31945 - Fisheries Technical Officer

Environment Agency; Farnham; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental agency seeks a Technical Fisheries Officer in Farnham. Candidates should have a degree in a relevant subject and possess skills in fisheries management and communication. The role includes advising on high-risk permits and managing stakeholder relationships. Flexibility for incident response and a full driving licence are essential. Join a team committed to enhancing fisheries and biodiversity in the UK.

Qualifications

• Essential: Degree in a relevant subject or equivalent professional experience.
• Essential: Good understanding of practical fisheries management techniques.
• Essential: Excellent fish identification skills.
• Essential: Full driving licence.
• Desirable: Good general understanding of fisheries legislation and law.
• Desirable: Self-motivated with a pro-active approach.
• Desirable: Strong influencing skills and experience engaging stakeholders.
• Desirable: Confident communicator.
• Desirable: Excellent time management skills to manage unpredictable workload.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality fisheries advice to internal and external customers.
• Deliver environmental outcomes and build relationships with stakeholders.
• Participate in fisheries duty officer 24hr out of hours roster.

Skills

Communication skills

Fisheries management

Time management

Fish identification

Education

Degree in a relevant subject or equivalent

Job description

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to work as a Technical Fisheries Officer within the Fisheries Operations team based in Thames. This is part of the area Fisheries Biodiversity and Geomorphology department. Successful candidates will be expected to provide high quality fisheries advice to a variety of internal and external customers, taking a risk-based approach to help protect and improve the water environment and water-dependent wildlife. This position focuses on some of the most significant chalk stream habitat in the UK, including the River Kennet.

Responsibilities

• As a Fisheries Technical Officer, you will: have a strong foundation in fisheries science and practical fisheries management; excellent communication skills and experience of working with a wide range of people are essential; you will be expected to deliver environmental outcomes and build strong relationships, both within the team and with internal and external stakeholders; you will be well-organised and have the confidence to work independently and on your own initiative.

The role has a strong area incident response element. There is a need to work flexibly and take part in the fisheries duty officer 24hr out of hours roster.

The team

The Fisheries Operations team uses a risk-based approach to protect and improve the water environment for fisheries. We provide advice on high-risk permits, consents, licences and planning applications to ensure that biodiversity, fisheries and ecosystems are protected, and where possible enhanced. Through promotion and publicity, we raise awareness of angling opportunities with our partners, deliver the rod licence checking programme, provide incident response and undertake river habitat enhancement work.

Experience/skills required

It is essential that you have:

• A degree in a relevant subject or equivalent professional experience.
• A good understanding of practical fisheries management techniques and excellent fish identification skills.
• A Full driving licence

It is desirable that you have:

• A good general understanding of fisheries legislation and law.
• Are self-motivated, acting independently with a pro-active approach.
• Strong influencing skills with ideally experience of engaging key stakeholders.
• Are a confident communicator.
• Excellent time management skills with an ability to manage an unpredictable workload and balance conflicting needs and priorities is essential.