Project Officer (Protecting Shared Waters Project)

This role is part of a cross-border initiative titled Protecting Shared Waters, funded by the PEACEPLUS programme and funded by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The primary purpose of this position is to engage and work with the community and river/environmental interest groups in the River Fane catchment (County Armagh/Monaghan) to develop and deliver an Environmental Community Outreach Programme (ECO-Programme) and to identify opportunities for, and oversee the installation of, nature-based solutions to protect and improve water quality and deliver knowledge exchange events to raise awareness of these amongst the community.

This post is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

About Us 

The Rivers Trust is a leading environmental charity and the umbrella body of The Rivers Trust movement, comprising over 60 independent local charities across the UK and Ireland. Our vision is for wild, healthy, natural rivers valued by all. We are at a critical point in our history as we expand to deliver projects to protect and replenish this critical part of the natural environment. Our research and expertise are now needed more urgently than ever as water quality and supply move up the public agenda. 

The island of Ireland is the fastest-growing area of the rivers trust movement, and as part of what will be an ongoing major team expansion across the island of Ireland in 2025, we are looking for a motivated and experienced Project Officer with a passion for community engagement and empowerment, and the use of nature-based solutions to protect water quality and quantity. 

The project aims to develop innovative and transferable solutions to the challenges of degraded water quality, and pressures on water quantity, in our freshwater environment, focusing on the use of nature-based solutions and community engagement, training, and empowerment.  

Within the scope of the project, the role will support the efforts of the Oriel River Catchment and Coastal Association (Counties Armagh, Monaghan, and Louth), working at a catchment-scale to deliver actions to protect water quality and biodiversity. 

This exciting role involves close collaboration with a wider network of stakeholders including landowners, water companies, government, research institutions and the NGO sector across Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain.  

You will be supported by The Rivers Trust’s All-Ireland multidisciplinary team based across Northern Ireland and Ireland.  

It is a full-time, home-based role, though the job holder will be required to travel across the project catchments (River Fane, Counties Armagh/Monaghan, and its sister-catchment in this project - River Strule, County Tyrone) as well as wider across the island of Ireland and occasionally Great Britain.

The role will be fixed term to June 2028 subject to funding, with possible extension subject to future funding being secured.

The salary for this role is €34,000 - €36,000 plus benefits including 9% employer pension contribution.

We offer flexibility around working hours - time off in lieu is also available. We are happy to make adjustments for people with disabilities and/or caring responsibilities, and we welcome applications from all communities.

We offer 25 days holiday pro rata (rising to 28 days) plus statutory holiday days. The post holder will be part of a growing Ireland-wide team overseen by our All-Ireland Director who is based in Northern Ireland, and Deputy Director based in Ireland.

The main duties and responsibilities are:

Stakeholder Engagement & Community Outreach

• Undertake stakeholder mapping and engage with cross-sectoral stakeholders within the River Fane catchment.
• Contribute to the development of an Educational Community Outreach (ECO) Programme focused on community-centred catchment management and nature-based solutions (NbS).
• Deliver the ECO Programme through a series of modular workshops targeting local water and environmental interest groups.
• Coordinate and participate in knowledge exchange events between the Fane and Strule communities.

Co-Design & implementation of NbS Projects

• Facilitate the co-design of NbS projects in collaboration with local communities.
• Negotiate with landowners to secure permissions for NbS installations aimed at improving water quality and quantity.
• Oversee and support contractors in the implementation of community-designed NbS projects.
• Consult with partner organisations and government agencies to inform the design and delivery of NbS initiatives.

Education, Demonstration & Awareness

• Coordinate and deliver public events at NbS demonstration sites to promote best practices and raise awareness of project goals.
• Organise and participate in events on a demonstration farm to highlight NbS in agricultural settings, focusing on reducing nutrient and sediment pollution and promoting sustainable water use.
• Organise and deliver knowledge transfer events between communities in the Strule and Fane catchments, focusing on environment and community cohesion.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

• Support the development and use of scorecards to monitor the effectiveness of NbS interventions.
• Contribute to project evaluation, including reviewing outcomes and reporting on deliverables and impacts.

Team Support & Organisational Responsibilities

• Provide support to colleagues, including covering absences and sharing specialist knowledge.
• Adhere to all Rivers Trust policies, including those related to Health & Safety, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI), IT, and GDPR.
• Foster a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative working culture

Knowledge, skills, experience, and personal qualities:

Essential

• Knowledge of nature-based solutions (NbS) and their applied use to provide water-related ecosystem services, such as water quality and quantity protection, wastewater treatment, flood mitigation and climate adaption and mitigation. 
• Knowledge of water management principles and practices, including hydrology, water quality, and sustainable usage. 
• Knowledge of Northern Irish and Irish environmental policies, regulations, and permitting processes relevant to NbS. 
• Experience in planning, executing, and managing projects, particularly those involving multiple stakeholders and community engagement. 
• Experience with ecological fieldwork, monitoring, and data collection. 
• Experience of working with communities, governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders to build consensus and drive projects forward. 
• Experience in providing clear, concise written material in a variety of formats for a variety of audiences. 
• Ability to clearly articulate project goals, plans, and benefits to a diverse audience. 
• Strong leadership skills to inspire and mobilise teams and community members. 
• Creative problem-solving abilities to navigate the complexities and challenges of implementing NbS. 
• The ability to build, develop and maintain significant internal and external relationships with a wide range of stakeholders (e.g. landowners, environmental NGO's, consultants, contractors, water companies, academic and research institutions, and local and national government bodies.) 
• Experience in developing and delivering structured educational programmes or workshops for community groups or adult learners. 
• Demonstrated ability to tailor content and deliver to different audiences, including farmers, residents, and special interest groups. 
• Experience in co-creating learning materials with community input to ensure relevance and accessibility. 
• Must be able to work with minimal supervision. 
• Proven ability to collaborate on cross-functional teams while working remotely. 
• Experience in using and applying Risk Assessments and Lone-working procedures. 
• Must be willing to work occasional evenings, weekends, and overnight stays when necessary (e.g. to attend events and conferences or visit key stakeholders on-site). 
• Must have a full driving licence and use of own vehicle, insured for business use. 
• Must be proficient in using computers (Microsoft Office - we also communicate by Slack but familiarity with this isn't a requirement.

Desirable

• Experience in designing and/or implementing nature-based solutions (NbS) projects providing water-related ecosystem services. 
• Experience with creating financial models that drive market-led approaches to ecosystem services provided by NbS, and a familiarity with frameworks for high integrity markets for nature. 
• Experience of how GIS can be used to record and interrogate geospatial data. 
• Experience in working on river and catchment related projects including the project design element.  
• An understanding of river catchment-scale processes and how they interact – including hydrological processes and modelling.  
• Working within the NGO sector. 
• Understanding of curriculum development and adult learning principles, especially in environmental education. 
• Knowledge of effective pedagogical strategies for community-based and informal education settings. 
• Familiarity with environmental education frameworks and national/international sustainability education goals (e.g. UN SDGs). 
• Passionate educator with a commitment to empowering communities through knowledge and skills. 
• Membership to a relevant professional body/institution 

Qualifications/ Education

• Relevant environmental higher-level qualification (Degree/Higher National Diploma) OR
• 3 years’ (minimum) experience in environmental project planning and delivery

Remote Working

It is essential that you have access to secure and private accommodation suitable for working at home, and a reliable broadband connection.

Closing Date: 27th August 2025 – 12pm mid-day

Interviews are planned for the first week in September 2025. 

If you have any questions which will help you decide to apply and which aren't answered on our website or would like a PDF copy of the Job description, please get in touch with Dr Constanze O’Toole, our All-Ireland Deputy Director [email protected] and she will get back to you. 

Everyone who works for us is expected to contribute to a respectful and inclusive working culture and follow our policies and procedures including Health & Safety, EDI, Cybersecurity and GDPR.