Aquatic Species Officer

Purpose: To lead LRT’s mink control/ water vole reintroduction project. To lead LRT’s electro-fishing monitoring and White Clawed Crayfish surveys.
Reports to: Trust Manager
Location: Hybrid. Working from home and from LRT’s office near Kirkby Lonsdale, with the general aim to be working from the office 2-3 days per week. Frequent site work will be required at locations across LRT’s operational area.
Hours: Full-time 37.5 hours per week. Flexible working hours.
Contract: 12 month fixed term contract (with potential to extend)

Lune Rivers Trust is a small but ambitious environmental charity dedicated to the protection and enhancement of all the rivers and tributaries in the Lune catchment. We cover a large area, from Tebay in the north, to Ingleton in the east and Pilling in the south.

We have recently secured funding from the Environment Agency and the RSPB Cumbria Connect project to support a new project for American Mink control and reintroduction of Water Vole. We have also secured ongoing funding from The Big Give to support our annual juvenile fish monitoring and periodic White Clawed Crayfish surveys. This funding has enabled us to create the new role of Aquatic Species Officer.

The control of American Mink/ reintroduction of Water Vole is a new area of activity for LRT. Recently there has been an upswell in interest in mink control, following successful eradication activities in East Anglia. This is an exciting opportunity for LRT to be part of a larger, coordinated strategic approach to mink control and water vole reintroduction, and to work with other Rivers Trusts and Wildlife Trusts.

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic person to join our team to deliver this new activity, alongside taking over our ongoing fish and crayfish monitoring. When considering whether to apply for this post, please bear in mind that a considerable part of the job will be directly related to the lethal dispatch of American Mink and the handling of Mink carcasses.

This is an entry level role and would suit someone recently graduated or wanting to enter the environmental charity sector from another type of work. Previous experience in developing and implementing species projects would be a big asset, but is not essential. However, an interest in aquatic species is essential. The role will involve a lot of ‘on-the-job’ learning during the first year in order to fully understand the techniques and strategies involved.

We operate a flexible working hours/ Time Owed in Lieu system. We also work a mixture of based from home, based from our office near Kirkby Lonsdale, and on site across our catchment. Arrangements are reasonably flexible, with the general aim to be in the office 2-3 days per week.

Duties and Responsibilities

Water Vole Project

• Plan and prioritise mink trapping priority areas of the Lune catchment in coordination with partners (Eden Rivers Trust, the Environment Agency, RSPB Cumbria Connect) and with the support of the Trust Manager.
• Manage and grow the mink monitoring and dispatch network across the northern Lune catchment working out from a core area adjacent to the watershed boundary with the Eden catchment, specifically:
  • Develop a network of volunteers (including landowners, tenants and other stakeholders) to service a network of up to 40 mink traps (checking, cleaning, setting remote trap alarms, humane dispatch) on a regular cycle.
  • Ensure all mink control elements within LRT’s projects are in line with best practice, including arranging training as required.
• Manage LRT’s water vole reintroduction programme in the Lune catchment, specifically:
  • Identify suitable habitat for water vole releases and manage the species release and monitoring programme – working with consultants and volunteers.

Juvenile Fish Monitoring

• Work closely with LRT’s River Restoration Officer to learn how to carry out electro-fishing and understand the existing network of monitoring sites.
• Lead LRT’s annual electro-fishing programme – across approx. 30 sites during July to September.
• Advertise & organise opportunities for volunteers to participate in electro-fishing surveys.

White Clawed Crayfish Monitoring

• Undertake training course and training requirements to become a certified White Clawed Crayfish surveyor.
• In coordination with the Trust Manager develop a programme of regular surveys of known WCC sites and exploratory surveys of possible new sites.

Person Description

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate that they are exceptionally self-motivated and are passionate about improving the environment. They must be a good communicator with a strong background in project development and delivery within the environmental sector, or the ability to learn this. A good knowledge of the Lune catchment and the functioning of river catchments would be beneficial.

Essential

• Degree or equivalent relevant work experience e.g. a degree in conservation biology, environmental science or similar and 1+ years of relevant experience, or 3 years relevant work experience.
• Comprehensive understanding of the impact of invasive non-native species and appropriate ways to manage their populations and spread for the benefit of native wildlife.
• Managed volunteers (support, led and developed them) to deliver funded projects.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the tact, diplomacy and negotiating skills to develop and maintain good relations with the owners/managers of land on which you are working.
• Ability to work in challenging field conditions.
• Willingness to use air rifles to dispatch invasive mink.
• Willingness to undergo training towards obtaining protected species licences required for crayfish survey and crayfish rescue work.

Desirable

• Experience in the use of an air rifles to dispatch vertebrates.
• Experience of leading teams of volunteers in the field.
• Experience of working within a conservation charity.
• Experience and knowledge of Water vole, American mink and White-clawed crayfish ecology.
• Other relevant field skills appropriate to the post (i.e. use of trail cameras, knowledge and identification of field signs, use of conservation detection dogs, 4×4 driving experience, use of traps, firearms).

If you would like more information or an informal chat about the post, please contact Tim Pitt (Trust Manager) on 079 49 24 26 55 or [email protected] before the 13th June. Please note that Tim is on leave from the 13th June until the closing date, so will be unable to respond to requests for information during this period.

Closing date for applications: Midnight on Sunday 28th June 2026.