Project Deveron Catchment Restoration Manager

 Project Deveron Catchment Restoration Manager

Contract: Full time, permanent

Salary: £35,000 – £42,000 depending on experience

Location: Huntly AB54 7YY

Closing date: Sunday 21st January 2024

Interview Date: Thursday 25th January 2024

Job Specification

The Atlantic Salmon Trust and the Deveron, Bogie & Isla Rivers Charitable Trust are seeking an experienced and passionate team member to help us deliver a groundbreaking river catchment restoration project in the northeast of Scotland.

The Role

Working in partnership, the two organisations are looking to deliver a watershed-wide project to restore nature in the Deveron catchment. The river and its iconic species, such as wild Atlantic salmon, are now under threat from both the Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change crises, and we need to act now to restore its natural processes in order to build the resilience it requires in order to overcome present and future threats.

We are looking for a dynamic individual to join our team to work with landowners, funders, agencies and local stakeholders and businesses to deliver the changes required at scale and at pace to ensure that the catchment has cold, clean water and vibrant habitats.

General Duties

The role will work strategically and directly with landowners and land managers to develop and implement projects including the removal of instream barriers, riparian woodland replanting, structured buffer strips and other restoration schemes. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of scoping out large-scale restoration projects, bringing these schemes to life and managing consultants and contractors throughout the delivery process.

Key Responsibilities

• Developing and producing a catchment-wide audit of the health of the Deveron river systems and associated land uses on GIS. This will bring together all existing sources of data as well as identifying areas which are missing.

• Identify the level of potential possible within the catchment to reverse biodiversity loss and build climate resilience.

• Developing a programme of works across the river catchment to deliver that identified potential.

• Scoping out and designing landscape-scale projects or programmes of work including landowner and regulatory engagements.

• Applying to appropriate grant schemes includes Woodland Grant Scheme, carbon brokering, AECS, Nature Restoration Fund, Water Environment Fund, private funders, etc.

• Ensuring all consents are secured including designated site, CAR, planning etc.

• Drawing up tender documents and ensuring a transparent procurement process.

• Liaison with and overseeing delivery contractors, and ensuring quality control on site.

• Post-implementation monitoring and ensuring all conditions have been met.

• Preparing management plans for all projects and ensuring maintenance agreements are in place.

• Feeding into the AST/DIBRT research and monitoring plans.

The following are the criteria which are required for the delivery of the role and will be used to appraise applicants:

Essential Skills

• Strong interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills, comfortable with a range of different stakeholder groups including land managers, agencies, organisations, contractors and suppliers.

• Experience in large-scale project management with a proven ability to plan, report and work to deadlines.

• A good understanding of land management, farming and forestry practices, in particular for upland and riparian areas.

• An understanding of current funding mechanisms for ecological restoration projects and experience in preparing and submitting funding applications.

• A degree, or equivalent in a land management/ environmental management/ agriculture/ forestry/ nature conservation discipline.

• A full clean UK driving license.

Desirable Skills

• Experience in working with communities and volunteers.

• Knowledge of river processes and regulatory requirements.

• Knowledge of riparian woodland and upland restoration impacts on the wider ecology.

• Experience of creating and managing GIS datasets; - particularly ArcGIS.

• Knowledge of Scottish environmental legislation.

Experience

We welcome applications from diverse backgrounds that can demonstrate experience in:

• Project planning, management, co-ordination and output delivery.

• Co-ordinating programmes of work/projects involving a diverse range of stakeholders and communities and delivering stakeholder events.

• Partnership and collaborative working.

• The collection and analysis of data.

• Conference and other public presentations.

• Obtaining funding from both public and private finance sources.

Conditions of employment

This newly created role will be employed by the Atlantic Salmon Trust and will sit within a small team on the Deveron, reporting to the AST Restoration Director and working closely with the DBIRCT Director.

The terms of employment will be detailed in a contract and accompanying staff handbook, along with this job description. The Trust operates a flexible 37.5 hour working week, which will on occasion require working evenings and weekends. The main place of work will be at The Deveron, Isla and Bogie Rivers Charitable Trust Offices, Avochie Stables, Avochie, Huntly AB54 7YY, but flexible working arrangements may be possible.

It should be noted that the postholder may be required to travel, work with partners or undertake field work across the UK As such they will need a driving licence as work locations will not be accessible by public transport. In addition, there may be a small amount of international travel. A vehicle for work purposes will be provided.

The Atlantic Salmon Trust operates a policy of continuous professional development and will help support the postholder’s career development.

How to apply

Interested applicants are invited to submit a CV and covering leter detailing why you are suitable for this post to recruitment@atlanticsalmontrust.org by Sunday 21st January 2024.

Interviews will take place at the DBIRCT Offices at Avochie or online on Thursday 25th January 2024.

If you require further information on the role, please email alison@atlanticsalmontrust.org in the first instance.

About the Atlantic Salmon Trust

The Atlantic Salmon Trust is the UK’s leading salmon and sea trout conservation charity that seeks to improve the freshwater and marine populations of Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout from catchments flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. It is based in the UK but has a reach and reputation that extends around the fisheries world. Key to this is an evidence-based approach to informing management and the realisation that salmon are a key indicator of the wider health of our rivers and oceans.

About the Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers Charitable Trust

The Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers Charitable Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland (No. SC032131). The Trust was established in 2001 and has the following aims and objectives:

• To conserve, protect and rehabilitate salmon, sea-trout and trout and other indigenous wildlife and to promote the ecological cycle within the Deveron catchment area.

• To raise people’s awareness of conservation and protected areas by commissioning research and publishing the results for the public’s benefit.