Development Manager

The Great Ouse Rivers Trust (GORT) was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in 2023 to meet the unique challenges facing the Great Ouse, its tributaries and wetlands across its 8597km2 catchment.

Our vision for the Great Ouse is for a natural, healthy river enjoyed and valued by all. We work in partnership with volunteers, communities, local authorities, government agencies, landowners and businesses to deliver river restoration. We aim to inspire people to understand and value their river, to enjoy them for recreation and to take an active role in their conservation and restoration.

GORT is a proud member of the Rivers Trust movement.

The importance of the river and wetland habitats in the catchment is reflected in the number of designated nature conservation sites, including 7 Ramsar wetlands, 14 SPAs & SAC, and 241 SSSIs. There are three navigation authorities, three water companies, four catchment partnerships, and many user groups and associations. Today, the river and its tributaries face challenges and threats including: new development, discharges from sewers and highways, unsustainable abstraction, farming practice, climate change. Activity to address these issues has been piecemeal to date with no strategic catchment wide plan or coordination from one organisation.

Overall Purpose of job

In order to develop and implement our vision for the river catchment we are looking for our first member of staff who will establish the Trust as an effective and efficient delivery organisation. We are looking for someone who is a strategic thinker with a track record of developing and delivering projects. Success will depend on engaging with the many stakeholders in the catchment area.

Role and Responsibilities

1. Supporting the Board of Trustees - to enable the board of trustees to fulfil its duties and responsibilities to establish Trust Governance systems and processes. To be accountable to the board for the proper and effective management of the charity by ensuring that the charity has an appropriate management structure and management systems in order to fulfil its strategic objectives and to carry out its work within legal, statutory and regulatory guidelines.

2. Leadership of Stakeholder engagement - to set up mechanisms to deliver effective and regular communications between catchment partnerships, statutory and non statutory bodies and other key stakeholders. To develop a network within the Rivers Trust movement

3. Develop a Fundraising Strategy - which envisages a diverse funding portfolio balancing restricted and unrestricted income from supporters, corporates, charitable trusts and foundations and will provide a sound foundation for the Trust to grow and develop.

4. Developing Specific Project Bids – the trust is looking to develop a minimum of three project bids working with partners and stakeholders in line with the Charity’s objectives.

5. Project Delivery – Be responsible for effective delivery of any projects/programmes, line manage any project staff, and monitor and report success against project objectives.

6. Developing a voice for the whole River Great Ouse catchment by amplifying the news and work of our partners and stakeholders, raising awareness of the threats and opportunities.

7. Strategic Priorities To report on how the Trust is delivering against its strategic priorities. These include:

- Promoting nature recovery and enhancement to deliver our vision of a natural and healthy river enjoyed and valued by all

- Playing an active role in the four CaBA partnerships in the overall Catchment

- Chalk Stream Restoration

- Natural flood Management

- Improving Water Quality

- Improving access along the river corridors

- Education and engagement

8. Continuous improvement To help shape and deliver an organisation that is constantly seeking ways to learn and to improve its performance and to ensure that the charity is aware of best practice and that it constantly works to achieve this within the constraints laid down by the trustees and resources available.

Please see the attached job description for a detailed person specification.

Application Process:

Please send your CV and a covering letter/email outlining why you are interested and how your experience links to the job specification. At most two sides A4 recommended for each. We also accept videos in place of the cover letter. Please send your completed application to [email protected]

Application deadline: Sunday October 27th, 2024

Interview venue and format - it is hoped to hold face to face interviews in early November

Please note that we are interested in receiving and considering applications from applicants who may not tick every box. You may be just who we are looking for! The contract is subject to a 3-month probationary period. Agreed expenses will be covered.