Fisheries Specialist (SE Rivers Trust)

Institute of Fisheries Management; Leatherhead; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

South East Rivers Trust is seeking a proactive Fisheries Specialist to help deliver a programme to improve fish passage and river connectivity across the Great Stour catchment. The role blends field surveys with technical leadership and collaboration across partners and stakeholders.

You will lead monitoring, contribute to business cases, and provide ecology expertise to colleagues across the SERT area, including travel within the South East region and attending the Leatherhead office as needed.

Qualifications

• Experience in freshwater ecology, fisheries, river restoration or related discipline.
• Understanding of fish ecology, fish passage and river habitats.
• Experience applying fish survey and monitoring techniques such as electrofishing and eDNA.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret ecological data for project development.

Responsibilities

• Lead fish surveys, monitoring programmes and evidence collection.
• Progress the Stour fish passage roadmap with partners.
• Collaborate with landholders, regulators and catchment partners on actions.
• Contribute to business cases, funding proposals and project pipelines.
• Act as the Trust’s fisheries ecology and management specialist for SERT colleagues.

Skills

Freshwater ecology

Fish passage

River restoration

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Report writing

Education

Degree in ecology

Tools

Electrofishing

eDNA analysis

Habitat surveys

Job description

We’re looking for a proactive and technically skilled Fisheries Specialist to join South East Rivers Trust (SERT) and help deliver an ambitious programme to improve fish passage and river connectivity across the Great Stour catchment.

This is a unique opportunity to play a central role in progressing the Stour fish passage roadmap, helping to shape a flagship programme that combines monitoring, evidence, partnership working and practical river restoration. Approximately half of your time will focus on the Great Stour catchment, with the remainder spent acting as SERT’s fisheries ecology and management specialist, providing technical leadership and support to colleagues and partners across our wider operational area.

What you will be doing

• Leading fish surveys, monitoring programmes and evidence collection to improve understanding of fish populations, evaluate the impact of our work and inform future restoration priorities.
• Working with colleagues and partners to progress the Stour fish passage roadmap, identifying and prioritising barriers to fish movement and supporting the development of fish passage and river restoration projects.
• Working with landholders, angling interests, regulators and catchment partners to deliver coordinated, catchment-scale action.
• Contributing to business cases, funding proposals and the development of a pipeline of deliverable and investable projects.
• Acting as the Trust’s fisheries ecology and management specialist, providing technical leadership and support to colleagues and partners across SERT.

About you

• Experience in freshwater ecology, fisheries, river restoration or a related discipline, with a good understanding of fish ecology, fish passage and river habitats.
• Experience applying fish survey and monitoring techniques, such as electrofishing, eDNA and habitat surveys.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret ecological data and apply it to project development and delivery.
• Experience delivering environmental or river restoration projects and working collaboratively with regulators, landholders, angling interests and other partners.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to convey technical information clearly.
• A proactive and organised approach, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Why work with us?

You’ll be joining a supportive, values-led organisation where your work really matters. We offer flexible hybrid working, opportunities to develop specialist expertise in fisheries ecology, monitoring and river restoration within a growing and ambitious organisation, and the chance to shape a flagship fish passage programme while making a lasting impact for rivers and wildlife.

Site locations

The SERT region , covers the south east of England, extending from Hampshire in the west to Kent in the east, with the northern border being south of the Thames, extending down to the English Channel.

Our office is based in Leatherhead which you will be required to attend up to 4 times a month.

The amount of travel required depends on the role, and can be extensive. Most travel for an individual will be to work on project sites, which can be remote, or attending external meetings within the SERT region. The geographical range and frequency of travel is role dependent.

To support travel costs, SERT pays mileage at the current HMRC amount for travel within the SERT region. We do not pay mileage, time or any other costs for travel outside the SERT region, nor for any commutes to the office. Toll charges cannot be claimed.

• Closing date for applications: Sunday 18th October 2026 11.59pm
• Interviews in person (at our Leatherhead office): Friday 6th November 2026
• We reserve the right to close this job advert early

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