We are recruiting for a senior project officer role to deliver projects that improve rivers and their catchments across the Forth. This is an exciting opportunity for someone to lead on all aspects of project delivery from inception to completion working with specialists within the Trust and also with partners and landowners to deliver practical and sustainable solutions.
You will require strong subject knowledge on rivers and conservation work and a passion for both leading practical tasks and attention to detail to manage funding processes and reporting.
Experience of working with local authorities, agencies and landowners is essential.
Reports to Director
Salary ÂŁ27,000/ÂŁ30,000 per annum plus pension contribution 9%
Hours 40 per week (part time or flexible working available)
Contract: 12 month contract
Annual Leave: 31 days plus 1 extra day per year worked up to 5 extra days
Application procedure CV plus covering letter to recruit@forthriverstrust.org
Application Deadline 26th February
Interview Dates 1st week of March
Location A blended model of home working, office-based work and field work with a particular emphasis on working outdoors.
Locations for this role vary will include work around the Forth Catchments
Our main office is located on The Clubhouse, 106 Biggar Road, Edinburgh, EH10 7DU, just south of Edinburgh.
Job Description
Senior Project Officer
The Senior Project Officer will work with the wider Trust team and to coordinate a project team to undertake various roles to deliver various projects targets and objectives. The role is managed by the Trust’s 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 and other partners such as the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. This role will also support staff delivering the Trust’s work within this range of fields. The Senior Project Officer will provide line management support to Project Team members as required by the Director, and may support volunteers and interns at different times.
This role will include the delivery of catchment wide (eg MERLIN) and individually funded projects (eg Natural Devon, Outfall Safari) as and when funding is confirmed. The Senior Project Officer will be part of the ongoing development of projects across a range of rivers. This will include all aspects of project delivery from inception, design coordination, permitting/consents, practical delivery and contractor supervision, reporting and claims management and monitoring and evaluation.
Project Working
- The Senior Project Officer will lead on the delivery of projects including:
- River Restoration and Engagement
- Invasive Non-Native Species control
- Riparian and habitat improvement projects
- In-stream river restoration (e.g. bank protection etc)
- Peatland and Natural Flood Management.
- 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
- Projects development and fundraising
The Senior Project Officer will take a lead on the Management of projects including:
- Consenting processes – landowners, regulatory (eg CAR)
- Baseline and project monitoring (in conjunction with the Science Team)
- Resource management including staff, procurement and contracts (in conjunction with The Trust Director)
- Financial management – timesheets, claims, cashflow projections (in conjunction with the Finance Manager)
- Project communication and promotion (in conjunction with Trust Operations Manager)
Representation at local and national levels
The Senior 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.
Communications
The Senior Project Officer will be required to communicate proactively internally and externally. This will include:
- Knowledge sharing – internally and externally
- Presentations – including filming content
- Case studies, blogs, social media and website support
General Assistance
The Senior Project Officer will be on the Trust Management Team and be expected to positively feed into strategic and trust wide discussions and decision making.
Given the evolving and broadening nature of the organisation, and in the interests of flexibility, the Senior Project Officer may be required to assist with any aspect of the Trust’s activities as reasonably requested by the Trust’s Director.
The Senior Project Officer will liaise with the Finance Manager to ensure timesheets, claims, invoicing and other audit reporting is undertaken in an efficient manner.
Suitability to work in the UK
Unfortunately we cannot sponsor any oversees candidates and we are only accepting candidates that currently have the legal right to work in the UK.
Essential – The following are essential for the role
- Degree level in an environmental or conservation subject or relevant experience in this field.
- Full, clean driving license
- Experience managing funding applications and reporting on project progress
- Knowledge of practical delivery of projects either via managing contractors or delivering works on the ground in person.
- Willing to work outdoors in all weathers and at varying times of the day and week. Weekend work may be required at times.
- Experience managing other staff members.
Desirable
- Have experience in Natural Flood Management
- Experience with tendering of works and contract management such as NEC3
- Experience using mapping software such as arcgis and field maps
- Experience using social media to promote projects
Closing date for applications will be 26th February 2023 however should you think you would be suitable to work for the Trust after the closing date, please do send in your CV and cover letter. Please send your cv and covering letter to recruit@forthriverstrust.org
If you would like to discuss this post, please call 0131 445 1527 and ask for Alison.
