River Keeper - The Ernest Cook Trust

River Keeper – The Ernest Cook Trust

JOB LOCATION: Primarily based at our head office in Fairford, by early 2025 our head office will be based in nearby Quenington.

REPORTS TO: Conservation & Woodland Manager

CONTRACT: Full Time (35 hours per week, 08:00 to 16:30 Mon-Thurs, 08:00 to 15:30 Fridays.)

SALARY £26,000 – £31,000

The Ernest Cook Trust

The Ernest Cook Trust is an educational charity and one of the UK’s foremost providers and funders of Outdoor Learning. Our vision is for an environmentally engaged society with stronger connections to nature.

Our mission is to improve the life chances of children and young people through a range of Outdoor Learning activities, enabling them to learn from nature, empowering them to have a positive impact on the environment. We do this through grant support, direct delivery of our own programmes, research and advocacy.

The Role

The River Keeper plays an important part in our Estates team, comprising: River Keeper, Gardener, Estate Worker, Groundsperson, Conservation Ranger and Countryside Ranger Apprentice, line managed by the Conservation & Woodland Manager. You will be managing a 2 mile stretch of the River Coln, a haven for wildlife including brown trout, otters and water voles. This role is responsible for the conservation and sporting management of the river; working independently or leading volunteers to maximise healthy fish and wildlife populations, guided by our Catchment Management Plan.

The River Keeper is responsible for the management of river level controls, responding to seasons and weather to maintain appropriate river levels. The seasonal cycle of work includes managing vegetation, cutting Ranunculus, bank works, stocking and impalements. The role also requires responsive work, and sometimes pitching in with the team to make progress on wider projects. Responsibilities include oversight of rod rules, infrastructure, budgeting of works and occasional contractor supervision. There is potential for future supervision of an apprentice.

Work to manage invasive plants and animals is essential to support the river, requiring good knowledge of species and habitat. The work is carried out through the use of hand tools, machinery such as ride-on mowers, chainsaws, brush cutters, tractors and implements. Work in the river itself is required, so you will need to be comfortable with this aspect of the role.

You will uphold best practices in safety and sustainability throughout your work, as well as taking care to maintain tools and equipment. As the River Keeper, you are the main point of contact with the fisher men and women on the river, and an important ambassador for the Trust with stakeholders in the local communities of Fairford and Quenington, liaising with parties such as Farm Tenants, the Town Council and the Environment Agency. The role requires out of hours working to effectively manage issues pertaining to access, poaching and river level management.

The full job description and how to apply can be downloaded here

Closing date 26th January