River Access for All Project Officer

The River Waveney Trust is an environmental charity dedicated to improving and protecting the River Waveney, making it a better place for people and wildlife. We are part of the Rivers Trust movement, a network of over 60 Rivers Trusts across the UK. We work on a variety of projects with partners, communities and volunteers to deliver a wide range of projects including river restoration, natural flood management, farm advice, river access, river monitoring, volunteer events, community engagement and education.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities and welcome applications from all groups, communities and personal circumstances. The staff team is welcoming, open and inclusive and places a high value on supporting each other to work to the best of our abilities. See the River Waveney Trust workplace culture document for more information.

This is a great opportunity to join our team as a full-time Community Engagement Officer for an initial 2-year contract. The post holder will work closely with the Community and Volunteering Officer who will also be working full-time on the project.

The role will suit an approachable and collaborative individual with experience of leading on community/engagement projects and working with volunteers, ideally also with experience in river focused conservation projects.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead on our new ‘River Access for All’ project, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
• Run a ‘River Waveney Bathing Water’ community history project to gather and preserve photo and memories of using the river for bathing, including creation of a local exhibition and an online public platform to preserve for future generations.
• Lead on actions following the recent Bathing Water Designation application for Falcon Meadow.
• Design and install a bathing water platform at Falcon Meadow, Bungay.
• Work with and support long-term River Waveney Trust (RWT) River Warden volunteers to continue their work along the river, supporting surveys, training, ensuring health & safety and co-ordinating access work parties.
• Carry out tree management within the main river channel for biodiversity and access, using both volunteers and contractors.
• Coordinate strategic vegetation cuts to improve access and water flow along the river channel.
• Commission a feasibility study to facilitate a new access point to the river for the community in Diss.
• Attend external events to promote the work of the Trust.
• Share project news and events across a wide range of media types, reaching as diverse a range of people as possible.
• Inspire and recruit new volunteers.
• Ensure a high standard of health and safety at all times.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Contract period: The position is full-time, on a 2-year contract, with the intention to extend or make permanent.

Reporting to: Director or Senior Project Officer of the River Waveney Trust.

Annual leave: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days, plus bank holidays, plus your birthday off!

Hours of work: A working day is 7.5 hours, generally from 9am-5.30pm, with an unpaid hour-long lunch break. Flexible work hours are fully acceptable for personal circumstances, and we are happy to accommodate any requirements needed in order to make the role work for the right candidate. Please note there will be up to 10 weekend workdays expected over the year, with time offered in lieu.

Place of work and ethos: A blend of home, office and other site visits/meetings is expected. Flexibility is encouraged to achieve a good work life balance, in exchange commitment, honesty and integrity are expected from the candidate. The candidate must be based within a reasonable distance of the Waveney Catchment. We cannot accept applications from candidates who are based remotely or who do not have the right to work in the UK.

Pension: 9% employer pension offered.

Interview venue and format: Tuesday 27th January at our office in Bungay, Suffolk.

In exceptional circumstances we can offer an online interview if needed.

If you have missed the deadline, or are unsure if you fit the criteria for this role, but still feel you would be a good fit for working with our Trust, please do forward on your CV which we will keep on record for future roles that may come up.

This role is majority funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with funding also gratefully received from the following: The Limbourne Trust, The Simon Gibson Charitable Trust, Essex & Suffolk Waters Branch Out Fund, Mid Suffolk District Council, Geoffrey Burton Trust and the Paul Bassam Community First Revenue Fund.