Fishery Officer TLNT1_NI in Derry

Contract Type: Permanent

Organisation: Loughs Agency of Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission

Directorate: Conservation and Protection

Location: Foyle Area

Grade/Scale: FOI / £33,542 to £34,231 per annum

Responsible to: Area Fishery Inspector

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours excluding meal breaks. Flexible working hours over 24 hours each day and 7 days each week are required.

Purpose of the Role

Fishery Officers are responsible for carrying out a range of fishery protection and other duties, not only in their assigned area of responsibility, but also in other areas within the Foyle Area or adjoining areas as directed by their Inspector.

Main Areas of Responsibility Include

• Adequate and effective fishery protection, conservation and monitoring measures at all times, having regard to the appropriate legislation, including legislation protecting waters from pollution.
• Adequate and effective checks on all rod licence holders, their rods and other equipment to ensure compliance with the terms of their licence.
• Prompt and effective response to all emergency call outs.
• Regular inspections on all weirs, sluices, mills, dams, fish passes, millraces and watercourses to ensure compliance with the law.
• Examination of watercourses in relation to fishery conservation measures associated with drainage works or engineering works adjacent to watercourses.
• All duties in connection with the prevention and control of water pollution including monitoring and sampling of discharges.
• Assisting with surveys, fishery investigations etc.
• Investigation of complaints relating to the conservation and protection role of the Agency.
• Apprehending offenders and seizing equipment under the terms of the legislation.
• Taking and preparing statements of evidence and presenting evidence in court.
• Duties may include seagoing protection as a crew member and small boats / RIB handling.
• Ensure that all Agency property placed in their care is properly maintained, and if appropriate serviced in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.
• Keep and maintain proper records, notebooks and compile all necessary reports and statements and submit these promptly to the Area Inspector.
• Keep and submit diaries of duties performed in accordance with instructions.
• Keep up to date on fisheries and associated legislation.
• Ensure appropriate legislation and instructions are complied with.
• Bring to the attention of the Area Inspector any matters coming to their attention which may adversely affect the fisheries of the Foyle Area or the operation of the Agency.
• Carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required from time to time within the general level of responsibility for the post.

Core Competencies

Loughs Agency's recruitment and selection process is based on the Northern Ireland Civil Service Competency Framework which sets out how all Agency employees should work. It is important that all candidates familiarise themselves with the Competency Framework.

• Seeing the Big Picture: Keep up to date with a broad set of issues relating to the work of the Agency. Develop understanding of how own and teams work supports the achievement of Agency priorities and delivery to the citizen. Focus on the overall goal and intent of what they are trying to achieve, not just the task. Take an active interest in expanding their knowledge of areas related to own role.
• Changing and Improving: Understand and apply technology to achieve efficient and effective business and personal results. Consider and suggest ideas for improvements, sharing this feedback with others in a constructive manner. Conduct regular reviews of what and who is required to make a project / activity successful and make ongoing improvements. Put aside preconceptions and consider new ideas on their own merits. Help colleagues, customers and corporate partners to understand changes and why they have been introduced. Identify, resolve or escalate the positive and negative effects that change may have on own role / team.
• Making Effective Decisions: Demonstrate accountability and make unbiased decisions. Examine complex information and obtain further information to make accurate decisions. Speak with the relevant people in order to obtain the most accurate information and get advice when unsure of how to proceed. Explain clearly, verbally and in writing, how a decision has been reached. Provide advice and feedback to support others to make accurate decisions. Monitor the storage of critical data and customer information to support decision-making and conduct regular reviews to ensure it is stored accurately, confidentially and responsibly.
• Leading and Communicating: Display enthusiasm around goals and activities, adopting a positive approach when interacting with others. Listen to, understand, respect and accept the value of different views, ideas and ways of working. Express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing, and with sensitivity and respect for others. Confidently handle challenging conversations or interviews. Confront and deal promptly with inappropriate language or behaviours, including bullying, harassment or discrimination.
• Collaborating and Partnering: Demonstrate interest in others and develop a range of contacts outside own team to help get the job done. Change ways of working to facilitate collaboration for the benefit of the teams work. Proactively seek information, resources and support from others outside own immediate team in order to help achieve results. Readily identify opportunities to share knowledge, information and learning and make progress by working with colleagues. Listen attentively to others and check their understanding by asking questions. Take responsibility for creating a working environment that encourages equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Building Capability for All: Take ownership of team and individual development by identifying capability needs and consistently achieving development objectives. Take responsibility for the quality of own work and seek opportunities for improvement through continuous learning. Proactively support the development plans of others. Take account of the diverse contributions of team members and delegate work to improve capabilities of all. Encourage and be open to developmental feedback from others.
• Delivering Value for Money: Manage information and financial data so that it is accurate, easily located and reusable. Can account for expenditure and create well supported argument for extra expenditure. Take opportunities to challenge misuse of resources in order to achieve value for money and sustainable ways in working. Understand that all actions have a cost and choose the most effective way to do something in a resource-efficient way. Ensure that recognised control procedures and practices are maintained. Monitor resources against plans and budget, identify and flag up variances.
• Managing a Quality Service: Explain clearly to customers what can be done. Work with team to set priorities, create clear plans and manage all work to meet the needs of the customer and the business. Ensure that levels of service are maintained, flag up risks or concerns in order to meet customer requirements. Keep internal teams, customers and delivery partners fully informed of plans and possibilities. Promote adherence to relevant policies, procedures, regulations and legislation, including equality, diversity and health and safety. Identify common problems or weaknesses in policy or procedures that affect service and escalate these.
• Delivering at Pace: Create regular reviews of what and who is required to make a project / activity successful and make ongoing improvements. Be interested and positive about what they and the team are trying to achieve. Take ownership of problems in their own area of responsibility. Remain positive and focused on achieving outcomes despite setbacks. Check own and team performance against outcomes, make improvement suggestions or take corrective action when problems are identified. Set and achieve challenging goals and monitor quality.
• Achieving Outcomes through Delivery Partners: Be able to identify and access the Agency's procurement and appropriate expertise. Understand and be able to explain Agency approach to assigning contractual and financial delegations. Recognise when deliverables and/or services derived from a business arrangement are not being delivered to the required level of quality or standard and take appropriate action. Fully meet commercial confidentiality and data security requirement in contracts.

Personnel Specification

Essential Criteria: Applicants must demonstrate that they possess the following criteria, by the closing date for applications. Each essential criteria will be applied.

• 5 GCSEs (Grade A-C) or equivalent to include Mathematics and English Language; or 1 years previous experience in two of the areas below: Fisheries, Environmental field, Law enforcement, Fish counters, Legal background, Sea going duties.
• Candidates must hold a full current driving licence, with not more than 6 penalty points, held for a minimum of two years.

Desirable Criteria: Some or all of the following criteria may be used in the event of a large number of suitably qualified applications.

• Training or qualifications in fisheries management, environmental field, law enforcement, fish counters or legal background.
• 2 years previous experience in two of the areas below: Fisheries, Environmental field, Law enforcement, Fish counters, Legal background, Sea going duties.

Shortlisting Information: The technical elements related to the duties and responsibilities of this job will be scored on a competency-based framework at shortlisting and interview. This means that only those candidates who most closely match the requirements of the post are likely to be shortlisted. Each applicant should consider carefully if they can demonstrate the required levels of skill and experience before they spend time completing an application form. It is not enough to state that you have an awareness or knowledge of the areas stated; candidates must demonstrate actual skills and experience that can be checked with previous employers where necessary.

Guidance for Making Your Application: The application form is designed to ensure that applicants provide the necessary information to determine how they meet the competition requirements and the essential criteria. Loughs Agency will not accept CVs, letters, additional pages of any other supplementary material in place of or in addition to completed application forms. The space available on the application form is the same for all applicants and must not be altered. Applicants must complete the application form in Arial font 12, or legible, block capitals. Applicants must not reformat application forms. Information in support of your application will not be accepted after the closing date for receipt of applications. Applications will not be examined until after the closing date.

Application Form Submission: Applications can be completed online and are accessible from Loughs Agency's website; any queries can be emailed to . Loughs Agency will not accept incomplete application forms, application forms received after the closing deadline or reformatted applications. Loughs Agency does not accept faxed applications. Applicants using Royal Mail should note that 1st class mail does not guarantee next day delivery. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that sufficient postage has been paid to return the form to Loughs Agency to meet the required deadline. Loughs Agency will not accept any application where there is any shortfall in postage.

Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form: Please note that the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form is regarded as part of your application and failure to complete and return it may result in disqualification.

Guidance for Interview: It is anticipated that interviews will be held week commencing Monday 17th August 2026, however this may be subject to change. At interview, the technical elements related to the duties and responsibilities of this job will be scored on a competency-based framework. The Selection Panel will assess candidates against the behavioural competences, qualifications and experience required for the post.

Order of Merit: The Selection Panel will assess candidates against the interview criteria. Those candidates who meet the required standard(s) and pass mark will be deemed suitable for appointment. The Selection Panel will then list those suitable for appointment in order of merit with the highest scoring applicant ranked first. The order of merit is valid for one year. Therefore, if this post becomes available again within one year, the next suitable candidate will be offered the post without further competition.

Additional Information: Job offers are made subject to the receipt of satisfactory references from nominated referees including your last known employer. Full details of the posts terms and conditions of employment will be provided on receipt of satisfactory references and your acceptance of an offer.

Disability Requirements: Loughs Agency will ask on the application form if you require any reasonable adjustments, due to disability, to enable you to attend any part of the assessment process. Details of any disability disclosed are used for this purpose only and do not form any part of the selection process.

Vetting Procedures: Prior to appointment the following will be required: Proof of qualifications. Copy of valid Driving Licence. Receipt of 2 satisfactory references, references will not be sought until after the final stage of the assessment process. Basic level security clearance which is managed by Access NI.

Right to Work: As an employer in Northern Ireland, it is standard procedure to establish if prospective employees are eligible to work in the UK.

Availability: The post is based in the Foyle Area, however, the successful applicant may also be required to travel within the Foyle and Carlingford Areas and outside both jurisdictions.

Any Other Duties: Appointees may be required to carry out any other duties that may from time to time arise and which are reasonably required within the general level of responsibility for the post.

Salary: Starting salary will normally be at the minimum of the scale. Consideration of a higher starting salary may be given to applicants with exceptional relevant experience and/or skills and only then if all suitable candidates, those considered to be appointable by the Selection Panel, have refused the minimum salary offered.

Closing Date: Completed application forms must be returned to arrive not later than Tuesday 11th August 2026.