Electrofishing Survey Assistant

West Cumbria Rivers Trust is an environmental charity dedicated to improving the watercourses and surrounding catchments in West Cumbria for people and wildlife.  Our patch covers several principal river catchments and seven iconic lakes spanning a substantial part of the Lake District National Park, West Cumbria and the Solway. We have an impressive track-record of successful project delivery.

With support from local angling clubs, riparian owners, and other funding bodies, the Trust undertakes an extensive juvenile salmonid survey programme within the River Derwent, Ehen and Irt catchments which has run for the last nine years. This provides vital data to target watercourse improvement work undertaken by ourselves and many other partner organisations. The Trust is looking for a survey assistant to help the team undertake the vast number of sites proposed for this survey season.

This is a fantastic opportunity to gain experience in working in the environmental sector, participating in conservation and fisheries work. The Trust is keen to provide opportunities for newly qualified talented people looking to start their career, or take a change in career direction, especially those local to the Trust’s area, and further opportunities within the Trust may be available for the right person.

The successful candidate will ideally have some form of environmental qualification or relevant work experience and must be confident working in watercourses and be able to swim. The work is physically demanding and therefore a good degree of physical fitness is required with sometimes lengthy walks to the river sites with heavy equipment. The post relies on the use of volunteers and good communication skills and organisation skills are essential. The ability to drive one of WCRT’s 4x4’s is also a requirement of the role.

The successful candidate will be part of a friendly, passionate and supportive team, reporting to WCRT’s Fisheries Officer and supported by the wider staff team and a good supply of chocolate biscuits.  

To apply for this post please send your CV with a covering letter setting out your experience and qualifications, as highlighted in the job description, to recruitment@westcumbriariverstrust.org ensuring it is marked ‘Electrofishing Survey Assistant’.

Interviews will be held at our offices in Keswick on Fri 26 April 2024.

If you would like to discuss the post further please contact Ruth Mackay on 017687 75429 or email below.