A coordination role at the heart of a major partnership working to deliver healthier rivers across the Thames Basin.
Thames Rivers Trust is recruiting a Programme Manager to coordinate the Water Company Partnership — a developing collaboration between TRT, The Rivers Trust, Thames Water and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). The Partnership works alongside and helps coordinate support for the 27 Catchment Partnerships of the Thames Basin, with the shared goal of delivering catchment resilience and healthy rivers at scale and pace.
This is a strategic, coordination-focused role that sits at the intersection of environmental delivery, partnership governance and capacity building. The successful candidate will oversee delivery across five workstreams — Governance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Capability and Capacity, Catchment and Nature-based Solutions, and Blended Finance — working through influence, facilitation and partnership working rather than direct line management. The role reports directly to the Chief Executive of Thames Rivers Trust.
In practical terms, the role exists to help integrate Catchment Partnership hosts and partnership members with Thames Water’s delivery programme, and to build the skills and confidence of those partnerships so they are equipped to plan, fund and deliver more on the ground. It is also a genuine opportunity to shape how a major water company and its environmental partners work together, and to help translate that collaboration into real, measurable improvements for rivers and the wider environment.
What We’re Looking For
We’re seeking an experienced, well-connected professional with a strong background in environmental or catchment programme delivery. You’ll be comfortable working across complex multi-partner arrangements and confident achieving outcomes through collaboration rather than direct authority.
Essential experience and skills include:
- Experience delivering environmental, catchment or nature-recovery programmes
- Partnership working and facilitation skills, with a proven track record of building productive relationships across multiple organisations
- Experience coordinating complex programmes or workstreams across multiple organisations
- Excellent communication, facilitation and organisational skills
- Confidence in collating data and communicating it effectively for external audiences
Employment Terms
- Salary: £40,000 to £42,000 per annum, dependent on experience
- Contract: Full-time (37.5 hours per week), initially funded for one year with planned funding for a further two years
- Location: Home-based with regular travel across catchments and to partner offices in London
- Reports to: Chief Executive, Thames Rivers Trust
- Annual Leave: 25 days per year plus public holidays
- Pension: Contributory pension scheme
For full details of the role, responsibilities and person specification, please download the job description below.
To apply, please send a CV and covering letter to info@thamesriverstrust.org.uk.
Closing date: 10pm, Sunday 30th August 2026
Interviews: Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th September 2026
