Westcountry Rivers Trust - Exe Catchment Fisheries Officer

Contract: Permanent
Report To: Head of Fisheries & Ecology
Grade: 4
Hours: 37.5
Location: Westcountry Rivers Trust’s office is in Stoke Climsland and whilst we have adopted hybrid working there is an expectation to work from the office on a regular basis and to travel to sites across the delivery area.

Westcountry Rivers Trust is recruiting an Exe Catchment Fisheries Officer. This is a permanent contract after a successful 6-month probation period.

The starting salary for this role is £30,800.00 – £34,900.00 per annum (dependent on experience)

Benefits while working for Westcountry Rivers Trust

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 25 days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays, with a reward for long service – an additional 1 day per year for each year worked over 5 years, up to a maximum of 30 days for employees serving 10 years continuous service
• Additional leave covering the Christmas Closure period
• WRT contributes 9% of salary to a personal pension scheme (following a three-month postponement period), plus Life Assurance cover
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Hybrid & Flexible Working

About the Role

The Exe Catchment Fisheries Officer position will sit within the River & Fisheries team at WRT. The position was instigated by the River Exe and Tributaries Association (RETA) to recognise the importance of a catchment focused approach. The role is a fully funded role through donations from the RETA and South West Water (SWW).

The majority of this role will manage the effective delivery of the Strategic Exe Weirs project, Strategic Exe Weirs is a project designed to deliver bespoke fish passage improvement projects at multiple weirs on the River Exe and supporting river habitat improvements.

Responsibilities

• To manage and deliver the Strategic Exe Weirs project to achieve fisheries objectives and to deliver riparian habitat enhancements and fish migration improvements.
• Undertake fieldwork surveys and office-based reporting to assess and convey the status of fisheries in the area.
• Water-based ecological survey work (e.g. assessment to assess obstacles to fish migration, electrofishing, fish habitat walkover survey).
• Management of habitat improvement works.
• Liaise with external stakeholders and project partners, build positive relationships and liaise regularly with colleagues and external partners or organisations.
• Undertake work-based activities independently
• Contract management and procurement, working closely with appointed contractors will be essential.
• Organise administration and work in relation to site specific activities and report on activities to provide relevant management information.
• Public speaking at educational events or project meetings.
• Promotional events, educational events, workshop delivery and organisation of work sites will be required.
• Research and interpretation of ecological works including data searches, report writing and data analysis.
• To work closely with contractors and sub-contractors to deliver river improvement outputs.
• Develop or lead a technical specialism within the River and Fisheries team
• Maintain and develop a contacts database for catchments and sub-catchments.
• To attend formal and informal training and develop relevant knowledge and skills (CPD) as appropriate.
• May be assigned to commercial projects or other catchment projects as required and may be required to carry out other duties from time to time commensurate with the level of the post.
• Training will be provided for specific survey techniques where needed and some lone working may be required.
• Site visits around the catchment will be necessary
• To ensure the project’s aims and objectives are delivered to a high standard, upholding WRT’s reputation.
• Project management and budget management.
• Line management may be required
• To seek and win funding to deliver the projects objectives
• Organising, lead and attend events, meetings, workshops and associated dissemination of material and minutes.
• Prepare essential project related paperwork and drafting of reports and collation of material and data.
• To continuously develop and improve our project administration processes and ensure that they are fit for purpose.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality of information relating to WRT and its employees and maintain compliance with the UK GDPR.

Person specification

Knowledge and Experience

• Fisheries expertise and experience
• Demonstrable experience and knowledge of freshwater fisheries, water quality, water resources, or Water Environment Regulations (Water Framework Directive) management
• A proactive approach and ability to use initiative and problem solve
• Demonstrable experience of working with MS Office suite especially Word and Excel
• Evidence of keeping abreast of current best practice, legislation
• Experience or working knowledge in conservation or environmental sectors
• Experience of fish passage design
• Experience of working with project financial information
• Knowledge of the Exe catchment or West Country rivers

Qualifications

• A degree in conservation or ecology or a relevant degree-equivalent vocational qualifications will be considered if highly relevant to the position.