Protected Species Project Manager

Working Arrangements: Flexible office/home and field-based

Full time role – job share considered

The Trust

We are Tyne Rivers Trust, the only environmental charity dedicated to looking after the iconic Tyne and its tributaries. We work to improve our rivers through education, reducing pollution and practical conservation.

The Tyne and its tributaries flow through the picturesque semi-rural counties of Cumbria, Durham and Northumberland. A mixture of beautiful wide-open spaces, species-rich ravines and fascinating industrial heritage.

The global pandemic and the increasing frequency and impact of extreme weather events have highlighted the importance of our environment and how we chose to live within it. Our work is increasingly recognised for its crucial role and we are now in a position to grow our team to deliver practical work that directly contributes to climate change resilience, improved water quality and increased wellbeing for all within the catchment.

This is an exciting chance to use your skills, experience and passion to help us carry out this vital work by focusing on safeguarding the fascinating species present in the River Tyne. You will work in an exciting partnership of organisations to deliver meaningful practical work that helps to protect critically endangered species with a particular focus on invertebrates such as the freshwater pearl mussel and white clawed crayfish, while delivering additional benefits for people and the environment. Simultaneously, you will support our talented and passionate team to deliver education and community engagement events to inspire others to protect the Tyne and precious species that live within it. As a project manager, we will also support you to seek and obtain funding to expand the impact of our work.

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 the Tyne rivers.

The Role – Protected Species Project Manager

To spearhead TRT’s work to safeguard the future of protected species such as the freshwater pearl mussel and white clawed crayfish on the Tyne.

Initially you will be responsible for managing our Native North Tyne project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. You will work closely with a diverse array of partners and stakeholders to deliver a programme of innovative projects to safeguard the future of protected species on the River Tyne. This will involve work to improve river water quality and habitat for the benefit of species such as freshwater pearl mussel and white clawed crayfish, using green engineering solutions where possible. You will also manage delivery of the engagement elements of the project, working with our team to engage local people, schools and communities in the importance of their environment, equipping them with the knowledge and passion to support our aims to protect their river and the species that live within it. The fact you will be working with protected species, often in challenging environments, means you will need to work around site and species-specific limitations to develop innovative solutions to the challenges of the role.

The role includes responsibility to contribute to securing further significant funding to increase the longevity and impact for species recovery. There will also be opportunity to support delivery of a wide variety of other TRT projects throughout the catchment as appropriate. This will provide an opportunity to broaden your skillset and work closely with our talented and highly motivated team.

Applications

We are looking to recruit an experienced Project Manager to drive this project forward. You will have a professional, positive attitude and flexible approach to achieving consensus and moving practical delivery forward.

Essential Requirements:

• Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant subject
• Proven track record of delivering major projects with partners and landowners
• Ability to problem-solve and work independently with the drive to generate and manage own workload
• Demonstrable track record of managing contractors
• Experience of a collaborative approach to working and building trust with project partners and stakeholders
• Understanding of river processes
• Track record of seeking and obtaining funding to deliver projects

Licences to work with protected species would also be useful.

Travel across the Tyne Catchment for events, meetings and remote site visits will be required in this role, so a clean driving license is essential. The role requires working outdoors, often in locations with difficult access and in poor weather conditions.

Please contact TRT’s Deputy CEO, Dr. Jack Bloomer, on 07939 317874 or [email protected]
for more information or an informal discussion about the role.

To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter demonstrating how you can fulfil the job requirements to Jack Bloomer as above.

Tyne Rivers Trust works across a large catchment, diverse in its inhabitants and their needs. We are committed to being an inclusive organisation. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome your background, experiences and thoughts as an individual to deliver the best work we can as a team. Should you need support with your application please contact us.

Deadline for applications is Midnight on 4th April with interviews scheduled for the 20th and 21st April.

Interviews will be in person at Tyne Rivers Trust offices (or via video conference if required), will last approximately 1 hour and will include a 10-minute presentation, with brief follow-up Q&A then more formal interview questions. The topic for the presentation will be forwarded by email to short-listed candidates by 11th April. There will also be opportunity to ask questions of the Trust.