River Restoration Coordinator

The River Restoration Coordinator will be the key focal point for and will co-ordinate the delivery of
the ‘Save the Spring’ programme of work.
Save the Spring is a project partnership looking to deliver a watershed wide
restoration programme to restore natural processes and biodiversity to the River Dee catchment.
The river and its iconic species, particularly wild Spring Salmon, are now under threat to the
point of extinction from the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. This
groundbreaking project will focus on addressing the local impacts of these crises by bringing
together a catchment scale strategic habitat restoration scheme with a fish repopulation
initiative, over a twenty-year period. Key to success will be working in partnership with a wide range of
stakeholders and communities.

The postholder will be supported by the River Dee Trust, Dee District Salmon Fishery Board, and
the Watershed Connections programme in the Atlantic Salmon Trust. These three organisations
will deliver the project.

The role will report to the Save the Spring Steering Group chaired by the Atlantic Salmon
Trust’s Research Director and be line managed by the Dee Fishery Board’s River Director and
employed through the River Dee Trust.

Key Responsibilities

To be the central co-ordination point for all partners and workstreams, as well as managing
workflow and reporting.

Develop the initial Phase 1 five-year programme plan and work packages delivery schedule. This
will include:

• Developing and producing an audit of the of the Dee catchment and associated land uses. This
  will bring together all relevant data sources relating to the catchment environment, salmonid
  populations and biodiversity. Data and evidence gaps will be identified through this process,
  and a baseline for monitoring established.
• Assessing the potential for restoration across the catchment to reverse biodiversity loss and
  future climate resilience, followed by the development of strategic twenty-year programme of
  works to deliver the identified potential.
• Develop the conservation translocation aspects of the project in both practical and regulatory
  terms, whilst delivering an exemplar project working closely with key partners in the public
  and private sectors and research organisations.
• Design and co-ordinate the stakeholder and community engagement process and reporting
  procedures and then working with partners to ensure that communication about the work programme
  is effectively delivered through respective channels.
• Work with key agencies and other organisations to ensure all reporting, codes of practice and
  legal requirements are followed for relevant parts of the work packages.
• Work with the project partners to provide information for funding applications as required.

Skills and Background

Knowledge

Essential

1. Extensive project management
2. Freshwater conservation and restoration management
3. Excellent understanding of practices for habitat and species conservation and restoration.
4. Understanding and knowledge of legislation and policies for biodiversity.

Skills

Essential

1. Excellent communications skills, written and verbal, to technical and non-technical
   audiences.
2. Delivery of community and stakeholder engagement events.
3. Practical skills in multi-disciplinary ecosystem management projects.
4. GIS and associated spatial analysis packages.

Desirable

1. Technical skills in aquatic and wildlife conservation and management.
2. Ability to identify and engage with a range of funders.

Experience

Essential

1. Experience in strategic project planning, management, co-ordination and output delivery.
2. Experience of co-ordinating programmes of work/projects involving a diverse range of
   stakeholders and communities and delivering stakeholder events.
3. Experience of partnership and collaborative working.
4. Experience in the collection and analysis of data.
5. Conference and other public presentations.
6. Demonstrated success in obtaining funding.

Desirable

1. Familiarity of working with organisations involved in biodiversity conservation in the UK
   and internationally.
2. Experience of working in rural and remote locations.
3. Familiarity with the publication and peer review process for research outputs.

Qualifications or Equivalent experience

Essential

1. Qualified at least to degree level, or equivalent practical experience, in a relevant
   social science and/or scientific discipline (e.g. a subject relevant to biodiversity, wildlife
   and land management and/or technical project delivery).
2. A full UK driving licence.

Desirable

1. Project / management, or equivalent experience, qualification

Hours and Place of Work

The River Dee Trust operates a 40-hour working week. The place of work will be the River
Office, Mill of Dinnet, with a potential for a proportion of hybrid working, and the postholder
will be required to travel as required to carry out their duties. Some of the work undertaken
will require the working of weekends or evenings and there is a time off in lieu system as part
of our working hours policy.

Remuneration and Benefits

The role is a permanent position. The salary for the post will be in the region of £40,000
(with annual review) for a 40-hour working week. A pension scheme is offered, and 6%
contributions are matched by the employer. A vehicle will be provided for work duties.

Terms of Employment

The employer is The River Dee Trust and its terms of employment will be specified in an
accompanying contract and staff handbook, along with this job description. The River Dee Trust
also operates continuous professional development for all employers as it believes that the
success of the project will be down to its staff.

This is a permanent position. We are seeking an experienced project manager with an ecological or
social science background; further information is available in the Job Specification. To apply,
please send your CV and a covering letter explaining your interest in this role to [email protected] by 5pm on Monday 15 April.