Fisheries and Monitoring Officer

CONTEXT OF THE ROLE:

Directly reporting to the Head of Monitoring, you will play a key role in the Monitoring
Department to support project delivery, as well as the foundation as a whole by understanding
what WUF needs to do and the efficacy of our actions.

You will benefit from working alongside a supportive and experienced wider team.

You will be joining a successful and growing River Trust with a great team of people dedicated
to delivering positive changes to the catchments and aquatic environment. We are setting the
agenda for better catchment management.

The key purpose of the role is to ensure that WUF’s activities are grounded in data and science
and targeted appropriately by collecting the scientific evidence to support actions. There is a
saying we use “if you don’t look you don’t see, if you don’t see you don’t act”. You will be
responsibility for the “looking”.

ROLE DESCRIPTION:

Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Collection of ecological, water quality and fisheries data.
• Maintenance of WUF field equipment, analysers and sondes.
• Support project delivery within WUF and liaise and work across all the whole of WUF.
• Collect data from all monitoring activities into accurate and interpretable datasets and
  undertake data analysis.
• Work with citizen scientists to enhance data collection and engagement.
• Work with the team to devise, research, develop and manage scientific projects focused
  predominantly on riparian and river ecology, providing expertise and advice in WUF to ensure
  our activities are compliant with legislation and best practice.

This role, as and when considered necessary or appropriate, will be required to undertake other
duties, within competence and within reason, to meet fluctuations or priorities in work
demands.

The team member will be required to work in a mixture of environments including an office
environment, home- based and non-standard workplaces e.g. outside on farms and on/in river
sites.

This team member will work closely with statutory authorities (including other rivers trusts
and similar organisations) to identify areas of work and funding and ensure WUF projects are
synergistic with others working to recover the rivers.

This role seeks a reliable, punctual, dynamic and personable individual to undertake work
within the Wye and Usk basins – in both England and Wales. The role entails working with a
broad range of project partners and stakeholders on often complex delivery programmes and
timetables.

QUALIFICATIONS, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Essential:

• An interest in the natural environment and the issues affecting the rivers Wye and Usk
• Valid driving licence and own car, insured for business use
• Good communications skills
• Good organisational/admin skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Experience in report writing
• Good computer skills and ability to use Microsoft Office products (specifically Excel)
• Degree level or equivalent in environmental sciences/agriculture/conservation management or
  similar. Equivalent related experience will be considered as highly as academic qualifications
• Knowledge of monitoring techniques and materials
• Self-starter able to work on your own without day-to-day supervision
• Reliable and punctual with good attendance and work performance

Desirable but not essential:

• Experience of electrofishing
• Experience of water quality or ecological monitoring
• Experience in maintenance of monitoring equipment
• Demonstrable experience of successful practical project delivery and/or farm management
  skills
• Experience in the not for profit / charity sector
• Ability to convey complex information simply and concisely to a wide range of audiences
• Experience with a variety of mapping software ARC GIS, etc.
• Ability to undertake statistical analysis of raw sample data

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal

• Head of Monitoring department
• Individual Staff (in each department)
• WUF Executive
• Departmental Heads

• Project Managers

External

• Funders
• Statutory organisations and regulators
• Other River Trusts
• Contractors and equipment suppliers
• Landowners and Farmers
• Citizen scientists / volunteers

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a CV (maximum 2 sides A4) and a covering letter (maximum 2 sides A4) outlining
why you are interested in this role and highlighting how your skills, knowledge and experience
meet the criteria in the person specification.

We are keen to hear of both how you fit the role and also your interests.

Please apply by 28th April 2023. Applications receive after this date/time will not be
considered. Submit your application to [email protected] citing ‘Fisheries and
Monitoring Officer application’ in the subject line.

For an informal conversation about the role (in confidence) please contact Simon Evans
([email protected]).

(Privacy notice: personal information contained in the application will be kept for 12 months
and thereafter securely destroyed.)