Lead projects, partnerships & plans to restore rivers and inspire communities. Make a real impact on river health!
The Senior Catchment Officer role is at the heart of what we do at the South East Rivers Trust (SERT). You’ll lead collaborative, evidence-based action to improve river health, bringing together communities and stakeholders to tackle catchment challenges and deliver nature-based solutions.
Working predominantly on the River Stour in Kent, this role combines project leadership, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. You’ll:
- Develop and deliver river restoration, pollution prevention, natural flood management, and citizen science projects.
- Host and coordinate Catchment Partnerships, ensuring inclusive, effective collaboration.
- Lead the development of a Catchment Plan for the Stour, shaping priorities for the next five years and linking with strategic decision-making and funding.
- Secure funding, build project pipelines, and mentor junior colleagues.
About you
- Confident communicator and relationship-builder
- Strong understanding of river catchment management, ecology, hydrology, or environmental science.
- Proven experience in project development and delivery, ideally nature-based solutions or citizen science.
- Skilled in stakeholder engagement and facilitation, from public meetings to strategic discussions.
- Confident in collecting, analysing, and using environmental data.
- Track record in fundraising and managing successful environmental projects.
- Experience mentoring or supervising staff or volunteers.
Why join us?
At SERT, we’re passionate about restoring rivers and inspiring communities. Working here is rewarding, collaborative, and impactful. If you thrive on challenge and want to make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you.
Interested? Apply now and help us create a healthier, more resilient catchment, see the full job description for more information.
Application process
- Closing date for applications: Sunday 18th January 2026 at 11:59pm.
- Interviews: w/c Monday 29th January 2026
We help rivers thrive again for communities and nature.


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Contract:Permanent, 18.75 hours per week
Salary: £11,996 - £13,857 per annum (£23,993 - £27,715 FTE per annum)
Location: Southampton SO30 2HL
Closing date: Monday 12th January 2026
Interview date: Thursday 22nd January 2026
We’re recruiting a Volunteer Coordinator for our Rehoming & Fostering Team in Southampton!
As Volunteer Coordinator, you’ll recruit, support, and inspire volunteers to enhance rehoming and fostering services, while promoting Blue Cross in the community and driving local volunteering initiatives and fundraising. You’ll be joining a team who strives to be the best versions of themselves, so that they can do their best for the pets who need our help.
More about the role
At our Southampton rehoming centre, we provide onsite accommodation for pets in our care 24/7.
The centre has facilities to care for dogs and cats, as well as a specialised area for kittens.
Our Volunteer Coordinators recruit and support our amazing volunteers in the local area, promote the benefits of volunteering and raise the awareness of our centre and Blue Cross.
As a Volunteer Coordinator you will be responsible for recruiting and supporting a diverse team of volunteers. Working closely with the Centre Manager and Assistant Managers, you will ensure our volunteers who undertake a diverse range of roles, are fully integrated into the team, ensuring the team welcome and collaborate with these wonderful people.
In addition to this, you will be building relationships with local communities and partners, promoting the benefits of volunteering to provide more targeted support.
This role works on a 2-week rota. Week one is Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, week two is Tuesday and Thursday. There may be some flexibility around working days, along some ad hoc weekend working.
At our Southampton rehoming centre, we provide onsite accommodation for pets in our care 24/7. Overnight shifts are usually undertaken by team members who live on site. Occasionally you will be expected to carry out night checks when the resident team members are either not working or away for a period of time.
If you excel in an environment where you can see the difference you make every day, then this is the role for you. Interested? Then apply and let’s work together to see if this is the role for you.
About you
You will be an excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to actively promote to a range of external stakeholders the work of Blue Cross and the benefits of volunteering. You will be a self-motivated individual with a focused, creative, and forward-thinking approach to volunteering and will enjoy the opportunity to be involved in a range of local volunteering events and national initiatives.
With the ability to work collaboratively and effectively with people at all levels, you will have a passion for ensuring that volunteers have the right opportunities to thrive in their roles.
You will be organised, flexible and analytical in the way you work, and you will enjoy working to targets and managing a diverse team of volunteers. With an approachable and supportive manner, you will be able to offer guidance and advice and will have the confidence to deal with volunteer situations should they arise and be able to offer pragmatic solutions.
You will know what it is like to work in an emotionally charged environment and have excellent ‘bounce back ability’ and resilience. In addition, you will be emotionally intelligent, showing empathy and knowing how to support volunteers and your colleagues.
Knowledge, skills, and experience
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Demonstrable experience of supervision or management of volunteers or colleagues.
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Working with and relationship building with a range of stakeholders.
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High standards of verbal and written communication.
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Previous experience in working in a client focused environment where delivering a high level of customer satisfaction is the norm.
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Strong organisational, administration and analytical skills, including use of computerised systems.
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An awareness of health and safety legislation.
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Current full driving licence.
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Ability to demonstrate, understanding and apply our Blue Cross values
It would also be great (but not essential) if you had:
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Qualifications in managing volunteers or similar.
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Training or coaching skills.
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Presentation skills.
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Working with animals, and knowledge of animal welfare.
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Organising events.
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Understanding of safeguarding issues.
Want to know more detail? Great! We have attached the job description which hopefully gives you everything you need.
How to apply
Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date on Monday 12th January 2026.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.
Blue Cross benefits
Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.
In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.
Our generous benefits package includes:
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Enhanced annual leave entitlement: 30 days plus bank holidays
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Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
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Health cash plan
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Life assurance
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Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme
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Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
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Free access to GP via MetLife
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Recognition scheme Annual volunteer days
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Claim for professional fees
To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the 'why work for us' page on our website.
We believe in a world where all pets enjoy a healthy and happy life with people who love them



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?
Brain Tumour Research is seeking an experienced and game changing Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships.
Do you have the experience, drive and determination to thrive in this role?
Job Purpose:
To lead delivery of our fundraising in five key income lines: Trusts & Foundations, Corporate Partnerships, Legacies, Other Charities, and Lottery; oversee our Special Events programme and assist the Director of Income Generation and Development with our Major Donor programme.
You’ll enjoy being part of and contributing to a busy, experienced, fast-working, and dedicated team while working cross-functionally with other departments such as PR, marketing and Research, Policy and Innovation.
Brain Tumour Research is an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity. We are passionate about finding a cure for brain tumours through the establishment of dedicated Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence around the UK.
Key Requirements:
- Proven experience and success in securing, managing, and growing high value fundraising income, including corporate partnerships, trusts & foundations, legacies and major donors.
- Demonstratable strong strategic planning skills and the ability to develop and implement long-term strategies to achieve fundraising targets and enhance the charity's mission
- Proven leadership and people management skills, with experience in overseeing multi-disciplinary teams. Essential experience includes team leadership, staff motivation, setting clear objectives, and fostering a collaborative work environment.
- Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management abilities.
- Track record of developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies.
- Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels and an excellent standard of written English.
- Analysis of data and trends to inform fundraising strategies and success measurement is an important aspect of the role. This includes using CRM systems and other fundraising tools
If you are looking for a fulfilling and impactful role and have the level of experience and skill we are looking for, we welcome your application.
We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.
The closing date for applications is: 18th January 2026
We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process. Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.
We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.
To find a cure for all types of brain tumours To increase the UK investment in brain tumour research
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.