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 to see the roles available and apply using our simple online form here. 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: RFCCRecruitment@environment-agency.gov.uk.