Project Support Officer

Grade 2, Starting Wage £22,823 per annum
Full Time (37.5 hrs per week, flexible working requests will be considered)
Home based, with work across the Wear Catchment and opportunities to work from our Hub in
Bishop Auckland
Reporting to Project Team Leader
Permanent position subject to initial 6 month probationary period

Wear Rivers Trust are currently recruiting a Project Support Officer to aid and assist our work
to safeguard and improve the waterways of the Wear catchment for both people and wildlife.

We are looking for transferrable skills, a passion for nature, and a commitment to tackling
pressing environmental issues, as detailed in the Person Specification. Experience in a similar
role would be welcome, but this could also be your first paid position in the environment
sector, or you could be returning to work after time out. This position is a development role,
with opportunities to progress to Project Officer, or another suitable role within the Trust,
within 2 years. Suitable training will be available, and you will be supported to grow and
develop within your role.

Closely supporting the Project Team, you will help facilitate the day-to-day practical
activities of Wear Rivers Trust across our catchment. You will also have opportunities to
support and assist the Business and Volunteering Team, the Education Team, and the Agricultural
Team.

You will have a passion for nature, for looking after your local environment, and for making it
accessible to all. This may be through your studies, professional life, personal interests
(e.g. angling, birdwatching, hiking, botany, etc.), or a combination.

You will be attentive to detail, flexible, efficient, great at time management, and able to
work well both independently and under supervision as part of a growing, dynamic team.

We value equality and diversity in our organisation, and are striving to build a workforce
reflective of the communities we work in. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of
age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, or disability.

About the Role

As Project Support Officer, you will work across a variety of tasks and teams to ensure that
the day-to-day running of environmental projects and events are efficient, effective, and
engaging. In a typical working week you might complete a walk-over survey, collect water
quality samples, assist with practical habitat improvement, help get permissions for future
work, and promote what we do on social media.

This is a development role, aimed at people just starting out in the environment sector. You
might have just finished your studies, or are looking for a career change. All we ask is that
you have a genuine passion for nature and show a commitment to wanting to tackle the ever
pressing environmental issues we are facing.

You can get a deeper understanding of the role from the associated Job Description and Person
Specification. If you don’t think you quite reach the requirements, but still think you’d be a
good fit for the role, please get in touch with Jack Butlin, our Project Team Leader, to
arrange an informal chat on [email protected] or 07988626484.

About Wear Rivers Trust

Since 2008, the Wear Rivers Trust has taken a leading role in tackling global environmental
challenges, at a local scale. We are committed to protecting and improving our land and water,
across urban and rural environments from North Pennine peatlands to our coastal waters.

• We use nature based solutions to tackle problems like pollution, flooding and habitat loss
• We raise awareness of the value of the River Wear, including its flora and fauna, and its
  positive impacts on human wellbeing
• We help people to understand the need for conservation and restoration, and promote
  exploration and enjoyment of their local environment
• We work with the Wear Catchment Partnership to ensure a collaborative approach is used with
  our partners to complete projects beneficial to all 

Our vital work would be impossible without
buy-in from local communities and stakeholders. People are at the heart of all we do, enabling
us to create a brighter future for our precious natural world.

How do I apply?

To apply, please send the following to [email protected] :

1. Your CV
2. A cover letter that answers the questions below

Cover Letter Questions

We want to hear about your transferrable skills, experiences, and why you would love to work
for Wear Rivers Trust. Using the person specification to guide you, please answer the following
questions:

1. Why are you committed to restoring and conserving our natural environment?
2. What skills and knowledge do you have that could help you to conserve and restore the land
   and water of the Wear Catchment? (These could be from your studies, professional life,
   volunteering, or personal interests/ hobbies)
3. Why do you want to work for Wear Rivers Trust as a Project Support Officer?

We welcome applications via different mediums! You can submit your Cover Letter as a written
Word document or PDF (maximum 2 pages); or verbally as a 5-minute audio or video file. If you
are sending a large file please use a suitable file sharing method, such as wetransfer.com

Evidence does not need to be from paid work and can include examples from volunteering, support
in your local community, internships, work experience, or knowledge you’ve gained in any other
way.

If you are excited by this role and working at Wear Rivers Trust but do not have all the
experience you think is needed, we would encourage you to apply anyway and reach out for a chat
beforehand to discuss why you would like to apply for the role and what skills or experiences
you think are relevant.

Closing date: Sunday 28th January at 11.59 pm
Interviews: Tuesday 6th February

To arrange an informal chat please get in touch with Jack Butlin, Project Team Leader, on
[email protected] or 07988626484