Head of Fisheries

We have a fantastic opportunity for someone to join the team as head of fisheries. As part of
the leadership team you will help to drive business performance, future strategy and
development of both our coarse and trout fishing businesses.

Location: Base office location to be agreed with appointed role holder.
Expected to travel across the South West and attend Trust main office at Roadford Lake, Devon
regularly as required.

Purpose of the role:

• As part of the Leadership Team you will drive the business performance, future strategy and
  development of both our coarse and trout fishing businesses.
• You will champion our vision – healthy lakes, landscapes and lives.
• You will ensure lives are enhanced from experiencing the outdoors
  • A more diverse range of people and more young people are inspired by and engaged with our
    places and experiences

  • The health and wellbeing of more people is improved 

What you will do as our Head of Fisheries:

• You will set the strategy for the profitable operation and development of our fishery
  businesses.
• You will build the reputation of South West Lakes Trust as an operator of coarse and trout
  fisheries.
• You will ensure systems are in place for monitoring business performance, leading to
  continuous improvement and increased operating profit.
• You will manage a team of fishery Rangers and volunteer bailiffs
• You will take full responsibility for achieving objectives
• Ensure that strict financial controls and procedures are in place, adhered to and that
  record keeping is accurate and timely.
• Ensure safety maintenance records are maintained for fishery equipment and processes.
• Ensure that site and equipment security systems are in place and adhered to.
• Ensure mandatory and vocational training of employees, work experience placements and
  volunteers is upheld in all aspects of their roles.
• Maximise profitability by driving cross promotion and upselling at every opportunity onsite
  and between departments.
• You will lead and take responsibility for the health and safety culture within the
  fisheries team.
• You will maintain licences, accreditations and ensure that best practice in fishery
  management is implemented.
• You will seek, develop and implement new fishery business activity.
• You will identify, investigate, secure and bring to fruition new opportunities that benefit
  the charity.
• You will engage the regional and national bodies for angling and identify market
  opportunities through meetings and networking.
• During project / product rollout and times of peak demand, you will provide operational
  support, mentoring and training.
• You will maximise sales through customer intelligence / interaction.
• You will advise and assist with sales and marketing of our fisheries.
• You will work with the Managing Director and his team to ensure that the fisheries are
  developed in harmony with other visitor needs, you will work especially closely with the Head
  of Activities, Head of Countryside, Head of Environment and the Café and Venue Manager at
  Roadford Lake.

About you

• You will have the same values as us;
  • Inclusive – we respect others and want to help everyone to enjoy the outdoors.
  • Trustworthy – we will keep our word, we are credible, honest and fair.
  • Collaborative – we work together in our teams, communities and partnerships.
  • Responsible – we act to benefit society and are accountable for our actions.
  • Ambitious – we are determined to do more for people and the planet.
• Given the variety of internal and external stakeholders you’ll be engaging with, it is
  vitally important that you have excellent interpersonal, communication and influencing skills
  along with proven experience in a sales driven environment.
• You will be a decision maker and leader, keen to succeed, and willing to push to achieve
  more. Confident to communicate at all levels you will also be able to deliver concise reports
  to the charity boards.
• You are passionate about coarse and trout fishing and will understand the variety of
  benefits that both bring to people.
• You are motivated and set your own goals
• You will enjoy negotiation and have skills to get the best results for South West Lakes
  Trust.

What you will need (knowledge, experience and skills)

• You will have proven knowledge, reputation and hands on experience of a commercial
  recreational fisheries operation.
• You will need to understand and translate a strategic vision into commercial success.
• You will need to be able to demonstrate experience of delivering business or charitable
  growth
• You will be great at inspiring teams and demonstrating delivery in collaboration with
  others.
• You will have experience of robust, effective and efficient budget management with
  attention to key indicators to monitor financial performance.
• You will have identified opportunities and helped deliver effective marketing campaigns
  along with developing and delivering a great fishing experiences.
• You will be IT literate, particularly with Microsoft Office packages including Word, Excel,
  and Outlook
• You will have knowledge and experience engaging with social media and website communication
  platforms

Behaviours

• Demonstrate SW Lake’s commitments: Resilience – Thinking long term for biodiversity and
  people; Advocate – Stand up for our beliefs and empower others; Inclusivity – Promote equality
  and dignity in all that we do; Sustainability – Innovate for a sustainable future; Engaging –
  Consult and partner stakeholders to achieve more.
• Take responsibility for the safety of yourself, colleagues, volunteers and customers.
  Comply with SW Lakes Trust’s Health & Safety policy and defined standards. Ensure safe use
  of appropriate equipment, follow Risk Assessments and Method Statements.
• Thinking visitor first you will be proactive and innovate to make sure visitors want to
  return and do more. A self-starter and team player you will be motivated to achieve more.
• Being aware of your own responsibilities regarding safeguarding and to support our
  commitment to providing safe environments and working practises that promote and protect the
  safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk at all times.
• Be committed to delivering our strategic outcomes: of: Our managed landscapes will be
  abundant, diverse, and connected; Lives will be enhanced from experiencing the outdoors; To
  become a national exemplar for balancing conservation and recreation.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level, preferably in business development or business management
  subjects, or proven, extensive experience.
• Fisheries management qualification (or proven reputation and experience)
• Full and valid driving licence.

About us

As an independent charity, our purpose is to protect special places for people and
wildlife; in doing this we care for over 40 inland waters in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and
Dorset. Ranging in size from one to nine hundred acres, the lakes provide unrivalled access to
water sports, angling, walking and cycling, and are places you can be active or play and
explore all day long. We take great pride in protecting and enhancing these locations for the
future and for people to value and enjoy. They provide a perfect setting for a great day out,
be it for a stroll, to play, nature watch or enjoy adventurous activities such as stand up
paddle boarding, kayaking or sailing.

We offer a stakeholder pension scheme after 3 months of employment, with a 5% contribution
matched by the company, 23 days holiday (plus statutory bank holidays) rising to 25 days after
5 years and 28 after 10, a culture of investing in our employees through training and
development and the opportunity to work in some of the most beautiful places in the south west.