Trust Manager/Senior Biologist Job

Lochaber Fisheries Trust; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An established charity focused on conserving fish and freshwater habitats is seeking an experienced Fish Biologist to lead their team. In this pivotal role, you will manage daily operations, oversee fieldwork projects, and contribute to vital research efforts. You'll have the chance to design innovative habitat improvement projects and collaborate with regulatory authorities to influence fishery policies. With a competitive salary and benefits, including a company vehicle and pension contributions, this is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about conservation and environmental sustainability.

Benefits

Employer Pension Contribution

Company Vehicle

20 Days Paid Leave

9 Statutory Days

Qualifications

• Experience in managing fish biology projects and fieldwork.
• Strong skills in data management and project design.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of the Trust and lead fieldwork programmes.
• Design and apply for funding to support research priorities.

Skills

Fish Biology

Fieldwork Management

Project Design

Funding Applications

Data Management

Education

Degree in Biology or Related Field

Postgraduate Qualification in Fish Biology

Tools

Electrofishing Equipment

Database Management Systems

Job description

Lochaber Fisheries Trust is a charity which has been working to conserve and protect fish and freshwater habitats since 1996. We cover an area from the Sound of Mull up to Loch Nevis on the west coast, and from Rannoch Moor in the South to Loch Laggan in the North. Our work involves river catchments, lochs, estuaries, and inshore coastal areas.

Description of the role

Lochaber Fisheries Trust is looking for an experienced fish biologist to manage the trust and lead our team. The successful candidate will manage the day-to-day running of the Trust, deliver an extensive fieldwork programme, design projects, and make funding applications to support future projects. They will line manage the assistant biologist.

Projects planned for 2025 include:

• monitoring sea lice on wild salmonids,

• electrofishing programme to assess juvenile fish densities.

Priority work

Delivering monitoring and research projects as well as coordinating delivery of our contract work in relation to fish and freshwater habitats. This will include electrofishing, running smolt traps (fyke nets), seine netting and coastal fyke nets, tagging fish, river habitat surveys, fish, and freshwater pearl mussel rescues.

Identifying pressures on fish stocks and river habitats and designing work programmes to research and mitigate these pressures. Applying for funding to deliver research priorities where funding is not already in place.

Assist the Directors to maintain the Trust’s overarching governance to include contributions to monitoring health and safety policies, related GDPR controls, database management and designing and maintaining risk assessments and method statements for all fieldwork.

Delivering reports on research and monitoring work

Working with the assistant biologist to maintain databases of biological records.

Supporting the Trust’s Annual Report and social media requirements

Undertaking educational and public awareness projects about fisheries and the Trust’s work.

Potential for

Identifying, designing, and managing habitat improvement projects such as barrier easement and other habitat restoration projects.

Liaising with regulatory and statutory authorities regarding local and national planning applications and consultation on relevant fishery policies.

Salary and Benefits

The starting salary will be £30-35,000 based on experience. This will be reviewed annually. An employer’s pension contribution of up to 5% matched funding will be made. This role will be subject to an initial 6-month probationary period. You will be entitled to a holiday allowance of 20 days paid leave and nine statutory days. A company vehicle is made available for operational day-to-day usage.

Applying

For full details on this opportunity please click the link above. If you are passionate about conservation and the freshwater environment, please send a description of how your skills and competencies make you a suitable candidate for the role (extending to no more than two pages) along with your c.v. to [e-mail]

The closing date for applications is 5pm, Friday May 23rd, 2025. For more information or an informal conversation, please contact Lucy Smith on 07796445651