Initiative to Tackle Flood Skills Shortage

The successful candidates will work for SEPA on a part time basis whilst also studying for Masters of Science (MSc) degrees at either the University of Dundee or Stirling, SEPA's partners in this initiative. When qualified, it is anticipated that successful graduates will be offered permanent jobs in SEPA helping deliver improved flood risk management for Scotland and meeting the challenges of the forthcoming Flooding Bill.

This new approach will help establish Dundee and Stirling universities as national centres for expertise in flood risk management science. Graduates from these courses will provide future flood risk management skills, not just for SEPA, but also for other partner organisations in the front line tackling sustainable flood management.

The initiative meets one of the key recommendations in the Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs and Environment Committee's December 2008 report - namely the lack of skilled workers needed to implement the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill, due to come into force in summer 2009.

SEPA's Flood Unit Manager, David Faichney said: "To meet our future flood risk management challenges, we must ensure that we have the graduates we need with the relevant skills and knowledge. We are delighted that we have secured this agreement with both Stirling and Dundee Universities where new recruits on the SEPA Flood Risk Science Programme will study for their MSc whilst gaining invaluable work experience with SEPA.

Full details of the positions available online, including entry requirements, are available at. Both courses are open to applications from other full time and part time students.