Farming Officer

West Cumbria Rivers Trust is an environmental charity dedicated to improving the watercourses
and surrounding catchments in West Cumbria for people and wildlife. Our patch covers several
principal river catchments spanning a substantial part of the Lake District National Park, West
Cumbria and the Solway. We have an impressive track-record of successful delivery of projects.

We are seeking a Farming Officer to join our passionate team, focused on the catchments of the
Rivers Waver and Wampool in the Solway plain, north-west Cumbria.

This exciting new role is funded by businesses from the U.K. food and drink supply chain, who
are committed to sourcing fresh produce from areas with sustainable water management, and is
one of several collective action projects nationally, facilitated by the Waste and Resources
Action Programme (WRAP).

The Waver-Wampool collaborative action project will support farm businesses in sustainable food
production that protects and restores water environments, boosts nature recovery, reduces
greenhouse gas emissions and provides climate resilience. The role will involve a mix of farm
advice, on-the-ground delivery, and facilitation of workshops and knowledge sharing events.

Working closely with farmers and land managers, advisors and agronomists, the Farming Officer
will develop individual farm plans and assist farm businesses to secure funding to deliver
sustainable land management. This is likely to include environmental land management schemes
and grants, slurry infrastructure grants, woodland planting grants, and private investment
opportunities. The project will also provide opportunities to develop and deliver capital
projects to improve water quality and enhance in-river and wider catchment biodiversity.

The successful candidate will have a degree, or equivalent experience, in an environmental or
agricultural discipline and at least 2 years’ experience in environmental project delivery or
agricultural advice. Building and maintaining positive working relationships with the farmers
and landowners, upon whose land the project will be delivered, is a key aspect of this role.
Therefore, strong communication skills and the ability to deal with a wide variety of people in
a friendly and professional manner is essential. You will be a self-starter who can demonstrate
a committed, mature and flexible approach and have the passion to develop our work in the
catchment. You will also have excellent organisational, I.T. and reporting skills. Training and
support are available.

You will be part of a friendly and enthusiastic team, reporting to the Project Manager and
supported by the Trust’s Senior Management Team, WCRT’s Trustees and the wider staff. The
project team also includes external partners from a range of organisations such as Catchment
Sensitive Farming, the Farmer Network and the Environment Agency, who will assist you in
delivery. Support will also be available from the national Rivers Trust, WRAP and nature
finance experts.

The Trust offers a range of benefits including a generous pension scheme, life assurance
scheme, flexible working opportunities and a holiday buy-back scheme.

If you believe that you have the passion, commitment and skills to take this exciting
opportunity forward then we would like to hear from you. For further details and to view the job specification, please visit the
West Cumbria Rivers Trust website: www.westcumbriariverstrust.org/farming-officer

To apply for this post please send your C.V. with a covering letter setting out your experience
and qualifications as highlighted in the job specification to [email protected].

If you would prefer, you can send your covering letter as a video of yourself explaining your
suitability for the role. Make sure you explain your attributes in relation to the job
specification. Send your video to the email address above or Whatsapp 07507 719469. You must
also submit a written C.V. to [email protected].

If you would like to discuss the post further, please contact Caitlin Pearson on 017687 75429
or email [email protected].