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 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.
About You
We are looking for someone who is confident working with people, can think strategically, and is motivated to deliver practical environmental outcomes. You will likely bring:
* Experience of partnership working or stakeholder coordination
* Strong communication and facilitation skills
* Ability to manage competing priorities and work independently
* Experience contributing to projects, programmes or plans
* An interest in environmental issues such as rivers, water management or climate resilience
If you have the skills and potential to grow into the role, we’d love to hear from you, even if you don’t meet every requirement.
Full details of the role and responsibilities can be found in the applicant pack.
How to Apply: Please submit your CV and a supporting statement (maximum two pages or equivalent) outlining:
* Your experience of partnership working or stakeholder engagement
* Your experience contributing to projects or plans
* Why you are interested in this role
To apply, please click the ‘Visit website’ button.
Closing date: 11pm, Sunday 19th April 2026.
Telephone interviews: w/c 27th April 2026.
In-person interviews: w/c 4th May 2026 (Stowmarket).
If you have any questions about the Partnerships Manager role, please contact recruitment@essexsuffolkriverstrust.org
Find out more and download the Applicant Pack