About the Trust
We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?
Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.
Join Our Team: Ecological Volunteer Supervisor
We’re excited to welcome a new Ecological Volunteer Supervisor at our West Midlands location
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a hands-on role in the restoration and long-term ecological management of one of the UK’s most important canal environments.
Part funded by the Welsh Government’s Volunteering Wales Main Grants Scheme, this role will focus on the Montgomery Canal, working as part of the regional ecological and restoration team to support practical habitat management, volunteer delivery and the care of two new nature reserves.
The Montgomery Canal is a nationally and internationally important waterway, designated as both SSSI and SAC. Its restoration depends on getting the balance right between heritage, ecology, community involvement and practical delivery on the ground. This role will be central to making that happen.
You will develop and supervise a structured volunteer programme, turning ecological management plans into practical tasks and safe, rewarding volunteer activity. This will include habitat management, vegetation control, monitoring, site maintenance and improvement works across the canal corridor and associated nature reserves.
Alongside the Montgomery Canal focus, the post will also provide ecological technical support across the west of the region, including the Llangollen, Shropshire Union and Trent & Mersey canals. You will help ensure that all Trust works are planned and delivered with proper regard to protected habitats, species, statutory designations and the Trust’s wider restoration objectives.
This is a practical, field-based ecology role for someone who wants to make a visible difference: supporting volunteers, improving habitats, supporting the work of the Trust and helping protect a historic canal, and contributing directly to the long-term management of a highly protected and much-loved waterway.
Working Hours & Location
This is a 2 year fixed term opportunity and follows a 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern and will be home-based, with the allocation of a nearby Hub in the West Midlands for collaborative working. You will attend site visits across the West Midlands region.
See our network here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network
Role Overview
This project is funded by Welsh Government’s Volunteering Wales Main Grants Scheme, administered by WCVA and the role will have a responsibility for supervising volunteers on the Montgomery Canal. Along with this the Ecologist will provide the Trust with technical expertise in ecology, with a focus on the west of the region – the Montgomery, Llangollen, Shropshire Union and Trent & Mersey Canals.
Working proactively, they will support and develop the Trust’s protection, improvement and promotion of the natural environment of the waterways and provide professional environmental services within their area of expertise to help achieve a wide range of corporate objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide expert technical advice relating to ecology as required.
- Supervise the work of volunteers undertaking environmental works within the assigned geographical area.
- Within area, assist with the implementation of relevant asset management strategies (vegetation, environmental assets) to protect, maintain, and where appropriate, enhance condition of the assets and their performance for the customer.
- Implement relevant survey, monitoring and maintenance programmes for environmental/soft estate assets within their geographical remit, (re-)prioritising work to suit available resources and within delegated authority levels.
- Contribute to the ongoing implementation of an environmental management system (EMS; including associated processes & standards), including environmental audit and compliance monitoring and managing the process of investigation of non-compliances, especially with responsibility for monitoring application within their geographical remit; to maintenance of appropriate levels of environmental training & competency (including certification) in their local area.
- Lead on volunteer planning and participation for environmental works in area.
- Instruct volunteers on environmental improvement techniques, including the use of tools.
- Contribute to external engagement especially through interest in our environmental assets, including protected species and sites and vegetation management.
- Contribute as appropriate to the development and implementation of the Trust’s Asset Management Strategies especially in respect of the Trust’s environmental assets, protected sites, and vegetation management to achieve customer service requirements & positive management of the natural environment efficiently and effectively.
- Contribute to regional programmes of engagement with customers, volunteers, stakeholders and the general public to promote the value of waterways and the work of the Trust to increase the Trust’s reputation and influence and secure additional resources for our work, focusing on our key environmental priorities.
- Contribute to other areas of work of regional Environment Team as instructed by EM, displaying the Trust values and behaviours at all times
- Ensuring that diversity and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of Trust life and promoting inclusion by challenging behaviour, practices, actions, or decisions that are counter to the objectives of the Trust’s policies and values
- Working with other Seniors, deputise for EM when they are absent.
Skills & Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent in relevant discipline.
- Member at appropriate level of relevant professional institution, e.g. CIEEM, CIWEM, CIWM, IEMA, etc.
- Proven post qualification (chartered or equivalent) experience in application of specialist knowledge within a business environment. Maintain relevant CDP.
- Experience of supervising environmental volunteering tasks, including in the use of tools.
- Able to negotiate effectively with internal and external contacts to achieve desired outcomes for the Trust
- Able to support other areas of the Trust’s business in an appropriate manner, taking account of overall business priorities and negotiating resources as appropriate
- Knowledge and practical experience of operating within, UK & European environmental policy and regulatory frameworks
- Experience of operating within a customer service environment
- Understanding and adhering to Trust governance, financial controls and systems of compliance
- Full Valid UK driving licence
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Contact & Application
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at
[email protected]. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.
What We Offer
We offer an annual salary of £33,677 + £390 per month Car Cash Allowance. Enjoy a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here: EVP - 1.
Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits
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Our values
We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.
All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis.
We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.
At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers.
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us
