The Rivers Trust is a leading environmental charity and the umbrella body of The Rivers Trust movement, comprising over 60 independent local charities. Our vision is for wild, healthy, natural rivers, valued by all. We are at a critical point in our history as we expand to deliver projects to protect and replenish this critical part of the natural environment, and our research and expertise is now needed more urgently than ever as water supply and quality move up the public agenda.
We are looking for a Stakeholder and Engagement Manager to lead engagement and partnership activities for the North East Catchments Hub.
The North East Catchments Hub is an exciting new collaboration, created by a strategic partnership between The Rivers Trust and Northumbrian Water, and supported by environmental partners and catchment partnerships in the North East of England, to drive integrated catchment management and catchment and nature based solutions in the region. The Hub is recruiting a number of roles to support its programme to 2025.
This position offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting and far-reaching impact for the North East. You will play a crucial role in bringing together key stakeholders and partners to develop integrated catchment plans that tackle nutrient loading by working across the agriculture and water company sectors. You will develop and coordinate our engagement and partnership activity, to build the North East Catchments Hub as a regionally and nationally important integrated catchment planning initiative.
Environmental experience is not essential. We are open to applications from people with transferable skills gained in other sectors, who can demonstrate how those skills apply to this role.
This is a full-time, home-based role, but the job holder would need to be able to travel regularly within the North East area to build relationships with stakeholders and partnerships and understand the role of the Hub. We would consider part-time and secondment opportunities – please state the hours you can work if you are applying on a part-time basis.
We are a welcoming and supportive organisation, and are keen to receive applications from all groups, communities, and personal circumstances.
The salary for the role is £31,867 – £37,178 per year (pro-rata for a part-time position)
The main job responsibilities are:
- Scope, develop and lead stakeholder engagement and the communication strategy for the North East Catchments Hub to develop a positive and widely-understood approach, and build stakeholder trust.
- Provide strategic advice to the North East Catchments Hub team on audience, channels, branding, events and communications collateral.
- Manage delivery of a coherent and consistent programme of communications for the Hub both internally to the cross-organisation project team and externally to the catchment partnerships and wider partners and stakeholders. Communicate with staff and stakeholders and regularly undertake activities to engage and build trust in the work of the programme.
- Play a leading role in devising and delivering stakeholder consultation events, both virtually and in person.
- Develop effective mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of our communications, ensuring evaluation is reported and using insight to shape messaging and content.
- Work with the project team, including our Catchment Technical Specialists and Agriculture Advisors, to produce communications for a variety of high-quality communications, briefing and reporting materials.
- Scope, design and deliver required communication and engagement products, including input into Storymaps and our developing ESRI Hub.
- Build effective and proactive relationships with partners involved with and impacted by the North East Catchments Hub, including The Rivers Trust, Northumbrian Water, local Rivers Trusts (Tweed, Northumberland, Tyne, Wear and Tees) and the catchment partnerships they host, other environmental organisations, Environment Agency, and consultants involved in the programme, including Stantec, Jacobs and Mott MacDonald.
- Identify and build effective relationships with other key strategic partners (locally, regionally and nationally) with a view to growing the North East Catchments Hub collaboration, for example Natural England, local authorities, Local Nature Partnerships, Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, Northumbria Integrated Drainage Partnership, Nature North, DEFRA, OFWAT.
- Link into the national Mainstreaming Nature Based Solutions OFWAT funded project to ensure that the Hub is learning from and influencing the national discussion, and that activities are aligned and integrated where possible.
- Play an active role in ensuring that the Hub increases opportunities for and reduces barriers against under-represented groups and communities in the areas we serve.
The above list is not exhaustive and responsibilities may need to vary overtime depending on the requirements of the project.
To apply, please send your CV with a covering letter or statement to show how you meet the following criteria:
- Strong collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to plan and deliver across networks and virtual teams, including senior colleagues and stakeholders.
- Experienced in creating and implementing successful communications strategies and plans, involving multiple communications channels and stakeholders.
- Strong oral communications and influencing skills, able to work with senior leaders to support business requirements and develop trusted two-way relationships.
- Working knowledge of the partnership and funding landscape for catchment and nature-based solutions or ability to adapt other relevant knowledge
- Experience of engaging with communities and groups who are under-represented in the areas we serve and/or in the wider environment sector
- Excellent written skills, reflecting the need to explain complex environmental issues to diverse stakeholders in a clear and engaging way.
- Horizon scanning to identify, develop and secure funding opportunities.
- Ability to work with uncertainty, plan adaptively and work at pace.
The following are helpful and may be used to decide who to invite for interview, please include them if you have them:
- A commitment to the restoration of the water environment and knowledge of the pressures it faces
- Existing relationships and networks with some of the key stakeholders listed above
- Experience of working in cross-functional teams to achieve the best possible outcomes
- Experience of influencing decision makers in multi-stakeholder ecosystems
- Track record of successful project delivery and meeting funding requirements
- Experience of and comfortable with working from home.
The above criteria will be used to help us decide who we invite for interview, but please don’t be discouraged from applying if you don’t meet all of them, but have a passion for our work and believe this is the job for you.
All applicants must have the right to work in the UK, be based in the UK, and be able to travel regularly through the North East region. We support use of public transport, but you must also hold a UK driving licence and have your own vehicle if locations are not accessible by public transport.
We are a home-based organisation and support flexible working patterns but some longer days will be required for in-person events, most likely on a bi-monthly basis, depending on project needs.
You will also be expected to follow all Rivers Trust policies, including GDPR, EDI, Cybersecurity and Health & Safety and contribute to an inclusive and respectful working culture at all times. It is essential that you have access to secure and private accommodation suitable for working for home, and a reliable broadband connection. We can contribute towards setting up a home office if needed, and will supply your IT equipment.
If you have any questions which aren’t answered on our website or on the Recruitment FAQ, please contact annagerring@theriverstrust.org – please don’t use this email address to apply directly, as we can only accept applications made through this system.
Closing date: Sunday 22nd October 2023
Interviews: Scheduled for between Monday 6th November – Friday 17th November. Please let us know in your application if there are any dates in this time frame that you are unavailable.
