Chief Executive

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Job description

CHIEF EXECUTIVE - RIVER THAME CONSERVATION TRUST

• Are you an experienced manager with a passion for nature conservation and the skills and knowledge to lead this innovative River Trust as it grows and develops?
• Are you an all-rounder who can happily switch from producing budget and management account spreadsheets to giving an engaging presentation to a community group in the same day?
• Can you communicate well at all levels, developing fruitful relationships and inspiring colleagues, partners, potential funders and landowners with a creative approach to making things happen to improve biodiversity and water quality in our river catchment?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a senior manager to join us as our new Chief Executive and to lead the River Thame Conservation Trust (RTCT) in the next stage of its development, working within the aspirations and objectives of the national Rivers Trust movement. You will lead RTCT to plan, secure funding and deliver habitat and water quality improvement projects across the River Thame, parts of the Upper Ouse (Buckingham) and other local catchments.

We are a small, friendly and dedicated team of environmental scientists. We see ourselves as delivery partner for the following types of projects: river restoration, habitat creation and management, water quality and fish passage projects. Working with local communities, farmers and landowners we follow the Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) to catchment management. We work closely with the Environment Agency, Thames Water and some wonderfully engaged and supportive landowners across our catchment. We co-host the Thame Catchment Partnership with the Freshwater Habitats Trust. Prior to covid we had a thriving volunteer programme, managing citizen science and other data gathering initiatives to monitor and provide an evidence base of changes in water quality and the environmental health of our river. We are planning to re-activate that programme as soon as possible.

The Trust faces significant challenges, but also opportunities for growth. Our ability to deliver projects that make a difference, and to retain our dedicated staff, depends on securing funding for projects and for running the other work of the Trust. The new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) provides the opportunity for building on the relationships already developed through the catchment's farm clusters.

The package: salary £49,000 to £59,000 per annum subject to skills and experience with more for exceptional candidates. The post offers flexible working, Rivers Trust pension / Life Insurance scheme, 24 days paid holiday per year plus 8 Public and Bank Holidays, and pleasant office surroundings within Bury Knowle Park, Headington, Oxford.

Applications: please see the Information Pack available from the RTCT website . If you think you fit the bill, please send the following to :

• current CV (max 2 sides A4); and
• covering letter (max 2 sides A4) that explains how your experience and expertise meet the job requirements we've outlined and why you'd like to work for RTCT.

For any queries on the role, call Nigel Davenport (CEO RTCT) on , or Ben Piper (Chair RTCT) on .