Overview

Your Mission

Iconic chalk streams, strong communicator and project management – If your excitement grew when reading this than you might be the right candidate for a rare and exciting opportunity to join our Fisheries, Biodiversity and Geomorphology Team. We are looking for a River Restoration Officer to take on the delivery of our award-winning Test and Itchen River Restoration Strategy, bringing these iconic rivers towards the national and international standards of health they should meet.

Working both in an outdoor and desk-based setting, the successful candidate will have a sound knowledge of the function and pressures on chalks streams, as well as the ecology and angling interests. You will have a high level of oversight in planning and implementing the catchment’s river restoration programme.

Tasks will include:

  • Assessment and design of river and floodplain restoration schemes
  • Project management
  • Planning and permitting work
  • Monitoring and reporting on the success of schemes
  • Raising the profile of the Test and Itchen River Restoration Strategy
  • Influencing the future direction of the Test and Itchen River Restoration Strategy

You will build and foster relationships with stakeholders including riparian owners/managers, charities and anglers. You will also work closely with the Test and Itchen River Restoration Strategy partners, such as Natural England, and internal colleagues working on the Test and Itchen catchment.

The team

You will work closely with our team of experienced, dedicated and welcoming ecologists and fisheries experts that support the continued development of skills. We work together and learn from one another to help conserve and enhance rivers, still-waters, wetlands, estuaries, and coastal habitats. The Team has won awards for their work and achieved long-lasting environmental improvements as a result of their efforts.

Experience/skills required

You’ll have experience as an ecologist with practical conservation or river management and restoration techniques, with a relevant degree (or equivalent).

You’ll be able to demonstrate the following:

  • Experience working with stakeholders and partners, it’s crucial you’re a confident communicator with strong negotiation and influencing skills
  • Thorough understanding of ecological requirements of chalk stream and wetland habitats, species, natural processes, nature-based solutions, fisheries management and angling
  • Working knowledge of environmental and fisheries legislation, policy and strategy
  • Project management skills with a proven track record in project delivery, working with Construction Design and Management Regulations (2015), procurement process and contractors
  • Experience surveying for chalk stream species
  • Expertise in Geographic Information System (GIS) and computer-aided design (CAD). The ability to process and interpret data, (e.g. Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), topographic and historic maps) is desirable
  • Knowledge of the Test and Itchen catchment is desirable

Contact and additional information

Closing date: 12/12/2022, 23:55 hours

Salary Minimum: £36,389

Competencies: You will excel at achieving results, building and sustaining relationships, influencing and persuading others, and have a full UK Driving License.

We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities and our environment.

We support flexible working hours and practices.

We also encourage you to keep developing your skills and professional knowledge throughout your career.

The Environment Agency is a Category 1 Responder, responding to serious flood and pollution incidents, protecting the environment, lives, and livelihoods of the communities that we serve. Everyone has a role to play and we’ll help you to identify an incident role that fits with your skills, experience and personal circumstances.

If you’d like more information please get in touch with amir.fogel@environment-agency.gov.uk

Interviews will be held remotely by video conference date to be confirmed.