Evidence and Engagement Officer

Contract: Permanent
Report To: Head of Resilience & Communities
Grade: 3.3
Hours: 37.5
Location: Westcountry Rivers Trust’s office is in Stoke Climsland, and whilst we have adopted hybrid working, there is an expectation to work from the office on a regular basis and to travel to sites across the delivery area – East Devon, Dorset and Somerset.

Westcountry Rivers Trust is recruiting an Evidence and Engagement Officer.

The starting salary for this role is £30,700 per annum.

Benefits while working for Westcountry Rivers Trust

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 25 days’ Annual Leave + Bank Holidays, with a reward for long service up to a maximum of 30 days
• Additional leave at Christmas
• WRT contributes 9% of salary to a personal pension scheme (following a three-month postponement period), plus Life Assurance cover
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Specsavers Eyecare Vouchers
• Supportive Policies
• Hybrid & Flexible Working

Apply by midnight on Sunday 15th November 2026 by CV and Covering Letter.

Interviews will be held in person at our office in Stoke Climsland on 23rd November 2026.

For queries about this role or the application process, please contact our recruitment team.

About the Westcountry Rivers Trust

Formed in 1994, the Trust was established to restore Westcountry rivers. Protecting rivers can save money for farmers, lower costs for water companies, boost tourism and even benefit human health.

Today the charity works with landowners, communities, businesses, farmers and water companies to restore and protect rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal areas for people, wildlife and the local economy. With the climate and ecological crises driving investment in catchment resilience, this work has never been more important.

The Trust is a grassroots organisation, started in the early 90s by a group of people who were passionate about, and concerned for, the waterways around them.

Everything the Trust does is informed by the best available science and an ‘ecosystems approach’, considering the function of the whole catchment, not just its rivers.

This approach, and a hands-on, tireless commitment to river restoration, helped inspire the wider rivers trust movement. The Trust now has around 75 employees, an annual turnover of c£3m and multi-year projects supported by a wide range of funders.

There are three main delivery teams and a support services team, with employees working on sites, from home and from the office.

About the Role

We bring together stakeholders across the Southwest to develop and deliver catchment action plans with lasting benefits for people and the environment.

The Evidence & Engagement Team supports the Trust's whole-ecosystem approach to nature-based solutions for catchment management and river improvement, helping us deliver the right measures in the right places and monitor and report our impact. Good engagement keeps internal and external stakeholders informed and involved.

This role will work primarily on the Community Water Enterprises (CWE) project. CWEs put communities at the heart of caring for nature-based solutions such as rain gardens and wetlands, which soak up rain, ease pressure on sewers, reduce flood risk, create greener spaces and protect rivers. Each CWE is a local team of customers, communities, water companies, councils, charities and others looking after these features, creating local jobs and training. The multi-year programme is led by Wessex Water and funded through Ofwat's Water Breakthrough Challenge. WRT leads the Southwest pilot, one of two nationally.

You will be central to making the pilot work on the ground: building relationships with local people, running events and workshops, supporting volunteers and community crews, and gathering evidence of the difference the work makes. Much of your time will be spent face to face with communities, in venues and on sites, mainly in East Devon, West Dorset and Somerset.

You will also inspire members of the public and community groups to take further action for rivers, whether pledging, volunteering or donating to support WRT’s wider work.

We are looking for someone passionate about the environment who enjoys working with people and has a keen interest in evidence-based engagement. You will work closely with colleagues and partners across the water, local authority, community and charity sectors.

Responsibilities

Community engagement

• Lead and deliver a varied programme of in-person community engagement, including workshops and events, for people of all ages and backgrounds.
• Support the establishment of community ‘crews’ and help local people take part in caring for nature-based solutions.
• Recruit, train, supervise and support volunteers, including Westcountry Citizen Science Investigations (CSI), Riverfly and practical volunteers.
• Encourage and inspire individuals to take further action for rivers; pledging, volunteering and donating.

Partners and representation

• Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders and project partners.
• Represent and present on behalf of the Trust at meetings, conferences and events.
• Work closely with colleagues in the Evidence & Engagement Team and across the Trust.

Monitoring and evidence

• Contribute to project monitoring, evaluation and funder reporting, gathering evidence of social and environmental impact.
• Monitor further action (pledging, volunteering and donating) from individuals to assess wider impact for our rivers.

Team and administration

• Contribute to team and Trust-wide strategies.
• Manage files and data in line with Evidence & Engagement Team and Trust policies, including data protection.
• Follow safeguarding, lone-working and health and safety requirements, including fieldwork risk assessment.
• Complete administrative tasks, including timesheets, expenses, online training and project inception meetings.
• Adhere to fundraising best practice and legal requirements, ensuring high levels of supporter care.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

• Planning and delivering community engagement projects and events.
• Producing high-quality engagement materials.
• Working with or supporting volunteers or community groups.
• Fieldwork and data collection, analysis and presentation.
• Knowledge of landscape-scale conservation, ecosystem services, nature-based solutions, catchment management and river restoration. (D)
• Experience of co-creation or participatory approaches with communities. (D)
• Knowledge of the rivers and catchments of the Southwest and how catchments function. (D)
• Experience of water quality monitoring or using monitoring equipment. (D)
• Experience of charity fundraising. (D)

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills for a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with partners from different sectors.
• Good organisational and administrative skills, with attention to detail, including accurate record-keeping and expenses in line with funder requirements.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office 365.
• Ability to manage your workload and time effectively.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience in environmental science, ecology, geography, social science, community development or a related discipline.
• Understanding of data protection and confidentiality requirements.

The above are Essential criteria unless indicated as Desirable (D).