River Restoration Officer

About Thames21
Thames21’s purpose is to deliver increasingly resilient and healthy rivers and landscapes that are closer to their 
natural state with an abundance of fish and wildlife, empowering and working with people to bring multiple 
benefits to the natural environment, to individuals and communities. 

Diversity at Thames21
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Thames21 is key to our success and as such we employ staff from a diverse 
range of backgrounds. This we feel is key in ensuring that everybody has an equal opportunity and is not treated 
differently or discriminated against because of their characteristics. We value the voices of our individual 
employees, and we strive to work in a collaborative, innovative and balanced way. The postholder must actively 
support this.

About the role 
In recent years we have significantly upscaled our planning and delivery of river restoration works and in 2020/21 
we restored 5km of rivers. In the next 5 years we intend to continue to expand this work, and by 2027 we aim to
improve 15km of river habitat annually. 

To enable this, we are looking for a committed, self-motivated and technically capable River Restoration Officer.
If you have a strong interest in river/wetland ecology, have studied rivers, their restoration and have a grasp of 
the techniques, designs and permitting processes required to restore rivers and improve river health, you may
be perfect for this position.

Your role is to carry out fieldwork, delivering nature-based solutions across river catchments, working with a 
variety of stakeholders and running events with volunteers and local groups. Other additional requirements may 
include project development, citizen science to support delivery, as well as oral presentations and reporting.

The role involves developing concepts and graphics for river restoration actions across catchments in London. 

The role will involve working with principal designers and contractors and applying the Construction (Design and 
Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), ensuring risks are effectively managed throughout the design and 
delivery of river restoration schemes.

This role is a key position in implementing Thames21’s mission. The selected candidate will be part of a
successful and dynamic environmental charity, as well as part of a committed team. You will have the chance 
to input, help develop our goals and make a real difference to the health of London’s waterways.

The post may be appointed at different salary bands depending on the successful candidate's qualifications, 
skills and experience. Applicants who do not currently meet all desirable criteria but demonstrate the potential 
to develop into the role are encouraged to apply.

Main duties and responsibilities
• Work with Thames21’s River Restoration Manager and Thames21’s Head of Improving Rivers, as well as 
other stakeholders, to develop and deliver river and wetland restoration projects throughout the areas 
we work.
• Obtain all necessary permissions to deliver the projects, potentially including flood risk activity permits
and planning permission.
• Work outside in a riverside environment in a range of weather conditions – alone, with team members, 
with volunteers and other professionals.
• Co-ordinate and deliver a series of river habitat and floodplain improvements, including community-led 
river restoration activities. 
• Preparation of documentation for river restoration construction: client brief, construction phase plans, 
health and safety files. 
• Support, co-ordinate and deliver volunteering events. 
• Work with contractors to implement projects so they achieve maximum environmental and community 
benefits.
• Transport of equipment to/from our offices and restoration sites.
• Occasionally present project updates and results to stakeholders and catchment partnerships.
• Work with project partners to develop and manage tender processes for works requiring contractors, 
ensuring all procurement activities meet the relevant requirements of partners, funders and legislation, 
including CDM 2015.
• Carry out assessments and opportunity mapping for river restoration projects.
• In partnership with others, use a range of monitoring tools to record and quantify the impact of different 
activities. 
• Regular co-ordination with Thames21’s Communications Team to ensure key milestones are 
recognised and publicised.
• Maintain clear records of progress, ensure all administration and statistical information is kept, and 
regularly upload information onto the Thames21 database.
• Work with Thames21 colleagues to develop and implement Thames21’s 5-year plan.
• Adopt and promote Thames21’s core values.
 

This job description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise within the post at various times, and the 
post-holder will be expected to carry out other reasonable duties from time to time which are broadly 
consistent with other Thames21 activities with those in this document.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• 25 days paid annual leave are available (pro rata) plus public holidays. In addition, the Thames21 office 
is closed between Christmas and New Year. 
• Thames21 have an ‘Auto Enrol’ Workplace Pension Scheme with NEST. 
• Thames21 operate a flexitime system of working.
• Interest free season ticket loan.
• Thames21 benefits from a workplace union with IWGB
• 24/7 access to our employee assistance programme.
• Laptop & Mobile phone for company use.
• The post holder must be willing to travel sensibly throughout London.
• The post holder must be willing to occasionally work in the evening and at weekends.
• The post holder may be required to have a current or agree to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.
• The post holder will agree to work to the Thames21 operating policies and codes of conduct.
 

Closing date for applications: 5pm,17 August 2026

Interviews proposed for Week commencing: 31 August 2026 (Subject to Change)

For a full job description including a person specification, please download the documents below.

To apply for this position please, email an up-to-date copy of your CV and a covering letter to 
[email protected] with the reference (RRO0726) in the subject box of your email application. 

We appreciate the time you took to apply for this role, and we understand that it can be disconcerting when you 
don’t hear back from a position you have applied for. However, due to the high number of applications we expect 
to receive, we are unable to respond to or provide feedback on individual applications. Nevertheless, we want 
to manage expectations. Therefore, if you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume 
that your application has not been successful on this occasion.

Please advise in your application if you are happy for us to contact you for any future opportunities that may 
arise, should you not be successful in this position.

No agencies, please