Geomorphology and Woodland Officer – Brock and Calder Landscape Recovery

Background

The Wyre Rivers Trust (WRT) is a registered charity with a remit to improve the ecological
status of the river Wyre and its catchment.

Founded by three angling clubs and supported by many community groups, the Trust started small
with localised projects to improve habitat, especially spawning conditions, for all fish
species and completed with contractors and volunteers. However, since 2013 the Trust has grown,
became host of the Wyre Waters Catchment Partnership and is now delivering works at the
catchment scale with a host of far-reaching benefits.

Projects address a range of issues impacting upon biodiversity, water quality, and water
quantity, and tackle these with solutions such as natural flood management, habitat creation
and habitat connectivity. The Trust has recently created an Integrated Catchment Plan
containing a comprehensive list of priorities within the Wyre catchment, reviewed, and agreed
by our partners. Following this process, the Trust was successful in securing funding to
support the Brock and Calder Landscape Recovery Project, one of a number of national projects
working to deliver the highest tier of the Environmental Land Management Schemes. Within this
project, there are five posts which WRT will recruit for within the first 6 months of the
project development phase.

A key part of the Brock and Calder Landscape Recovery project is highlighting the plight of
freshwater and woodland habitats and species, especially in an upland setting. In order to do
this, the project will employ a Geomorphology and Woodland Officer who will be responsible for
the delivery of actions related to the development of project plans to support a long-term
programme of delivery. The actions will be varied but will focus on freshwater habitats (i.e
fluvial audits and habitat condition assessment) and woodlands (i.e woodland management plans)
and on ensuring that the needs of these habitats are suitably reflected in the aforementioned
plans. The officer will also work closely with the Conservation and Engagement Officer to
develop and freshwater ecosystem engagement strategy for the project.

The role will be split between home-based working in the north Lancashire area and the Wyre RT
Offices in Myerscough, Lancashire. The candidate will be expected to work across the entire
catchment and a large amount of time within any given week will be spent outside. The officer
will report to the BCLR Project Manager and Wyre Rivers Trust General Manager.

Job Purpose:

The Geomorphology and Woodland Officer will be responsible for the delivery of multiple actions
related to the project and the development of key plans during the development phase. The GWO
will work to deliver actions related to woodland management plans, fluvial audits and aquatic
habitats. These actions will inform the Land Management Plan and the Monitoring and Evaluation
Plan and ensure that each reflects the needs of freshwater ecosystems within the project area.
The GWO will also help to contribute to stakeholder engagement by working with the Conservation
and Engagement Officer to develop a freshwater ecosystem engagement strategy which highlights
the pressures faced by freshwater habitats and species.

Person Description:

The successful candidate will be an exceptional self-starter with the motivation, vision and
passion for ensuring that greater value is placed on the river Wyre becoming cleaner and
healthier environment. They must be a good communicator with a passion for conservation and
knowledge of freshwater and upland environments. Ideally the candidate will also have an
excellent knowledge of geomorphology, particularly in relation to upland rivers and the natural
processes that should be present within them. In addition the candidate should have some
knowledge of woodlands, woodland creation techniques and woodland management strategies.
Although extensive training opportunities will be available to upskill the right candidate. The
candidate should have a good knowledge of the following topics.

• Catchment science, geomorphology, freshwater environments, and their associated flora and fauna
• Survey techniques related to geomorphology, woodlands, and freshwater habitats and species.
• Catchment and river restoration techniques, particularly those in which improved geomorphology
  is an outcome.
• Woodlands, their species, their management, and their creation and/or restoration.
• Key interactions between woodlands and rivers in an upland setting and the delivery of projects
  which seek to increase these interactions.
• The importance of engagement with key stakeholders to support delivery of actions related to
  rivers, geomorphology and woodlands.

Responsibilities:

• To report the day-to-day delivery of the Brock and Calder Landscape Recovery Project
  Development Phase (BCLR PDP) to the Brock and Calder Landscape Recovery Project Manager and
  assist in the preparation of reports for programme sponsors.
• Work with the Conservation and Engagement Officer to develop a programme of ecological surveys
  to gather baseline ecological and morphological data on rivers and woodlands.
• Work closely with the Conservation and Engagement Officer to a freshwater ecosystem engagement
  strategy, highlighting the pressures faced by freshwater habitats and species.
• Review existing geomorphology data for the BCLR project area and deliver an in-depth fluvial
  audit for watercourses within the project area.
• Review existing woodland data for the BCLR project area and deliver an in-depth woodlands
  strategy for the project area.
• Assist in the development and delivery of the land management plan as part of the BCLR PDP,
  working closely with key project staff, consultants, land managers and project partners.
• Working closely with the BCLR PDP Delivery Team, ensure that all key deliverables as outlined
  in the project plan are delivered on time and to a gold standard.
• Ensure that all key elements of risk are managed in accordance with instruction from the BCLR
  PDP Project Manager
• Work in close conjunction with partners and community groups to evaluate opportunities for
  multiple benefit projects within the Wyre catchment.
• Use data and other information to inform the development of key deliverables as part of the
  BCLR Development Phase
• To undertake relevant safeguarding training for work with children and adults at risk.

Anyone we appoint is expected to support policies on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, Health
& Safety, IT, GDPR and contribute to a respectful and inclusive working culture.

Closing date: Friday 20th September 2024

Interviews are planned for week commencing Monday 7th October 2024 and will be held in-person
in Lancashire.