Catchment Partnerships Manager

GenWater Ltd; Stowmarket; On-site; GBP 36,000; Full time

Job summary

An environmental organization in the UK is seeking a Catchment Partnerships Manager to lead strategic initiatives for improving river health and biodiversity in Essex and Suffolk. The role involves overseeing partnerships, developing catchment plans, and facilitating discussions to enhance community engagement and climate resilience. Applicants should possess leadership skills and experience in collaborative project work. This full-time position offers an initial term of 24 months with potential for extension.

Benefits

NEST pension scheme (6% Employer Contribution)

Flexible working options

25 days of holidays plus statutory holidays

Qualifications

• Dynamic and motivated leader with experience in partnership working and environmental projects.
• Proficient in developing action plans for climate resilience and community involvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of partnerships and coordinate integrated catchment planning.
• Ensure priorities translate into meaningful outcomes.
• Produce Catchment Plan for East Suffolk and support existing plans.
• Facilitate workshops and discussions to foster collaboration.
• Identify funding opportunities for future projects.

Job description

Overview

Term: 24-month initial term (with potential to extend subject to funding). Flexible start date.

Salary: £35,600 p.a

Pension: NEST pension scheme (6% Employer Contribution)

Hours: Full time (37.5 hours per week). This role can be offered part time for the right candidate.

Holidays: 25 days plus statutory holidays

Place of work: Office working (Stowmarket) with flexibility for some working at home and travel throughout the East Suffolk and Combined Essex catchment areas.

Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust (ESRT) is an independent environmental charity dedicated to improving and protecting rivers and estuaries across Essex and Suffolk. Working with communities, landowners, farmers, statutory bodies and businesses, we bring people, data and expertise together to restore nature, protect water, and build resilience for future generations.

We are proud members of the Rivers Trust movement and host two Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) partnerships: the East Suffolk Catchment Partnership and the Essex Rivers Hub.

About the role

We are seeking a dynamic and motivated leader to provide strategic direction and leadership across our catchment partnerships and wider partnerships the ESRT is involved with. The Catchments Partnerships Manager role is central to shaping and delivering collaborative action to improve river health, biodiversity, water quality, flood resilience and climate adaptation across Essex and Suffolk. You will be known throughout our partners, volunteers and wider communities as someone who champions change for our rivers, wetlands and coasts.

The role will be to lead the development of our partnerships, coordinate integrated catchment planning, and ensure priorities translate into meaningful on-the-ground outcomes. This includes producing a Catchment Plan for East Suffolk, supporting delivery of the existing Essex Rivers Hub Catchment Plan, and developing action plans across key focus areas such as climate resilience and community involvement.

The role involves extensive partnership working, facilitating workshops and discussions, developing cross-catchment collaboration, and identifying funding and investment opportunities to build a strong pipeline of future projects.

Full details of the role and responsibilities can be found in the applicant pack.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of partnerships and coordinate integrated catchment planning.
• Ensure priorities translate into meaningful on-the-ground outcomes.
• Produce a Catchment Plan for East Suffolk and support delivery of the Essex Rivers Hub Catchment Plan.
• Develop action plans across key focus areas such as climate resilience and community involvement.
• Facilitate workshops and discussions; foster cross-catchment collaboration.
• Identify funding and investment opportunities to build a strong pipeline of future projects.

How to Apply

If you're ready to be part of a dynamic team making a lasting impact on our local environment, submit your CV and a personal statement detailing your interest in and suitability for the position. The statement must be a maximum of two A4 pages; please send this with your CV to recruitment at essexsuffolkriverstrust.org (no hyperlink).

Initial interviews: Likely to be held in the w/c 9th March 2026 with an in-person interview the w/c 16th March 2026 at our office in Stowmarket.

Questions: If you have any questions about the Catchment Partnerships Manager role, please contact recruitment at essexsuffolkriverstrust.org.

Find out more and download the Applicant Pack

Closing Date: 11PM Sunday 8th March 2026