Project Officer

The Project Officer will work with the wider Trust team and help to coordinate the efforts of a project team to undertake various roles to deliver various projects, targets and objectives.The role reports to a Senior Project Officer or Project Manager who in turn reports to Trust Director.

The Trust operates in a variety of fields including project work, science-based work, consultancy, day to day operations and works closely with partners and stakeholders across the Forth Catchment. This role may also be sought to support staff delivering the Trust’s work within this range of fields. The Project Officer will provide support to volunteers and interns at different times.

This role will include the delivery of catchment wide initiatives such as INNS management, delivery of specific projects and activities as well a supporting ongoing training, learning and other community and stakeholder engagement.

Project Working

The Project Officer will support the delivery of projects including:

• River Restoration and Engagement
• Invasive Non-Native Species control
• Ecological field work and surveys
• Riparian and habitat improvement projects
• In-stream river restoration (e.g. bank protection etc)
• Assisting with Trust educational projects such as Fish in the Classroom
• Community and youth work projects
• Supporting larger scale restoration project via media production and stakeholder engagement
• Projects development and fundraising
• Project activity coordination, including reporting

The Project Officer will also support the management of projects including supporting:

• Consenting processes – landowners, regulatory (eg CAR)
• Baseline and project monitoring (in conjunction with the Science Team)
• Procurement and contracts
• Funding reporting (in conjunction with the Finance Manager)

Representation at local and national levels

The Project Officer will be required to work with external organisations and stakeholders at both the local and national levels, and as requested by the Trust’s Director. These are likely to include, but are not limited to: Local Authorities, NatureScot, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Government, Marine Scotland, Fisheries Management Scotland and the Scottish Fisheries Coordination Centre, Landowners, Schools and members of the public. Activities may include meeting with, liaising with and discussing views with these agencies and wider stakeholders.

General Assistance

Given the evolving and broadening nature of the organisation, and in the interests of flexibility, the Project Officer may be required to assist with any aspect of the Trust’s activities as reasonably requested by the Trust’s Director. These may include scientific data gathering activities, consultancy works (with Forth Rivers Consulting Ltd), reporting or practical equipment maintenance and inventory tasks.

Communications

The Project Officer will be required to communicate proactively internally and externally.

This will include:

• Knowledge sharing – internally and externally
• Presentations – including filming content
• Case studies, blogs and website support

Essential / Desired criteria

Essential

Knowledge and Experience

• Understanding of river restoration, catchment management, and conservation work.
• Experience of supporting the coordination and delivery environmental or conservation projects.
• Understanding of project monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

Skills

• Communication and relationship-building skills as well as collaboration skills
• Ability to engage effectively with communities, agencies, landowners and partner organisations
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, administration and timekeeping
• Report writing and documentation skills
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a wider project team

Desirable

Technical Skills

• Experience of or qualification relating to Invasive Non-Native Species control
• Experience of or qualification relating to electrofishing for surveys and fish rescues
• Experience of invertebrate sampling
• Knowledge of riparian habitat management and in-stream restoration techniques
• Knowledge of Natural Flood Management initiatives
• Knowledge of or ability to complete/contribute to UK Hab surveys or other field surveys
• Knowledge and experience working with Arc GIS

Demonstrable Previous Experience

• Supporting/Contributing to river restoration projects or delivering innovative river restoration techniques
• Contributing to Invasive Species surveys and control
• Working with communities, landowners or the wider public.
• Contributing to on the ground surveys and monitoring and reporting
• A track record in good written and oral communication