Senior Biologist

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the conservation and restoration of Loch
Lomond’s native fish and freshwater environment at Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust.

The Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust (LLFT) is an environmental charity formed in 2001 to champion
the conservation and restoration of Loch Lomond’s native fish and the freshwater environment.
The projects the Trust works on span from fish to forests, taking a modern catchment-scale
approach to aquatic conservation whilst embedding outreach, education and communication at the
core of its activities. To achieve our conservation aims we work with numerous partners
including the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, The Loch Lomond Angling Improvement
Association and riparian landowners.

The LLFT is recruiting a Senior Biologist who will be responsible for the operational
leadership, management and delivery of the Trust’s work. Reporting to the Trust Chair, the
successful applicant will seek funding for and deliver work in line with the Trust’s
multi-annual fishery management plan. The successful applicant will also be responsible for
the financial management, budgeting, planning and activity of the Trust, reporting on all of
these matters to the board of directors. With the support of a business administration officer,
the successful candidate will lead, develop and manage a small team of biologists to deliver
our work. 

Further details on the role and qualities required for this post can be found in the job
description below. 

Applications by C.V. and covering letter should be submitted no later than 1700 hrs on 16th
August 2024. Interviews will take place by early September with the successful candidate taking
up post as soon as possible thereafter. 

Please email your application to [email protected] or with any
questions about the role. 

JOB DESCRIPTION 

Job title: Senior Biologist
Reporting to: LLFT Chair
Salary: £33,500-37,500k, negotiable depending on experience.
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, with occasional weekend or evening work.
Location: Based at Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust Office, Buchanan Castle Golf Club, Drymen,
Stirling, Scotland. G63 0HX. 

Specific duties will include:

• Financial management of the Trust and timely financial and activity reporting to the board of
  directors – with the support of a business administration officer;
• Managing the practical delivery of a portfolio of practical conservation projects across the
  Loch Lomond Catchment – this will include fish population studies (electrofishing and netting),
  riparian habitat restoration, tree planting at scale, managing invasive plants and a portfolio
  of commercial projects;
• Leading, managing and developing a small team of assistant biologists;
• Developing and maintaining relationships with key partners and stakeholders;
• Finding and securing funding from various sources to deliver the Trust’s new multi-annual
  plan;
• Delivering the LLFT’s regional part of the salmonid projects from the Marine directorate as
  they arise, such as the National Electrofishing Programme for Scotland;
• Writing commercial tenders, MOUs and contracts and maintaining continuity of commercial
  relationships;
• Responsibility for ensuring a healthy and safe working environment, biosecurity of our works
  and the maintenance of equipment and stores;
• Designing and delivering suitable electrofishing population surveys across the catchment;
• Report writing and presentations for various stakeholders;
• Overseeing the delivery of content for the Trust’s social media platforms;
• Undertaking any other duties necessary to fulfil the remit of the LLFT.

The following are essential criteria: 

• 5+ years of experience in delivering a portfolio of aquatic conservation projects;
• Demonstrable experience in catchment scale conservation project development;
• Knowledge of Scottish freshwater fish biology and their recreational fisheries;
• [Post-graduate] degree in a relevant discipline;
• Demonstrable experience and understanding of statistically robust data collection on aquatic
  animals and/or plants;
• Proficiency in basic GIS applications;
• Demonstrable experience of managing multiple simultaneous practical projects;
• Experience in managing project and organisational financial budgets;
• Familiarity with how small charities are run and deliver their objectives;
• A full driving licence, and due to the location of our office, having access to your own
  transport;
• Competency in word processing and spreadsheets;
• Experience in report writing to deadlines;
• Experience of stakeholder engagement and liaising with stakeholders in its various forms,
  including audience specific reports and presentations and developing staff in this area;
• An ability to work outdoors in all weathers, coupled with a good level of physical fitness.

The following experience would be desirable: 

• A knowledge and understanding of catchment scale tree planting and invasive plant management
  and the funding streams available for this work;
• An understanding of the impacts of terrestrial farming on rivers;
• An understanding of Scottish salmon aquaculture;
• Knowledge of the ecological threats and conservation challenges in the Lomond system;
• Knowledge of native freshwater recreational fisheries;
• A team leader qualification in Electrofishing;
• Knowledge in the field of invasive non-native species;
• Experience of working on education or community outreach projects;
• Experience of managing volunteers.