Chief Executive Officer

Eden Rivers Trust; Penrith; On-site; GBP 70,000 - GBP 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A conservation charity in Penrith is seeking a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the organization in enhancing and protecting the river environment. The successful candidate will have proven leadership skills and experience in the environmental conservation sector. They will be responsible for strategic planning, business development, and fostering partnerships to address environmental challenges in the Eden area. If you are passionate about environmental conservation and leadership, consider joining us.

Qualifications

• Proven senior leadership skills in the environmental conservation sector.
• Experience in strategic organisational planning and business development.
• Strong communication and resource management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the charity in enhancing and protecting the river environment.
• Promote integrated catchment management in Eden and Cumbria.
• Work with multiple partners to tackle environmental issues.

Job description

We are seeking a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the charity; sustaining and growing our work to enhance and protect the river environment so that people and wildlife can thrive.

Posted on

22/01/2026

Closing Date

15/03/2026

Contract

Location

Penrith, Cumbria

About you

The successful candidate will have proven senior leadership skills and strong experience in the environmental conservation sector. They will be able to demonstrate experience and achievement across the core elements of a CEO role: strategic organisational planning, business development, operational delivery, people management and development, communication and management of resources.

If this sounds like a good fit for you, please consider joining us to lead our work in Rethinking Eden’s Rivers for Good.

About us

Eden Rivers Trust (ERT) is the Cumbrian conservation charity standing up for Eden’s rivers, enhancing and protecting the river environment so that people and wildlife can thrive. Since 1996, we have created and protected havens for wildlife, ensured that our precious fresh water is clean and safe for everyone, and spread the word about healthy, natural rivers far and wide.

Through the combination of our team’s expertise in working with nature and natural processes, the passion of our volunteers, and our partnership work, together we are finding better ways to help Eden’s rivers thrive – for wildlife, for people, and for generations to come.

About the role

This role represents an exciting opportunity to build on Eden Rivers Trust’s success and take the Trust forward at a time when rivers and water are high in the public consciousness and firmly on the Government’s agenda. Change is expected across the water sector, and Eden Rivers Trust wants to be part of delivering that change – working positively and practically from the ground up.

We have opportunities to make a significant impact in tackling many environmental issues around water in the Eden and Cumbria; promoting the concept of integrated catchment management through delivering our strategic plan and the Eden Catchment Plan , both of which contribute to the Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy , the Government’s Environment Improvement Plan and Plan for Water .

We will do this working with a multitude of partners, including our sister Rivers Trusts in Cumbria and across the North West.

For more information and details of how to apply, please read the Recruitment pack.

• A covering letter outlining your motivation for applying for the post as CEO, and
• Your CV.

Deadline for applications: Midnight, Sunday, 15 March 2026
First interviews for this post will take place either week beginning Monday, 23 March or 30 March 2026 and will be a mixture of online and in-person interviews.