Westcountry Rivers Trust is looking to offer an Evidence and Engagement Work Placement.

For queries about this role or the application process please contact recruitment@wrt.org.uk

About the Placement
We’re offering a 4-week placement ideal for students and graduates who want to apply their environmental science skills in the field and gain first-hand experience of data collection, conservation, and community engagement.

You’ll join the Evidence & Engagement Team, which plays a key role in delivering nature-based solutions for river catchment management and habitat improvement across the Southwest. The team ensures that we deliver the right actions in the right places and that our results are measured, monitored, and clearly communicated.

This placement will give you practical experience across several workstreams, particularly within our monitoring team, while also supporting colleagues across the Trust on a variety of projects.
Areas of involvement

You’ll being involved in a mix of office-based and field activities, including:

•Supporting administration for various projects spanning a breadth of topics.
•Fieldwork, monitoring, and data collection including physical, chemical and biological water quality parameters, water quantity parameters, and morphological assessments of the riparian habitat.

This could include:
Installing and completing routine maintenance on long-term water monitoring devices.
Completing spot sampling regimes for water quality.
Undertaking MoRPh assessments.
Assisting with site specific assessments for interventions which improve rivers and surrounding habitats.
Data inputting, presentation and visualisation using a variety of software tools such as Excel, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, QGIS or R.
•Assist with data collation, analysis and reporting across a variety of projects focused on for example nutrient/pollution reduction and natural flood management.
•Contribute to designing and delivering engagement and co-creation events, workshops and resources.
•Maintaining confidentiality and GDPR compliance at all times.

What We’re Looking For

Knowledge and Experience
•A passion for protecting and restoring the natural environment
•Experience in environmental and biological monitoring
•Competence in data management e.g. collating and using large datasets on excel or other software tools
•An understanding of requirements for data protection and confidentiality (D)
•Experience of using Geographical Information Systems. (D)
•To assist with producing high quality, visually engaging science communications materials. (D)

Skills and Competencies
•Ability to manage workload and time effectively
•Good IT skills including Microsoft Office 365
•Organisational and admin skills, with good attention to detail
•Excellent presentation and communication skills for a wide range of audiences
•Excellent interpersonal skills, both face-to-face and in online meetings
•Ability to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends
•Willingness and ability to travel to the Stoke Climsland office (some lift-sharing may be available)
•Willingness and ability to travel to field sites (D)

Qualifications
•Be working towards or hold an undergraduate degree, or comparable qualification or experience in Environmental Science/Ecology/Geography or related discipline (D)
The above are Essential criteria unless indicated as Desirable (D).

What You’ll Gain
•Hands-on experience in environmental monitoring and engagement.
•Exposure to real-world conservation and data-driven project delivery.
•Opportunities to collaborate with experienced environmental professionals.
•Experience using industry-standard software for data and GIS work.
•A clearer understanding of career pathways within the environmental sector.