Catchment Habitats Advisor

As a small environmental charity, our most important asset is our people and we want to recruit the best. You will be joining a friendly and committed team of experts who are passionate about improving Tyne rivers.

You will be an integral part of our team and work closely with diverse partners and stakeholders to identify and develop opportunities to restore our iconic rivers and catchment. The successful candidate will have sound understanding of river processes and/or experience of designing and developing projects that achieve improvements for the aquatic environment. This could involve development and design of river and wetland restoration, natural flood management projects or similar work using nature-based solutions.

The role is to provide hydrological and geomorphological expertise to the project delivery team as well as to external partners and stakeholders.Undertake hydromorphological assessments of watercourses and their catchments, identify and develop restoration opportunities, and support project implementation alongside partners and/or our project delivery team. Your work will involve a combination of desk-based analysis combined with field assessments to ensure effective and practical solutions are identified. You will not be expected to directly manage contractors delivering capital works but will get the opportunity to learn about this aspect of the role.

Areas of focus will be on the use of nature-based solutions to restore the natural functioning of our watercourses so they are better connected to their floodplain, contain healthier habitat to support our native species and store more water in flood and drought. You will achieve this by working on dynamic projects that are delivering immediate action on the ground while simultaneously developing a pipeline of restoration opportunities for future implementation. In addition to identifying and developing the restoration opportunities, you will identify consents required to ensure successful project delivery, such as those from regulatory authorities, and potential constraints to delivery.

Efficient and clear communication with colleagues throughout TRT will be essential. Furthermore, collaboration with a range of organisations including the Environment Agency (EA), Natural England, North Pennines National Landscapes and Northumberland National Park is required. You will also be working in Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Scheduled Ancient Monuments so it will be important to consider the impact of any proposals on these features and, where possible, identify opportunities to enhance them.

Key Responsibilities

• Provision of hydromorphological and geomorphological expertise to support the project delivery team in developing river and catchment restoration proposals
• Identification and prioritisation of opportunities to restore the hydrological functioning of the Tyne catchment
• Development of opportunities to restore hydrological functioning of the Tyne catchment and take these through to outline or full designs where appropriate
• Complete Project Development Plans that detail outline designs and enable TRT project delivery team and external partners, to easily understand proposals, their rationale and a pathway for delivery
• Liaise with external partners and stakeholders using hydrological and geomorphological expertise to communicate complex water management issues, often to non-specialist audiences
• Carry out visits to all sites in all weather conditions in order to assess conditions particularly following heavy rain, coordinate with relevant stakeholders and carry out appropriate risk assessments in advance.
• Collation of clear and concise written reports documenting project delivery.
• Work with project partners to ensure projects deliver multiple benefits and all partners’ objectives are met.
• Work with others to obtain funding for projects where appropriate.

Key Objectives

Strategy Development

• Review completed projects in focus areas, most notably River Rede and South Tyne catchments, as well as the Ouseburn
• Review ongoing projects and identify opportunities for enhancement of catchment hydrological functioning
• Identify additional opportunities for enhancement in priority areas and develop project development plans where appropriate
• Develop a priority list of sites for future work.
• Work with TRT to realise long-term projects.
• Maintain and develop a strong working relationship with key stakeholders in across project areas

Operational Management and Administration

• Assume full responsibility for allocated projects, working with TRT staff as required and with external partners and sub-contractors to ensure objectives are delivered on time and on budget.
• Manage project finances in line with agreed budget processes. Liaise with Finance Manager to ensure costs are allocated and tracked within TRT operating procedures.
• Liaise with colleagues, stakeholders and other partners to progress delivery.
• Liaise with landowners, tenants and other stakeholders to secure access, manage expectations and seek additional benefits for all.
• Work with the Communications Officer to create and manage publicity arising from the activity, including social media, LinkedIn and press releases.
• Liaise with Volunteer Co-ordinator, Education Officer and Farms Liaison Officer to seek opportunities for involvement in wider delivery.

Landscape scale delivery and partnership working

• Consolidate the Trust’s presence and maintain our credibility across the Tyne catchment and with groups working at the landscape scale. This will require maintaining positive relationships with farmers, landowners, land agents as well as other organisations operating within the catchments.
• Keep up to date with catchment-based approach (CaBA) and nature-based solution (NBS) concepts and technologies.
• Work with key partners to prioritise projects according to cost and environmental impact

Other Duties

• Play a key role in helping to deliver the Trust’s ambition.
• Lead by example in prioritising health and safety and wellbeing by taking responsibility for yourself, participants, volunteers and colleagues. This includes abiding by Tyne Rivers Trust’s Health and Safety and Safeguarding policies and defined standards of behaviour at all times.
• Carry out other duties and tasks from time to time for the efficient operation of the Trust.