Farm Advisor; Nature Solutions

Introduction

This position is part of a cross‑border project called Protecting Shared Waters, funded by the Peace Plus programme and managed by the Special EU Programme Body (SEUPB). The project aims to develop innovative and transferable solutions to degraded water quality and pressures on water quantity in freshwater environments, focusing on nature‑based solutions and community engagement.

Engage with landowners in the Strule River catchment (County Tyrone) to identify opportunities for, and oversee the installation of, nature‑based solutions to protect and improve water quality and deliver knowledge transfer events to raise awareness amongst the farming and wider community.

Reports to:

GIS Manager

Contract:

Fixed term to June 2028, with possible extension subject to future funding.

Salary: £29,000 – £32,000

Location:

Full‑time, home‑based with travel across the project catchments (River Strule, River Fane and wider Ireland/Austria).

As part of the Rivers Trust’s expansion across the island of Ireland, we are looking for a motivated and experienced Farm Advisor with a passion for nature‑ and water‑friendly farming. The role involves close collaboration with landowners, water companies, government, research institutions and the NGO sector across Northern Ireland, Ireland and Great Britain.

• Co‑design and implement on‑farm nature‑based solutions projects.
• Undertake non‑regulatory farm advice visits and identify runoff sources, pathways and receptors.
• Collaborate with landowners and farmers to identify opportunities to install nature‑based solutions, improve infrastructure and alter land management practices to reduce diffuse and point‑source agricultural pollution.
• Prepare farm plans detailing nature‑based solutions and changes in land management practices and communicate these to landowners/farmers.
• Negotiate with landowners and farmers to allow the installation of nature‑based solutions and changes in land management practices that improve water quality and quantity.
• Work with and oversee contractors to install selected nature‑based solution features and altered land management practices.
• Consult with partner organisations and government agencies to inform farm improvements.
• Provide practical advice on nature‑based solutions and water management on farms and follow up with multiple visits to drive behavioural change.
• Organise and deliver education, awareness and knowledge transfer events on demonstration farms to highlight nature‑based solutions in agricultural settings.
• Organise and deliver knowledge transfer events between communities in the Strule and Fane catchments, focusing on environment and community cohesion.
• Participate in monitoring the effectiveness of nature‑based solutions, supported by other project partners.
• Support the development and use of scorecards to monitor the effectiveness of interventions.
• Contribute to project evaluation, reviewing outcomes and reporting on deliverables and impacts.
• Provide support to colleagues, covering absences and sharing specialist knowledge.
• Adhere to all Rivers Trust policies, including Health & Safety, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, IT and GDPR.
• Foster a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative working culture.

• Knowledge of nature‑based solutions and their applied use to deliver water‑related ecosystem services, including water quality and quantity protection, wastewater treatment, flood, drought and climate adaptation and mitigation in agriculture.
• Knowledge of water management principles and practices, including hydrology, water quality and sustainable usage.
• Knowledge of agricultural systems, the agricultural calendar and farm infrastructure.
• Knowledge of environmental legislation relating to the farmed environment and agricultural land management.
• Knowledge of Northern Irish and Irish environmental policies, regulations and permitting processes relevant to nature‑based solutions.
• Knowledge of how GIS can be used to record and interrogate geospatial data.
• Experience in planning, executing and managing projects involving multiple stakeholders on…