Job Opportunities

The Trust is a dynamic and aspirational organisation at the forefront of environmental thinking and practical conservation in the UK today

;

It is an exciting time in the environment sector as the importance of river health receives the wider attention it deserves.

In the Westcountry, our charity has been leading the way in restoring and protecting the region’s freshwater environments for 30 years, but there is still more to be done.

To keep caring for these spaces, and all who depend on them, our charity is growing, with opportunities across a variety of departments. Working for the Trust will provide you with a stimulating environment in which to meet your career aspirations.

We believe that our most important asset is our people.

We aim to spend time and effort investing in our staff. As a charity, we may not be able to offer as high salaries as we wish but we do offer other benefits such as flexitime.

Westcountry citizen science leader showing kids invertebrates at riverbank

Active vacancies are advertised below, as well as in online job platforms and the local or national press as appropriate.

Please note: Interviews may be conducted in-person at our office or online as appropriate.

Latest Vacancies:

Evidence and Engagement Officer

Contract: Permanent Contract	Report To: Head of Resilience & Communities
Grade: 3	Hours: Full time (37.5 hours)
Location: Westcountry Rivers Trust’s office is in Stoke Climsland and whilst we have adopted hybrid working there is an expectation to work from the office on a regular basis and to travel to sites across the delivery area.

Westcountry Rivers Trust is recruiting for 2 x Evidence and Engagement Officer

This is a permanent contract after a successful 6 month probation period.

The starting salary for this role is £25,700.00 – £28,300.00 (dependent on experience)

Benefits while working for Westcountry Rivers Trust

25 days Annual Leave per annum, 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.
9% Employer Pension, plus Life Assurance cover
Flexible working

Apply by midnight on the 24^th August 2025 by CV and Covering Letter to: https://hr.breathehr.com/recruitment/vacancies/42164?identifier=westcountryriverstrust

Interviews will be held in person at our offices in Stoke Climsland on Thursday 4^th September and Friday 5^th September 2025.

For queries about this role or the application process please contact recruitment@wrt.org.uk

About the Westcountry Rivers Trust

Formed in 1994, the Trust was established to restore Westcountry rivers. Measures to protect rivers can help to save money for farmers, lower costs for water companies, boost tourism, reduce the need to dredge estuaries and even benefit human health.

Today the charity works with a wide range of stakeholders from landowners to local communities, businesses, farmers and water companies to restore and protect the rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal areas for the benefit of people, wildlife and the local economy. There has never been a more important time to work on the rivers of the West Country as the impacts of climate emergency and the ecological crisis is forcing society to invest in building catchment resilience.

Spurred by a shared love of rivers, the Westcountry Rivers Trust is very much a grassroots organisation, brought into existence from the bottom up. In the early 90s, a group of individuals, passionate – but concerned – about the waterways around them, began to stitch together their ambitions for restoring Westcountry rivers, laying the foundations for the Trust we know today.

Everything the Trust does is informed by the best available science. Their work is driven by an ‘ecosystems approach,’ considering the function of the entire catchment, not just the rivers that flow within them.

It was this new perspective – not to mention the hands-on and tireless approach to river restoration – that grabbed the attention of so many supporters and funders, and which lies behind the flourishing rivers trust movement. Since then, the Trust now has circa 75 employees with an annual turnover of c£3m running multi-annual projects spread across a wide range of funders.

The Trust has three main delivery teams and a support services team. Our employees work on delivery sites, from home, and from the office.

About the Role

The Evidence and Engagement Officer will work across the department but have a particular focus on community engagement and project management. The role will require the holder to be technically competent, passionate about the environment and have a keen interest in engagement and the communication of scientific data.

Proactive engagement with communities across the Southwest will form the bedrock of much of their work, including activities such as drop-in events, co-creation workshops and practical volunteer management.

The role will lead and coordinate the delivery of a diverse portfolio of environmental projects. You’ll manage budgets, timelines, reporting requirements, and stakeholder relationships to ensure impactful outcomes for rivers and communities. The role involves working closely with colleagues, communities, and partners to design and implement evidence-led initiatives that support river health, climate resilience, and public engagement. You’ll play a key role in translating science into action and ensuring collaborative, community-based approaches to river stewardship. Strong communication, organisation, and a passion for the environment are essential for this role.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be conducted in line with our safeguarding and recruitment policies.

Responsibilities

Develop, plan and deliver engagement activities across the Southwest
Build relationships and maintain communication with catchment-based communities and key stakeholders. The role will be the ‘first port of call’ for catchment specific questions
Assist in co-ordinating volunteers within each catchment and communicate with the Project Managers regularly
Manage and deliver project objectives and work packages, supported by the senior Project Manager
Organise and deliver detailed walkover and site visits to determine suitability and impact for projects
Coordinate delivery of capital works
Identify and coordinate opportunities for volunteer participation
Assist in management of the ‘Assemble’ volunteer management system
Assist in monitoring and data capture to ensure project activities are evidenced
Write and update catchment and project reports
Assist in the delivery of project activities and key milestones to achieve project objectives – This could include activities for broader project delivery that isn’t focused on specific catchments when required, such as attending partnership meetings
Plan and deliver meetings with internal and external stakeholders
Carry out other duties relevant to your role as reasonably required by the Head of Resilience & Communities or another manager of the Trust.

Person specification

Knowledge and Experience

Motivated professional with demonstrable experience in designing and delivering environmental monitoring plans and projects
Demonstrable experience in delivering community engagement projects including facilitating meetings
Good knowledge of requirements for data protection and confidentiality
Experience in delivering projects in a conservation setting
Knowledge and experience of environmental issues
Experience in delivery of practical conservation tasks (D)
Knowledge of relevant environmental legislation and statutory plans (D)
Knowledge of the rivers and catchments across the Southwest and how river catchment’s function (D)
Experience in management of contractors (D)
Experience of co-design, co-production and/or co-creation activities (D)
Knowledge of Safeguarding (D)

Skills and Competencies

Ability to manage workload and time effectively
Excellent written & verbal communication skills for a wide range of audiences
Excellent interpersonal skills
Good organisational and admin skills, with good attention to detail to maintain a filing system, keep appropriate records of work undertaken and outcomes, and file expenses in line with funders requirements
Good IT skills including Microsoft Office 365
Ability to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends
Access to a vehicle, a clean valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel are needed for the role

Qualifications

An undergraduate degree in Environmental Science/Ecology/Geography/related discipline or equivalent experience

The above are Essential criteria unless indicated as Desirable.

HR Trustee role

Westcountry Rivers Trust is recruiting an HR Trustee

Description

The Board of Trustees are responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of The Westcountry Rivers Trust, developing the Trust’s aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the governing document and legal and regulatory guidelines.

Main Responsibilities

To ensure that the Westcountry Rivers Trust and its representatives function within the legal and regulatory framework of the sector and in line with the Trust’s governing documents, continually striving for best practice in governance.
To uphold the fiduciary duty invested in the position, undertaking such duties in a way that adds to public confidence and trust in the Westcountry Rivers Trust.
To determine the overall direction and development of the Westcountry Rivers Trust through good governance and clear strategic planning.

For further information on this role, please download the pack: WRT HR Trustee Recruitment pack

Applications to be made with CV and covering letter to the CEO (Laurence Couldrick – laurence@wrt.org.uk) followed by:

Informal meeting with the Chair, CEO and Head of Human Resources
Recommendation will then be made to the full Board
If applicable, you will be welcomed as a full Trustee at the next board meeting