At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead exciting river and fisheries projects, ensuring conservation and monitoring efforts thrive.
- Company: Join the Westcountry Rivers Trust, a passionate team dedicated to environmental sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, flexible working, and a generous pension contribution.
- Other info: Great opportunities for career growth and professional development in a dynamic team.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in river conservation while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Degree in conservation or ecology, with a passion for freshwater ecosystems.
The predicted salary is between 26500 - 29700 £ per year.
Westcountry Rivers Trust is recruiting a River and Fisheries Project Officer. This is a permanent contract after a successful 4 month probation period. The starting salary for this role is £26,500.00 – £29,700.00 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
Apply by midnight on Sunday 28th June 2026. Interviews will be held in person at our offices in Stoke Climsland on Thursday 9th July 2026. For queries about this role or the application process please contact recruitment@wrt.org.uk.
About the Role:
The River and Fisheries Project Officer is a key member of the River and Fisheries Team in delivering project work, habitat work and monitoring of our catchments throughout the Southwest. Upcoming and existing projects include fisheries (including eel) monitoring and conservation, shad research and fish passage improvements. Reporting to the Head of Fisheries and Ecology, the post holder will be encouraged to develop their knowledge and experience of working in and alongside rivers.
Responsibilities:
- Project Delivery: Act as project officer on one or more projects, delivering outputs to a high standard and upholding WRT’s reputation. Apply for consents, permits and exemptions required to deliver project work, with support from the team. Work with the Operations Team and subcontractors to safely and professionally deliver work on WRT projects and tenders. Undertake procurement and some supplier contract management.
- Field Work & Monitoring: Support planning and delivery of the Team’s monitoring programme, including electric fishing surveys and habitat walkovers. Collate site data, records and images for reporting purposes. Undertake fieldwork and site supervision independently, with appropriate support from the team.
- Stakeholder & External Engagement: Engage professionally with the public, landowners and volunteers, representing WRT externally. Attend, plan and assist with organising events, meetings and workshops, including dissemination of materials and minutes. Contribute to promotional and educational events and workshop delivery.
- Reporting & Administration: Support the production of technical and output reports, collating data and drafting project paperwork. Lead on a specialism within the role, developing knowledge and skills commensurate with a Project Officer position.
- Team & Development: Collaborate with project teams to achieve objectives and milestones. Support the Team Manager in the development of junior staff. Undertake any other duties commensurate with the level of the role.
Person specification:
Knowledge and Experience:
- Fisheries expertise and experience
- Demonstrable experience and knowledge of freshwater fisheries, water quality, water resources, or Water Framework Directive management
- Evidence of keeping abreast of current best practice, legislation
- Knowledge of geomorphology, fisheries conservation and or river restoration (E)
- Experience or working knowledge in conservation or environmental sectors (D)
- Experience in fish passage projects (D)
- Experience in working with contractors, stakeholders and other organisations (D)
- Experience obtaining consents and planning permission for environmental projects (D)
- Experience of ecological survey techniques (D)
- Experience in bid or tender writing (D)
Skills and Competencies:
- A proactive approach and ability to use initiative and problem solve
- The ability to carry out survey fieldwork and contractor/site supervision work as part of delivering a busy catchment schedule
- The ability to manage your own workload and meet deadlines
- Strong written communication skills
- Effective oral communication with the ability to build positive working relationships
- Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and work as a team
- Demonstrable experience of working with MS Office suite especially Word and Excel
- Ability to travel across the area of operations as required by the role
Qualifications:
A degree in conservation or ecology or a relevant degree-equivalent vocational qualifications will be considered if highly relevant to the position.
The above are Essential criteria unless indicated as Desirable.
River and Fisheries Project Officer employer: Elbichologo
Westcountry Rivers Trust is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With generous benefits including 25 days of annual leave, a robust pension scheme, and opportunities for hybrid working, employees are encouraged to develop their skills in a meaningful role focused on river and fisheries conservation in the beautiful Southwest. The Trust fosters a collaborative environment where team members can engage with the community and contribute to impactful projects, making it a rewarding place to work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land River and Fisheries Project Officer
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We think you need these skills to ace River and Fisheries Project Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for a role in environmental engineering tech, make sure to highlight your technical skills like CAD software proficiency, data analysis, or modelling techniques. These are essential for the job and should stand out in your CV and cover letter, showing how you can contribute to projects at Elbichologo.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Elbichologo
✨Brush Up on Environmental Regulations
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest environmental regulations and standards. In an environmental engineering tech role at Elbichologo, you might be asked specific questions about compliance measures, so understanding these will definitely give you an edge.
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Be ready for behavioural questions that assess how you handle teamwork, conflict, and project management. Think of examples from your studies or practical experiences where you tackled challenges effectively, showcasing both your technical and interpersonal skills.
