Location
Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire. The role offers hybrid working with hot-desking available at the Trust’s office in Pateley Bridge. Remote working from home is expected when not on site.

Hours
37.5 hours per week. The role requires flexibility with occasional evening and weekend work.

Salary
£38,563 - £42,262 per annum

About the Role
Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust (YDRT) is committed to conserving and restoring rivers and their catchments within the YDRT area. We work collaboratively with local communities, national parks, environmental organisations, and action groups to deliver projects that restore rivers, enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, and increase climate resilience. As Project Manager, you will play a pivotal role in restoring Yorkshire’s rivers by removing barriers to fish passage. You will work within the Great Yorkshire Rivers partnership, a collaboration between Yorkshire Water, the Environment Agency, and The Rivers Trust, aiming to address all artificial barriers negatively impacting fish populations in Yorkshire by 2043.

Initially, you will develop a strategy to prioritise and remove or modify weirs and other barriers within our catchments, conduct walkovers to ground truth priority areas, and identify and deliver quick wins. As the project progresses, you will design barrier removal or mitigation measures, secure funding, and manage all aspects of project delivery to ensure timely and budget-compliant completion.

Partnership working is fundamental; you will collaborate closely with the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, landowners, Yorkshire Dales National Parks Authority, Nidderdale National Landscapes, volunteers, and other stakeholders. You will communicate complex technical data clearly to a variety of audiences including farmers, specialist groups, and governmental organisations. You will also promote the project through the Trust’s website, social media, and local press, working alongside the Communications & Marketing Officer.

The role requires someone who works well independently and as part of a team of paid staff and volunteers. The post is initially for 18 months with potential for extension.

Experience
Practical experience in river restoration, particularly in the removal of fish passage barriers and contractor management, is essential. Experience working with multiple stakeholders and partnerships is highly desirable.

About you
You will be passionate about the water environment and conservation. You should be confident engaging with a wide range of people including landowners, volunteers, specialist groups, and governmental organisations. Excellent communication skills are required to explain complex technical data to non-specialists. You must be flexible, self-motivated, and able to work both independently and collaboratively within a team.

Qualifications
Relevant qualifications in environmental science, ecology, project management, or a related field are desirable but not explicitly stated. A commitment to ongoing professional development and learning is important.