Senior Community Project Officer in Edinburgh

Experience of working with local authorities, agencies, stakeholders & landowners is essential. Senior Project OfficerThe 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 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 Head of Operations, and may support volunteers and interns at different times. This role will include the delivery of catchment wide (eg INNS Control) and individually funded projects (eg Revive the Gogar Burn) as and when funding is confirmed. The Senior Project Officer will be part of the ongoing development of projects across a range of rivers with a focus on rivers within the Lothians. This will include all aspects of project delivery from inception, design coordination, permitting/consents, practical delivery and contractor supervision, stakeholder engagement, working closely with community groups, reporting and claims management and monitoring and evaluation. The postholder will be expected to demonstrate strong facilitation skills and experience of partnership working to support effective collaboration across communities, agencies, landowners and other stakeholders. Project WorkingThe Senior Project Officer will lead on the delivery of projects including: River Restoration and EngagementInvasive Non-Native Species controlRiparian and habitat improvement projectsIn-stream river restoration (e.g. bank protection etc)Natural Flood ManagementAssisting with Trust educational projects such as Fish in the ClassroomCommunity and youth work projectsDeveloping and facilitating collaborative partnershipsSupporting larger scale restoration project via media production and stakeholder engagementProjects development and fundraisingThe Senior Project Officer will take a lead on the Management of projects including: Consenting processes – landowners, regulatory (eg EASR)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 Head of Operations)Representation at local and national levelsThe 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. Local Authorities, NatureScot, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Government, Marine Directorate, Scottish Fisheries Coordination Centre, Landowners, Schools and members of the public. General AssistanceThe 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. CommunicationsThe Project Lead will communicate proactively both internally and externally. Knowledge sharing across the TrustSupporting presentations and occasional filming or media creationContributing to case studies, blog posts and website contentPreparing documentation, reports and materials for partners and fundersEssential / Desired criteriaEssentialKnowledge and ExperienceStrong subject knowledge of river restoration, catchment management, and conservation work. Experience of project delivery from inception through to completion. Experience of coordinating and delivering environmental or conservation projects. Experience of project monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Experience of managing funding claims, grant reporting, and associated administration. SkillsExcellent communication and relationship-building skills as well as strong facilitation and collaboration skillsAbility to engage effectively with communities, agencies, landowners and partner organisationsFinancial administration skills, including cashflow monitoring, claims and budget oversightStrong organisational skills and attention to detailReport writing and documentation skillsAbility to work independently while coordinating a wider project teamLeadership and ManagementAbility to manage resources, procurement processes and contractors as well as team management skillsAbility to contribute to management team discussions and maintain project management standardsDesirableTechnical SkillsExperience of or qualification relating to Invasive Non-Native Species controlKnowledge of riparian habitat management and in-stream restoration techniquesExperience of Natural Flood Management initiativesKnowledge of or ability to complete/contribute to UK Hab surveys or other field surveysUnderstanding of environmental permitting and consenting processes (including regulatory approvals such as EASR)Knowledge and experience working with Arc GIS and StoryMapsDemonstrable Previous ExperienceLeading river restoration projects or delivering innovative river restoration techniquesPreparing funding applications or grant proposalsDeveloping collaborative partnership working across multiple agencies or sectorsExperience producing presentations and public-facing communicationsExisting relationships with relevant agencies such as SEPA, NatureScot, local authorities or conservation organisations