This role supports the delivery of The Rivers Trust’s campaigns strategy – including bi-annual Big River Watch – to, through impactful comms and engaging content, grow the number of people and organisations taking action for rivers in the UK and island of Ireland.
The Rivers Trust is a leading environmental charity and the umbrella body of The Rivers Trust movement, comprising over 60 independent local charities. Our vision is for wild, healthy, natural rivers, valued by all. We are at a critical point in our history as we expand to deliver projects to protect and replenish this critical part of the natural environment, and our research and expertise is now needed more urgently than ever as water supply and quality move up the public agenda.
Our values – Purpose Driven, Stronger Together and a Trusted Voice – inform how we work with each other, the wider Rivers Trust Movement and our partners. We aim to create a culture that is collaborative, inclusive, evidence-led and open to fresh ideas, where people act with integrity, support one another, focus on practical solutions and demonstrate the tenacity and resilience needed to get things done.
Together, we work towards our shared vision of wild, healthy, natural rivers valued by all.
The Role
- Reports to: This role reports to the Deputy Director of Communications and is part of The Rivers Trust’s Communications & Advocacy team. It works closely with another Communications & Campaigns Officer, a Media and Events Lead, an Advocacy and Parliamentary Affairs Lead, and an Internal Communications Lead.
- Contract: Full Time (37.5 hours per week), 1 Year Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover)
- Salary: £33,312
- Location: Home-based (required to live and work in Mainland UK).
- Travel Requirement: As a remote-first organisation, The Rivers Trust enables colleagues to work primarily from home while staying connected through virtual collaboration and occasional in-person meetings. The Communications and Advocacy team meets in person quarterly, and you may be required to attend or support The Rivers Trust at several other events throughout the calendar year. You will need access to a suitable workspace and a secure, reliable internet connection to carry out the role effectively.
Role summary
The main purpose of this role is to help deliver The Rivers Trust’s external campaigns strategy – which requires regular communications outputs, and support The Rivers Trust’s key communication aims and objectives.
The role will play a vital part in supporting the delivery of creative and purpose-driven campaigns across digital channels that encourage citizen science participation, and drive water/nature-positive decision-making at the highest level, and help grow and mobilise The Rivers Trusts’ supporter base.
The role is a 1 Year Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover).
The main duties and responsibilities are:
- Support the development and delivery of high-impact campaigns across The Rivers Trusts’ key digital channels (social, website, email) that engage the public and wider key stakeholders – including, but not limited, to the Big River Watch, fundraising campaigns, Making Space for Water and Clean Water Now.
- Assist in the creation of regular educational and informative social media, podcast and newsletter content, and build an internal library of image and video content.
- Design and create high-quality digital and printed assets to support campaigns and events.
- Play a proactive role in sector-wide advocacy campaigns and supporting The Rivers Trusts’ advocacy aims.
- Identify and develop strong, productive relationships with key influencers and stakeholders (e.g. other charities)
- Support the effective convening of diverse stakeholders, coordinating logistics and undertaking administrative tasks and organising online meetings that are inclusive, well-organised and professional.
- Grow The Rivers Trust’s engaged community of supporters
- Social media community management.
- Work with the Internal Communications Lead to build relationships with the local Trusts in The Rivers Trust Movement engaging them with campaign outreach and story gathering
- Track and measure campaign impact through social media, web and media analytics producing evidence based reports and insights and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Additional Responsibilities:
- Support the development of The Rivers Trust’s annual Impact Report ensuring content is accurate, engaging and accessible to a range of audiences.
- Support the Events & Media team with promotion, design and delivery in events and media opportunities, and assist in creating clear, compelling and accurate media briefings.
- Maintain and update website content, ensuring information is accurate, up to date, inclusive, accessible and aligned with The Rivers Trust’s brand.
This role will also support wider organisational activities and cross-team collaboration as needed. As small charity and adaptable organisation, you may be asked to undertake other duties that are reasonably aligned with the purpose, level and responsibilities of the role.
Knowledge, skills, experience, and personal qualities
Essential
- Proven experience delivering or clearly contributing to successful campaigns (preferably in the environment sector)
- Proven ability to draw key messages from complicated situations or datasets, without losing important nuance
- Strong knowledge of social media platforms and skills identifying trends, and developing accurate and engaging content, and experience with social media scheduling software
- Experience with design and video editing software (such as Canva, Adobe Creative suite)
- Comfortable using digital marketing tools such as CRM databases, website CMS systems, Mailchimp and Google Analytics
- Excellent standard of written English and verbal communication skills
- Experience writing accessible copy for different audiences, including groups and communities currently under-represented within the water / environment sectors
- Good user skills across the MS Office suite
- Confidence working with a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including across NGOs and community groups
- Confidence developing and planning communications for complex and multisector partnerships.
- Excellent time management, delivering within deadlines under time pressure.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- A proven passion for the environment and awareness of current environmental issues
- An understanding of diversity and inclusion, and how it relates to the role
Desirable
- An understanding and awareness of river ecology, or current issues in the water sector
- Experience as part of political advocacy campaigns
- Experience in communicating scientific information for specialist and non-specialist audiences
- Experience with project management
- Full driving licence
Benefits
- 9% employer pension contribution (or local equivalent)
- 25 days annual leave (rising with service) plus statutory public holidays
- Flexible working hours and hybrid working
- Access to training and professional development
- Supportive and inclusive working culture
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through our site. We are unable to accept applications by email or other methods.
If you have questions not answered in the advert or Recruitment FAQ, please contact [email protected] (please do not use this email address to apply).
Closing date: 14th September 2026
Please apply early; we may close the vacancy once we have enough suitable candidates.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are particularly keen to improve the diversity of our Trust. As part of our commitment to positive action under the Equality Act 2010/ Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015, we strongly encourage applications from people from ethnically diverse and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
We are committed to making our recruitment process accessible to everyone. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know — we will be happy to support you.