Local recruitment: Project Officer

We have an exciting new opportunity to join the Forth Rivers Trust Team to conserve and enhance rivers around the Forth as a project officer. 

The Project Officer will work with the wider Trust team and help deliver restoration projects on the ground to conserve and protect rivers and wildlife around the Forth.  The role will report to the Operations Manager and Trust Director

The Trust operates in a variety of fields including project work, science-based work, consultancy, day to day operations and works closely with the Forth District Salmon Fishery Board.  This role may also be sought to support staff delivering the Trust’s work within this range of fields. The Project Officer will provide support to volunteers and interns at different times.

This role will include the delivery of catchment wide initiatives such as INNS management, delivery of specific projects and activities as well a supporting ongoing training, learning and other community and stakeholder engagement.

Project Working

The Project Officer will support the delivery of projects including:

• River Restoration and Engagement
• Invasive Non-Native Species control
• Riparian and habitat improvement projects such as tree planting
• In-stream river restoration (e.g. bank protection etc)
• Assisting with Trust educational projects such as Fish in the Classroom
• Community and youth work projects
• Supporting larger scale restoration project via media production and stakeholder engagement
• Project development and fundraising
• Project activity coordination, including reporting
• Developing blogs, communications and social media posts to promote the work of the Trust

The Project Officer will also support the management of projects including supporting:

• Consenting processes – landowners, regulatory (eg CAR)
• Baseline and project monitoring (in conjunction with the Science Team)
• Procurement and contracts
• Funding reporting (in conjunction with the Finance Manager)

Representation at local and national levels

The Project Officer will be required to work with external organisations and stakeholders at both the local and national levels, and as requested by the Trust’s Director. These are likely to include, but are not limited to: Local Authorities, NatureScot,, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Government, Marine Scotland, Scottish Fisheries Coordination Centre, Landowners, Schools and members of the public. Activities may include meeting with, liaising with and discussing views with these agencies and wider stakeholders.

General Assistance

Given the evolving and broadening nature of the organisation, and in the interests of flexibility, the Project Officer may be required to assist with any aspect of the Trust’s activities as reasonably requested by the Trust’s Director.  These may include scientific data gathering activities, consultancy works (with Forth Rivers Consulting Ltd) and reporting.

Personal Specifications

Essential

• Relevant biological or Environmental science degree or relevant practical experience
• Ability to work in a team or alone to undertake fieldwork, some of which will be quite physically demanding.
• Self motivated and enthusiastic personality and able to learn quickly and use own initiative
• Report writing and data management skills
• Practical conservation skills or a willingness to learn
• Understanding of fish, rivers and catchment issues
• A full clean UK driving licence is essential
• Flexible attitude to working house as some early morning, evening and weekend working will be required.

Desirable

• Experience working in the fisheries sector or environmental sector
• SFCC introduction to electrofishing certificate
• PA1 and PA6aw pesticides license
• experience using GIS and map based products
• Ecological Clerks of Work or working in the consultancy industry
• Experience in practical conservation such as wetland creation, river restoration or green bank protection.

Contract details

Contract Length: 31^st March 2024 with rolling 1 year contract depending on funding

Salary: £22,000

Working hours: 40 hours per week 9am-5pm mon-fri (flexible working required with some early morning, evening and weekend working)

Location: Forth Rivers Trust office, Edinburgh and Forth District.

Pension: Trust contribution of 9%

Holiday: 20 days paid leave plus any statutory bank holidays (28 days).

Applying

All candidates should submit a CV and cover letter to recruit@forthriverstrust.org by close of play 29^th January 2023. Emails should include the job title within the subject line as we are recruiting for more than one job at the moment. Please also include two recent references (job/academic). We will not contact references unless we have spoken to candidates first. Interviews will take place week commencing 6^th February.

For more information or an informal conversation, please contact Jonathan Louis by calling 0131 445 1527 or emailing recruit@forthriverstrust.org