Job Description                                                                        
Conservation Project Officer, Sparkling Streams

Action for the River Kennet are recruiting for a project officer to deliver whole catchment habitat restoration project on the rivers Shalbourne, Dun and Kennet, as part of the Sparkling Streams project funded by a grant from the Green Recovery Challenge Fund.
We are looking for a resourceful, self-motivated person with a good understanding of catchment issues and a strong interest in rivers. This is a community based role, which will involve working closely with partner organisations and landowners, and leading volunteer teams. Occasional weekend and evening working will be required. A significant part of this role involves working outdoors doing practical physical activities. This role is pitched at early career individuals, or those changing careers and opportunities for training, work shadowing and support will be provided.
Reporting to the project manager, you will be joining a small team of motivated people working to protect and improve the watercourses in the Kennet catchment.
 
Key tasks

• Leading small scale river habitat restoration, working alongside volunteers to a schedule of works provided by the project manager, initially with support.
• River habitat restoration, working alongside contractors and professional river keepers
• Building and maintaining a community volunteer team, providing a safe working environment and meaningful tasks
• Co-ordinating and leading tree and hedge planting with community volunteers to a plan provided by the project manger
• Co-ordinating and leading wetland planting with community volunteers
• Working with a Rain Garden designer to install a new rain garden at Shalbourne Primary school and working alongside ARK staff to promote SuDS ideas that parents and the wider community can use in their own gardens
• Working alongside the ARK education officer to support Water Matters in three local primary schools

 
Key skills
Essential

• A positive and enthusiastic attitude, with the ability to motivate and support community volunteers
• A strong interest in the outdoors, conservation and the river environment.
• Ability to effectively manage a varied workload
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to learn from other practitioners and work with partner organisations, staff and volunteers.
• A working knowledge of GIS
• Ability to use basic MS Office software
• A working knowledge of social media
• Driving license

Desirable
 

• A relevant Degree
• First aid qualification
• A good working knowledge and experience of using GIS
• Previous experience of working with volunteers and the wider community
• Practical experience in river restoration
• Practical experience in field techniques such as riverfly monitoring or water quality testing
• Chainsaw maintenance, crosscutting and felling small trees certification

What We Offer
This is a fixed term 12 month full time contract with flexible hours. We offer a competitive annual salary and a contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement. The contract is subject to a 3 month probationary period.
An office space will be provided although the successful candidate may work from home when not required in the field. Access to a work vehicle will be provided. Attendance at regular steering group meetings, either via zoom or in person will be required.
 
Application
 
Please apply with your CV and a covering letter to Action for the River Kennet, Avebury, Elcot Park, Elcot Lane, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 2BG, or email to charlotte@riverkennet.org. Closing date for applications is 26 February 2021 and interviews will take place during the week of 1^st March 2021.