Senior Water Policy Manager

About WildFish

WildFish has a unique niche in campaigning for wild fish and their habitats in the UK and
beyond. Wildfish was born out of Salmon and Trout Conservation with over 100 years of
conservation experience. We believe that securing healthy wild fish populations will result in
flourishing aquatic habitats for all to enjoy, provide resilience to climate change and help in
the fight against biodiversity loss.

We are a campaigning conservation charity using evidence and the law to protect wild fish and
their habitats. We focus on causes, not symptoms, because this will provide the greatest
benefits for wild fish – for example, we target water quality, water quantity and other
impediments. If you get these right the river has a chance to become a thriving habitat for
wildlife.

Our campaigns are in three main sectors:

• Water Action which embraces water quantity and water quality;

• Aquaculture which campaigns to close open-net salmon farming;

• SmartRivers which is our citizen-science riverfly monitoring project.

Job description

WildFish are looking for an experienced Water Policy manager, who is passionate about
protecting wild fish and their habitats, to help deliver our Water Action Campaign to tackle
the causes of declining water quality and water availability.

The initial focus of this will be on water company infrastructure and water resources through
the detailed interrogation of water company plans. The water industry currently hides behind
inaccessible, very technical reports which, deliberately or not, obscure the true state of
water resources and our unpreparedness for drought. The public is unaware of the dire threat
posed to them and our environment by the lack of investment in alternatives to our rivers.
WildFish aim to change this by increasing public understanding and holding the companies to
account through legal challenge if necessary.

The role will involve attending relevant meetings, helping draft consultation responses and
policy documents, and working within the team to develop case studies and research potential
legal work in this area.

Key Responsibilities

• expertise to interpret and challenge water company plans
• working with the SmartRivers team to investigate pressures identified through our
  monitoring in order to develop local studies and guide national policy.
• working with the policy team to devise and develop our campaigns on a range of issues impacting
  wild fish populations at local, regional and national levels
• supporting the team with briefings, blogs and reports
• building links with external stakeholders. 

Requirements

• A grounding in water policy in the UK, and/or relevant legal experience.
• Up-to-date knowledge of water company planning processes.
• Self-motivated, prepared to take the initiative and manage your own workload.
• Able to lead meetings and represent the organisation externally.
• A confident communicator, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Minimum BSc degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
• Comfortable working remotely but prepared to contribute to regular team meetings.
• Have a willingness to travel, with driving licence and vehicle.

What it’s like to work for WildFish

WildFish is the UK’s only independent charity campaigning for wild fish and their habitats. We
are evidence-led. We take no Government or polluter money so are free to hold them to account
without fear or favour.

You will be a core member of a small, highly motivated team passionately committed to
safeguarding our fresh and coastal water habitats. We aim to inspire, inform, involve and
influence everyone to take action to protect this most threatened of environments.

How to apply

Please send a CV and cover letter to [email protected]