Catchment Manager - Ure

Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust (YDRT) is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of the rivers Swale, Ure, Nidd, Wharfe and Ouse and their catchments. We work collaboratively with local communities and action groups, national parks, and various environmental organisations to deliver impactful projects that restore our rivers, enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, and increase resilience to climate change.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Catchment Manager. Ideal for someone who wishes to make a real difference to the water quality and habitat of rivers in the Yorkshire Dales. You will play a crucial role in planning and developing a pipeline of projects and initiatives to improve the catchment of the River Ure. The successful candidate will work with partner organisations, landowners, local communities and other Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust staff to develop river restoration projects from the ground up, with the aim of ensuring our rivers thrive.

This a role where you’ll be working with partners and stakeholders to develop a programme of river-focused projects and initiatives in the Ure catchment, securing funding from a variety of sources, to achieve lasting outcomes for the catchment, the river and the communities. You will be working closely with our Senior Catchment Partnership Manager and the Catchment Partnership Manager for the Wharfe, acting as the key link between the partners, stakeholders and communities across the catchment, helping to turn ambitions into tangible outcomes. You will work closely with other Trust staff to raise awareness of the ecological importance of river habitats, to promote good farming practice and to promote the projects.

You will use your knowledge of river and freshwater ecosystems to develop projects which may typically include investigations into water quality, working with farmers and stakeholders to identify and reduce pollution sources, tackling river habitat improvements, wetland creation and river re-naturalisation.

You will link in with neighbouring catchment partnerships around how other Catchment Partnerships and communities of practices in the rivers trust movement are using data to inform and shape delivery.

Key to success in the role will be the ability to build trusted relationships, bring stakeholders together around a common goal, build knowledge of activity across the catchment, make links between partners and move collaborative projects forward from a concept to delivery. Along with excellent communication skills and the ability to bring people along on the journey with you.

We are interested in candidates with existing knowledge and experience in this area of work in order to build on and expand the Trusts’ capability and capacity.

The role will require hybrid working, with a desk available in the YDRT office in Pateley Bridge, home-working and travel across the catchment. The post holder will be flexible, with occasional evening and weekend working. The post-holder will work well both alone and as part of a team of paid staff and volunteers.

Salary: £34,097-£38,526
Hours: 37.5 hours per week. Part time working will be considered
Probationary period: Four months. During the probationary period, the contract may be terminated with one week’s notice.
Annual leave: 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Term: 3 Years (with potential for the role to become permanent)
Pension: Contributory pension. The Trust contributes 9% salary.
Location: The Trust has an office in Pateley Bridge. The successful candidate will have a hot desk available in the office but is not expected to work from the office every day.

More Details

Key Responsibilities & Competency Details can be found on our website.

Applications must be received no later than noon 2nd November 2026.

Successful applicants will be invited to interview which will be held in person; more information will be provided if shortlisted.

Interviews are expected to commence week beginning the 16th November 2026.