Job Vacancy Development Officer

Feb 28, 2023 | Fishing reports, News

Tay Rivers Trust Development Officer – Job description

Are you passionate about conserving our countryside? Fancy a job spending time outdoors, speaking to people and inspiring them about our work? Do you have experience of initiating and managing conservation projects, including identifying and applying for funding? Could you educate people across all age groups about saving wild Atlantic salmon and the protecting the environment they live in?

If so then this could be a job for you.

Development Officer – Job description

The Organisation

The Tay Rivers Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee whose charitable objectives are to restore and maintain aquatic biodiversity by means of practical, responsible and sustainable approaches to land, water and fishery management based on sound science for the benefit of the community as a whole.

The Trust also seeks to conserve and enhance all fish species and their habitats, to advance education, training and study and to provide a communications resource for all interested parties.

The Trust has a remit to perform research into all species of fish in the River Tay catchment area, their environment and anything which might impact upon them; to manage or advise on the management of fish stocks. It also has a remit to disseminate the findings of research and educate the public about all the species of fish and their environment in the River Tay and its tributaries.

In those areas where their objectives are aligned the Tay Rivers Trust works in collaboration with the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board.

The Job and what’s involved.

Tay Rivers Trust seeks to appoint Development Officer who will report to the Trust Director.

In the first instance this will be a one-year contract which will be subject to review, such as satisfactory performance and continued funding being available. A full-time appointment (37.5 hours per week, on average) will attract a salary in the region of £32,000-£40,000 per annum, depending on the skills and experience of the appointee. Tay Rivers Trust also welcomes applications from those who are interested in working on a less than full-time basis. Whether appointed on a full-time or less than full-time basis, the post will include periods of work during weekends and evenings

As this job may involve working with children the offer will be subject to meeting the requirements of the Disclosure Scotland Act.

The successful candidate will be home-based. Office and meeting facilities are available at Cromwell Park, Almondbank near Perth. The Development Officer will engage with local communities, corporate groups and schools/colleges to increase awareness of, enthusiasm for, and an understanding of the rivers within the Tay, Earn and Eden catchments [Perth and Kinross, Angus, Fife and Stirling].

The development role will involve: working with TRT directors, and liaising with TDSFB Fisheries Director, to identify appropriate conservation and education projects; identifying and accessing funding for such projects; developing a network of volunteers to assist delivery of conservation and environmental enhancement work with particular focus on river habitat projects; organising, and when appropriate delivering, the “Salmon in the classroom” project.

  • Your key responsibilities will be:
  • Identify, develop and manage projects which can further the Trust’s charitable purposes
  • Develop and implement a plan targeted at identifying and applying for grant funding from appropriate bodies to further the Trust’s charitable purposes.
  • Liaising with farmers, landowners, agencies and volunteers in promoting river habitat improvement projects.
  • Identify areas where the work of the Trust can be enhanced by the input of volunteers, and develop a volunteer programme for the Trust, liaising with other appropriate bodies as necessary
  • Identify and deliver on opportunities for the Trust to engage with and educate local communities, corporate groups, schools and colleges, including managing and expanding the “Salmon in the classroom” project. Your skills and background You will need to clearly demonstrate enthusiasm and understanding of the natural environment and river ecology. You need to be a self-starter, be organised and able to inspire others to work with you.

    Essential

  • Ability to work on own initiative and within a team environment
  • Innovative and ability to plan, organise and deliver own programme of work.
  • Demonstrable knowledge/experience in the field of
  • nature and conservation, including knowledge of aquatic ecology and impacts arising from land, water and fishery management uses.
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages
  • Some public speaking experience
  • Persuasive communicator and negotiator with the ability to influence
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • A full clean UK driving licence is essential and you will be required to use your own vehicle for business purposes.

Desirable

  • Experience of producing and delivering educational content for a variety of learners
  • Knowledge of land owners, farmers and river users
  • Experience of managing volunteers, including recruitment, motivation, and administration of volunteer programme
  • Experience of fund-raising through grant funding
  • Experience of working with volunteers.                       

    How to apply

    If you wish to discuss the post on an informal basis, please contact the Trust director, Dr David Summers, on director@tdsfb.org

    Formal applications should be made by submitting a copy of your CV together with a covering letter demonstrating how your experience and skills match the job requirements.

    Please send by email to:
    Inga MacGillivray, Company Secretary, Tay Rivers Trust
    E-mail:
    admin@tdsfb.org

    Closing date for applications is set for Friday, 17th March 2023