utilities can work together to improve flood risk management within the area.
Apply using our online application form and select which role you are applying for. Please explain why you are interested in becoming an independent RFCC member, what you would bring to the role, and outline your relevant skills and experience.
The closing date to apply is 29 November 2026.
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Yorkshire RFCC runs along the North Sea coast from Whitby to Kingston upon Hull and stretches inland as far as Skipton.
Our area covers a diverse geography with over five million residents and a region that makes a substantial contribution to the national economy. At the same time, it is vulnerable to the risk of flooding from many sources – rivers, surface water, tidal, groundwater – and includes some of Europe’s fastest eroding coastlines. The impact of our changing climate is evident across the region with rising sea levels, increased storm frequency and changing wave patterns, meaning that managing coastal change will become an ever-increasing and important challenge.
Our vacancies and how to apply
We have 3 vacancies for independent members: 1 independent member, coastal; 1 independent member, economics; and 1 independent member, agriculture. All 3 roles start on 1 January 2027.
An ideal candidate should be able to demonstrate:
- strategic thinking
- financial and commercial acumen
- the ability to appraise business cases and investment proposals
- evidence-based decision-making
- strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skill
- experience of governance and committee working
- independent judgement and the ability to provide constructive challenge
- the ability to understand complex technical information and translate it into strategic decisions
Vacancy 1 – Independent Member, Coastal
We are looking for an independent member with an interest in coastal processes and a strong understanding of coastal erosion, coastal flooding, climate change adaptation, resilience planning, and the policies and governance arrangements that support flood and coastal erosion risk management and Shoreline Management Plans.
It would be beneficial if you have an interest in, or knowledge of:
- the Yorkshire coastline and emerging coastal management policies
- recent and developing policies and procedures relevant to coastal management
- the wider social, economic, climate change, and adaptation challenges affecting coastal communities and businesses across the region
Vacancy 2 – Independent Member, Economics
We are looking for an independent member with:
- a strong understanding of the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Investment Programme
- strong financial and commercial awareness, with the ability to assess and appraise business cases and funding proposals. This should include a sound understanding of partnership funding, economic appraisal, cost-benefit analysis, return on investment, value for money, and investment prioritisation
- a good understanding of how flood risk management supports economic growth, protects existing investment, and delivers economic benefits for homes, businesses, and future development opportunities
Vacancy 3 – Independent Member, Agriculture
We are seeking an independent member with a strong understanding of agriculture, land management, and rural stakeholder interests. The successful candidate should have the knowledge and experience to help the committee understand how farming, land management, and water management practices influence flood and coastal erosion risk, environmental outcomes, and the resilience of rural communities. An understanding of the role of Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) and their contribution to water level management, drainage, and flood risk management would be highly beneficial.
It would be advantageous if you have:
- a strong understanding of agriculture, land management, and rural issues, including how farming and land management practices influence river catchments, flood risk, coastal processes, and the resilience of rural communities
- experience of working with farmers, landowners, rural stakeholders, and IDBs, with the ability to provide a practical land management perspective and foster effective partnership working
- knowledge of sustainable land and soil management, natural flood management, water level management, climate change adaptation, and environmental stewardship, and how these contribute to reducing flood risk, improving water quality, and enhancing the long-term resilience of rural landscapes and communities
Apply using our online application form and select which role you are applying for. Please explain why you are interested in becoming an independent RFCC member, what you would bring to the role, and outline your relevant skills and experience.
The deadline to apply is 29 November 2026.