Project Officer - Colchester, United Kingdom - Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust

Description

About us

Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust is a small but ambitious environmental charity dedicated to the protection and enhancement of rivers and estuaries in Essex and Suffolk.

Essex and Suffolk are rich in their diversity of history, culture, landscape, wildlife, people, communities, agriculture, industry, and the places we call home.

Our ecosystems of rivers and wetlands have always played a crucial role as the veins that bring life and wellbeing to us all.

Today, they are under critical pressure from human demands, pollution, and climate change yet our future depends on them. Our Vision is for healthy and resilient land and water environments we can all be proud of.

This role is an exciting opportunity to join our proactive and expanding team focused on action on the ground and influencing for change.

We use our expertise, experience, connections, and commitment to work in partnership with many stakeholder organisations and groups to make a real difference in helping to solve the complex problems of river restoration and water management.

We believe that working with, not against, nature is the key to sustainability, and we have a proven track record of delivering pioneering nature-based solutions.

We draw strength and support as part of a nationwide movement of Rivers Trusts.


EMPLOYMENT TERMS

• Salary: £31,000 p.a.
• Hours: Full time (37.5hrs per week). Consideration given to part time working.
• Location: Home office working with some travel throughout Essex and Suffolk, with future officebased working.
• Annual holidays: 25 days plus statutory holidays
• Pension: NEST pension scheme

MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE

Develop and deliver Catchment Improvement Plans for the Rivers Blackwater and Pant (a main tributary of the Blackwater) informed by externally contracted Fluvial Audits and discussions with partners and local communities.

Working with the Director and other ESRT staff, play a key role in developing and managing the Combined Essex Catchment Partnership, ensuring effective networking and communications with partners and the promotion of partnership projects.

REPORTING TO
ESRT Catchments and Projects Officer


RESPONSIBLE FOR
Volunteers, external contractors, and consultants assisting with ESRT work.


WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:
ESRT Director, Catchments and Projects Officer, Administration and Communications Officer.


External:

A wide range of contacts and partners including Combined Essex Catchment Partnership members, the Rivers Trust network, Environment Agency, Water Companies, Local Authorities, Natural England, AONBs, project funders, farmers and landowners, other NGOs and local interest groups and communities.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Project management

• Manage the delivery of Fluvial Audits for both the Rivers Blackwater and Pant. Manage delegated project budgets to ensure expenditure remains on track and within the allocated budget.
• Prepare clear and concise progress reports and compile claims evidence for Project Steering group and external funders.
• Coordinate the review of outputs in line with funders requirement through a staged draft and final reporting process.
• Engage with farming communities and parish councils on the Fluvial Audit process and its outputs to ensure Fluvial Audit outputs are explained and understood.
• Working with the Administration and Communications Officer, ensure that all administrative records relating to the project are kept up to date and that all reporting is completed accurately and on time.
• Report at the earliest opportunity concerns about project delivery to the Project Director and keep risk register up to date.

Development of Catchment Restoration Plans for the Blackwater and Pant catchments

• Compile and deliver prioritised plans for the restoration of the Blackwater and Pant catchments based on recommendations from the Fluvial Audit and the input from partners and stakeholders.
• Use GIS to produce maps within the plans to illustrate the actions and prioritised locations for restoration measures.
• Foster strong and trusted working relationships with farmers (including farm cluster groups), parish councils and local communities within the catchment to engage them with the project.
• Plan and deliver workshops and events where required to help communicate the project process and outcomes.
• Identify project opportunities during the development of the plans which could be delivered sooner and support the Catchment and Projects Officer with the development of these projects.
• Liaise with site owners and regulators (Environment Agency and Local Authorities) to ensure all permissions and formal consents required to undertake the work are obtained.

Catchment Partnerships Management and Coordination

• Maintain regular communication with partners within the Essex Catchment Partnership through organising and facilitating regular meetings of the partnership groups (at least 3 per year), adhoc subgr