Catchment Officer

Hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week

Area of work: predominantly Kent catchments (River Medway, North Kent, River Rother and Romney Marshes)

Are you a curious, evidence-driven investigator with a passion for freshwater habitats? Do you want to play a lead role in uncovering the issues facing two of the South East’s most exciting and ecologically significant river catchments? Could you use data, local knowledge and nature-based solutions to drive meaningful action for rivers, wildlife and communities?

About the Role

The South East Rivers Trust (SERT) is an environmental charity bringing rivers and their catchments back to life. Working across 12 catchments in the South East of England, SERT empowers communities, supports citizen science, and works collaboratively with stakeholders to protect and restore our vital freshwater environments. We use data and evidence to guide action, and work with nature to make our rivers healthy again — tackling pollution, restoring habitats, reconnecting rivers and securing sustainable water.

We are seeking a Catchment Officer (or Assistant Catchment Officer, depending on experience) to support the work across three varied catchments: the River Medway, North Kent, and the River Rother and Romney Marshes. These catchments are all unique with a mixture of chalk streams, clay rivers, marshes and estuaries, giving a great opportunity to develop a wide array of knowledge and get involved with different project types, as well as supporting on habitats and initiatives that highlight your skills.

You will take an initial supporting role, and eventually more of a leading role the Catchment Partnerships, where we facilitate collaboration, align actions, and drive shared visions for the rivers and their catchments — helping partners turn ideas into action. You will also support in identifying and investigating the causes of river degradation — using data, fieldwork, citizen science, stakeholder engagement, and desk-based research to build a detailed picture of the catchments. You'll work to identify, develop and scope solutions — from small-scale interventions to multi-partner restoration schemes — and then lead or support delivery by working closely with colleagues from across SERT.

This role offers a brilliant opportunity for someone who has an interest in piecing together puzzles, building partnerships, developing project pipelines and translating evidence into action. Applicants with experience in landowner engagement, estuarine habitats, chalk stream habitats, fisheries ecology or river restoration would be particularly well suited to the role. However, you will be working closely with the Senior Catchment Officer in these catchments so there will be plenty of opportunity to learn on the job and from other members of staff and partners.

While we would prefer to appoint at Catchment Officer level, we will consider strong candidates an Assistant Catchment Officer level who demonstrate the skills and potential to grow into the role and develop.

Working at the South East Rivers Trust is rewarding, fulfilling and fast-paced. We collaborate with energy and professionalism, guided by our values of delivering high-quality work, using expertise and science, building strong relationships, and bringing positivity and integrity to everything we do. If this sounds like the right environment for you — we’d love to hear from you.

How to apply:

For more information and to apply, please click 'Find out more & apply' button. 

The deadline for application is 11:59pm on Sunday 8th June 2025. We reserve the right to close the recruitment early.

Interviews will be in person at our Leatherhead office, potentially w.c. 16th June 2025.

If you would like to discuss the position please email [email protected] with your enquiry and we will arrange to call you back.

Please note: All applicants must have the right to work in the UK. We do not sponsor applicants from overseas.