Trust Administrator
| Title | Trust Administrator |
| Salary: | £28k – £32k (depending on experience) + Pension |
| Contract: | Permanent (3 months probationary period) |
| Hours: | Full-time (37.5-hour week) with some flexibility preferred. Part time applications also considered |
| Location: | Bristol office, plus scope for homeworking. |
| Responsible to: | Chief Executive |
| Closing date: | Applications by midnight Friday 9th May 2025 |
About Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART)
Founded in 2012, the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) is a charity dedicated to restoring and protecting the rivers of the Bristol Avon. Guided by an evidence-based, ecosystem-wide approach, we focus on the health of the entire catchment, not just the rivers themselves.
BART began as a grassroots effort driven by a shared passion for waterways. Today, with approximately 20 employees and an annual turnover of £1 million, we manage multi-year projects funded by diverse supporters to preserve and enhance the Bristol Avon catchment.
We work with landowners, communities, businesses, farmers, water companies, councils and government agencies to protect and rejuvenate rivers, lakes, and estuaries, delivering benefits for wildlife, local economies, and people. Our efforts help reduce costs for farmers and water companies and enhance public health while addressing the climate and ecological crises.
The post holder will join a growing, ambitious team delivering multi-benefit projects to protect and improve the Bristol Avon catchment, and the Trust Administrator will play a key role in supporting the smooth delivery of the Trust’s operations.
Job summary and purpose
The Trust Administrator is responsible for maintaining the core administrative functions of the Trust to ensure the smooth operation of the charity, enabling its mission to ensure healthy rivers for wildlife and people.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the Trust Administrator will work with a range of internal and external contacts to ensure routine business functions, human and physical resources, supporter and governance liaison are working well. The role will involve working closely with the Chief Executive, but also with other members of the team, Trustees, supporters and suppliers.
The role will require exceptional organisational skills, excellent interpersonal skills, an attention to detail, and working flexibly in an agile environment. Experience of organisational administration in the public, private or charity sector, and experience of HR, meetings administration and IT are essential while purchasing and negotiating with suppliers is desirable. A helpful and positive attitude is needed, as is a willingness to embrace flexible ways of working. Adherence to certain policies and procedures is essential, including requirements such as data confidentiality and upholding a culture of professionalism.
Whilst the role is predominantly aimed at internal support, including for Trustees and supporters, external liaison will be required with suppliers, funders, partners, and the public.
Duties and responsibilities
| A | Organisational administration | |
| 1 | Take ownership of core business administrative functions including the office space, monitoring and maintaining resources, monitoring inboxes. | |
| 2 | Liaison and negotiation with, and purchasing from, suppliers and providers spanning IT, resources, insurance etc. | |
| 3 | Assist in the upholding of key policies and procedures e.g. security and safety checks. | |
| 4 | Coordinate routine governance procedures including organising and minuting meetings, filing returns, and communicating with Trustees. | |
| 5 | Coordinate routine HR procedures including recruitment and managing confidential records, including those of staff, supporters and volunteers. | |
| 6 | Coordinate external IT support; undertaking routine IT administration. | |
| 7 | Liaison with finance staff to facilitate the maintenance of timely and accurate financial records, including assistance with project claims where required. | |
| 8 | Executive assistance including diary management, event and meetings organisation. | |
| B | Contributing to the work of the BART in general | |
| 1 | Contribute to delivering the Trust’s objectives | |
| 2 | Help maintain and enhance the Trust’s reputation through external contacts | |
| 3 | Undertake other duties that may be appropriate to the position | |
Person specification
| C | Qualifications and required knowledge | Essential | Desirable | |
| 1 | Educated to a degree level in a relevant field or equivalent professional experience in a relevant sector | X | ||
| 2 | Knowledge of relevant administrative processes and procedures | X | ||
| 3 | Understanding of managing contacts in a confidential manner | X | ||
| 4 | Understanding of charity governance | X | ||
| 5 | Understanding of the environmental / freshwater sector | X | ||
| D | Experience | Essential | Desirable | |
| 1 | Demonstrable experience of organisational administration in a team context | X | ||
| 2 | Setting-up and maintaining efficient administrative systems | X | ||
| 3 | Use of (essential) and routine administration of (desirable) office software applications e.g. MS 365 | X | X | |
| 4 | Experience of managing external contacts | X | ||
| 5 | Working alone and as part of a team | X | ||
| E | Skills & Competencies | Essential | Desirable | |
| 1 | Highly organised and comfortable with agile working | X | ||
| 2 | Clear and correct plain English writing ability | X | ||
| 3 | Excellent telephone answering and calling skills, with a wide range of audiences, including suppliers, stakeholders, and the public. | X | ||
| 4 | Excellent IT skills, including use of Office 365 | X | ||
| 5 | Excellent interpersonal and communication skills | X | ||
| 6 | Excellent time and task management | X | ||
| 7 | Ability to negotiate and secure best value from suppliers | X | ||
| F | Personal Attributes | Essential | Desirable | |
| 1 | Diligent and organised with an attention to detail | X | ||
| 2 | Strong interpersonal skills and assertiveness | X | ||
| 3 | Pro-active and innovative | X | ||
| 4 | Open, transparent and flexible | X | ||
| 5 | Commitment to a healthy freshwater environment | X | ||
| 6 | Being able to maintain excellent client relationships | X | ||
| 7 | Commitment to upholding professionalism | X | ||
Miscellaneous
The post is likely to involve occasional travel throughout the Bristol Avon (Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath & Northeast Somerset, Wiltshire, North Somerset) therefore a full UK driving licence and use of own vehicle is required. Mileage expenses will be paid at 45p per mile as set out in HMRC’s Approved Mileage Allowance Payment. Some evening and weekend work may be required. We will also require the successful applicant to undergo a DBS check and provide satisfactory references.
How to apply
Interested parties should submit a CV and a one page covering letter explaining why you would perform well in this role and what you could bring to BART. These should be sent to: simon@bristolavonriverstrust.org
Interviews for this post will take place in Bristol, date TBC.
Please note, due to limited resources you will only be contacted should you be successful in gaining an interview. We would like to thank you for your interest in this position.
Thank you for your interest in applying for a role with the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust.
Project Manager – Natural Flood Management & Nature Based Solutions
Location: Hybrid – home-based with regular travel across the Bristol Avon catchment
Salary: £34,000–£38,000 depending on experience Plus 9% pension contribution & Life Assurance Scheme
Contract Type: Full time, permanent (subject to funding)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Reporting to: Head of River Recovery
Line Management: Project Officer(s) and Project Assistant(s)
Travel: A full UK driving licence and access to a car is essential. Mileage expenses paid at 45p/mile.
Start date: As soon as possible
About the Role
We’re looking for an experienced, motivated and technically skilled Project Manager – Natural Flood Management (NFM) & Nature Based Solutions (NBS) to lead on the design and delivery of an exciting portfolio of river and wetland restoration projects, with a particular focus on NFM and (NbS across the Bristol Avon catchment. You’ll manage a diverse mix of projects — from installation of leaky dams, agricultural ponds and SuDS to wetland creation and soil health initiatives — ensuring they are delivered to a high standard, on time, and within budget. This role is hands-on: you’ll be managing project officers, liaising with contractors, working directly with landowners, and securing consents and permits. You’ll be equally at home in a muddy field as you are writing funding bids or presenting at stakeholder meetings.
As BART’s technical lead for NFM, you’ll champion a catchment-based approach, using evidence and modelling to guide interventions and help secure long-term funding. You’ll work with our Head of River Recovery, the Project Manager – River Restoration and CEO to grow our pipeline of impactful NFM & NBS projects and to embed nature-based solutions across our programmes. As a key role with BART Team, you will also be working closely with our Land Management and Engagement Teams.
A key part of this role includes overseeing BART’s portfolio of NFM work on the Bristol Frome working with partners via the Resilient Frome project which has received over £6 million from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to develop six projects that will deliver sustainable solutions to land and water management, improve flood resilience, respond to climate change and bring a range of benefits to communities covering the whole River Frome catchment.
Key Responsibilities
- Project Development & Delivery
- Lead on the design and implementation of NFM, wetlands, SuDS, and wider catchment restoration projects.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with landowners, farmers, contractors, and key stakeholders.
- Oversee all aspects of project delivery — from feasibility assessments to design, procurement, delivery and evaluation.
- Use your technical knowledge to develop practical and innovative interventions such as leaky dams, wetland scrapes, floodplain reconnection, tree planting, and swales.
- Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and CDM responsibilities.
- Team & Contractor Management
- Line manage Project Officers and Assistants, supporting them to grow their skills and deliver their projects effectively.
- Manage contractors on site, ensuring high-quality and safe delivery of works.
- Coordinate training and knowledge-sharing sessions for staff and volunteers.
- Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
- Track budgets, delivery schedules, and project milestones.
- Undertake and/or oversee monitoring of installed NFM measures and restoration outcomes.
- Maintain accurate project records and provide updates to funders, trustees, and senior staff.
- Partnerships, Outreach & Engagement
- Promote best practice land management and flood resilience through events, workshops, and community engagement.
- Represent BART at forums, workshops, and strategic catchment partnerships.
- Help raise the profile of our work through blogs, social media, and press content.
- Fundraising & Strategy
- Identify new funding opportunities and contribute to successful bids and tenders.
- Work with the senior team to grow the Catchment Restoration programme in line with BART’s strategy.
- Champion integrated and multi-benefit approaches to river restoration and catchment management.
Person Specification
| Criteria | Essential / Desirable |
| A degree or equivalent experience in a relevant environmental discipline | Essential |
| Proven experience delivering practical environmental or river restoration projects | Essential |
| Experience working with contractors, landowners and multiple stakeholders | Essential |
| Strong understanding of river ecosystems, hydrology and Working with Natural Processes | Essential |
| Good understanding of agriculture and soil health principles | Essential |
| Experience line managing staff or leading project teams | Desirable |
| Strong project management skills, including budget and time tracking | Essential |
| Ability to write funding bids and secure grants/contracts | Desirable |
| Experience with GIS and data analysis for catchment modelling | Essential |
| Excellent communication and interpersonal skills | Essential |
| Competence in using Microsoft Office software | Essential |
| Experience using social media and websites for engagement | Desirable |
| Enthusiastic, self-motivated and highly organised | Essential |
| Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends | Essential |
| Full driving licence and access to a vehicle | Essential |
Why Join BART?
We are a passionate and growing rivers trust, driven by a vision for healthy, resilient rivers and communities. You’ll join a supportive and collaborative team working on projects that genuinely make a difference. We’re committed to staff development and wellbeing, and we offer flexible working and opportunities to shape your role.
How to Apply
Please send a CV and covering letter (max 2 pages) explaining why you’re the right person for this role to nickz@bristolavonriverstrust.org
Deadline: Midnight Sunday 25th May 2025
Interviews: w/c 2nd June 2025 (TBC)
Please note, due to limited resources you will only be contacted should you be successful in gaining an interview. We would like to thank you for your interest in this position.
Thank you for your interest in applying for a role with the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust.