This job advertisement is for a Restoration & Information Adviser position at the River Restoration Centre, which provides advice and support for river restoration projects in the UK. The main responsibilities of the role include providing technical advice to clients, updating databases of river projects, coordinating conferences and workshops, and disseminating information on river restoration best practices. Qualifications desired include a degree in a relevant field plus knowledge of river processes, UK water policy, GIS software, and technical writing skills.

1. RRC Restoration & Information Adviser
Advert
River Restoration Centre - School of Applied Sciences
Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire
Restoration & Information Adviser
37 hours per week
Starting salary: £22,128 to £23,362 per annum (1 year contract,
renewed annually)
The River Restoration Centre is the UK information and advice centre for river
restoration, providing support for all aspects of river restoration and habitat
improvement.
RRC is a registered not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. The Centre is based at
Cranfield University and housed within the Cranfield Water Sciences Institute.
Main responsibilities will include: project-specific advisory work; site visits to assess
river restoration works; compilation of technical case studies; updating the RRC UK
project inventory and the EU-wide WIKI database; coordinating the programme of
speakers for the annual conference and assisting with site visits, training and
presentations; responsible for planning, co-ordination & delivery of twice yearly RRC
newsletter.
You will be educated to degree level in an appropriate technical or scientific subject
with relevant experience. You will have: knowledge and understanding of river
restoration processes to provide advice and guidance of a technical nature; knowledge
of the EU and UK water management policy ; knowledge of GIS packages; good
command of technical written English and report writing style.
After reviewing the information below you will need to apply on-line using the Cranfield
University application process. For an informal discussion please contact Martin Janes
on 01234 752979.
Closing date for receipt of applications is 9th December 2012
You must be available for interview at the RRC offices on Friday 14th December 2012.

2. Job Description
Job Title Restoration & Information Adviser
School/Dept SAS/ES&T/CWSI/River Restoration Centre
Proposed Level L4
WORKING CONTEXT
The River Restoration Centre (RRC)
RRC is the UK information and advice centre for river restoration, providing support
for all aspects of river restoration and habitat improvement. RRC is a registered not-
for-profit company limited by guarantee. The Centre is based at Cranfield University
and housed within the Cranfield Water Sciences Institute. RRC funds its activities by
core funded service level agreements with government agencies as well as providing
case specific advisory work in support of reach based schemes and catchment-scale
initiatives.
ORGANISATIONAL CHART
Reporting Bodies
River Restoration Centre Cranfield Water Sciences
Board of Directors Institute
Expert Advisers
brought in as required
L7 Managing
Director
L6 Science and
Technical Manager
Science and
Technical Team
L6 Team Leader
(new post, TBA) Support Team
L4 Centre
Administrator
L5 Nene River L5 Senior L4 Accounts
Restoration Restoration Technician
Adviser Adviser L4 Restoration L3 Restoration
& Information Communication L2
Adviser Adviser Administrative
Assistant
JOB PURPOSE
To support a range of site or river advisory visits. The role requires understanding of
technical knowledge gained through experience and/or training to then help produce
technically detailed notes and reports to inform stakeholders of a range of options for

3. best practice management and restoration work. Report content will be guided by
more senior RRC staff.
The role encompasses the collection and dissemination of technical data/information
on aspects of UK-wide river restoration and best practice river management. The
work involves guidance and general instructions from more senior colleagues in
addressing and resolving problems.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Main Responsibilities % time
spent
1. Technical Work 45%
Support RRC staff and external advisers to deliver specialist
technical advice and reports on river restoration to a range of UK
statutory agencies, practitioners and NGO’s.
 Support the provision of specialist advice using a range of
methods including: site visit reports, desk based studies and
analysis, one to one discussions.
 Research, collate, organise and edit material for inclusion in
reports/documents.
 Provide quality, appropriate and timely response to technical
enquiries from members and other ‘customers’.
 Collect and assess feedback from customers to inform
decisions, suggest changes in operation and report on
successes.
This work area both draws on, and provides, information to the
RRC Projects Inventory/WIKI (below).
2. Projects Inventory/River WIKI 20%
 Accountable for new data entries and updates within the
RRC’s UK project inventory and the EU-wide River WIKI
database.
 Production of regular analysis reports to funders and to
support internal decision making.
 Perform analysis and manipulation of data, highlighting and
prioritising trends, new river restoration techniques and
successes.
 Set up and maintain external contacts for the regular/annual
reporting of projects planned and delivered.
3. Information 15%
Co-ordinate and maintain the existing RRC information resource
and disseminate information/report findings appropriately to
ensure awareness of key developments via:
 production of written case studies;
 the RRC monthly bulletins;
 RRC website content;
 RRC-organised guided site visits;

4.  the RRC reference library and display material.
Responsible for planning, co-ordination, sourcing external
content and delivery of the twice-yearly RRC newsletter.
4. Events 15%
‘Flagship’ RRC annual conference.
 Guided by the Science and Technical Manager, responsible
for abstract collation, draft programme, book of abstracts,
main point of contact for speakers, collecting presentations
in advance.
 Publication of presentations on the RRC website post-event.
 Support other areas of planning and conference delivery.
Support the programming and technical delivery of RRC
training courses, workshops, field visits and other events.
5. Technical Support 5%
Provide a range of basic GIS mapping, photo plotting,
information sourcing and related technical support to other RRC
advisory staff work.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
Educated to degree level in an appropriate technical or scientific subject, with relevant
work experience.
Plus:
 Knowledge and understanding of river restoration and river processes to support
provision of first line advice and guidance of a technical nature.
 Knowledge of the EU and UK ‘water management’ policy context and the role
and activities of key statutory agencies.
 Experience of working/responding independently and flexibly dealing with
unforeseen problems and circumstances.
 Proven excellent written and verbal communication and organisational skills.
 Thorough working knowledge of Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel,
Powerpoint to an intermediate level) plus databases and GIS packages.
 Ability to plan and work under own initiative and coordinate well with others.
 Methodical with attention to detail.
 Proven ability to work as part of a small busy team.
 Proactive/resourceful.
 Receptive to new ideas and approaches.
 Full driving licence.
PLANNING AND ORGANISING

5. The post holder will be guided by senior staff when organising and planning their
work activities, to contribute to the work of the RRC. Work will generally be
delegated by a manager on an activity, task or monthly basis.
The post requires the ability to work on multiple tasks against specific task budgets,
with flexibility to re-prioritise. For example, three individual projects co-ordinating
the time of two additional external advisers.
The post holder will be expected to both undertake and support specific projects
(reactive) as well as planning and organising on-going activities such as web updating
(weekly), site visits (2-4 months), and events (up to 12 months). For example the
RRC conference arrangements cover the entire year and require flexibility and
forward planning from early calls for abstracts (Sept), chasing and compilation of
programme (Dec), presentations and the event (March/April) to papers and
proceedings (April to August), all to an senior management agreed timetable.
There is discretion to determine short term priorities within the overall agreed
structure/milestones of planed activities.
COMMUNICATING AND INFLUENCING
Communication is integral to this role and needs to be developed across a wide range
of audiences.
The post requires good liaison, communication and relationship building with RRC
staff as well as external bodies (e.g. UK environment agencies, consultants,
contractors, NGO’s, research groups and universities etc. who are involved with
watercourse management), to support activities and represent RRC.
RRC’s advice is seen as ‘the best available’ and held in high regard, therefore with
major reputational implications for poor performance and poor presentation.
The post holder will attend meetings as requested by manager, to support RRC
activities.
Information and advice provided to ‘customers’ will help influence ideas and work
towards tangible outcomes. Outputs need to be delivered to ensure that information
and findings are in an appropriate form for the end-user.
The post holder will contribute to the overall Centre development and management
ideas through supporting senior RRC staff and as part of this small integrated team.
They will offer input into the resource planning process at weekly meetings and in
project teams to ensure that the team’s time resource is appropriately and efficiently
managed.
PROBLEM SOLVING
Many tasks require initiative where answers are not straight forward, or common, or
are new. Generally, answers are not available and solutions will need to be developed
by the post holder in discussion with senior staff/managers/external experts.

6. Some complex issues will require initial guidance and follow-up manager support
(e.g. multiple stakeholder views incorporated into a single report on technical river
management solutions after a single day site visit).
The post holder will resolve a range of issues/queries independently, provide advice
on routine technical matters (at peer level) and recommend specifically targeted
contacts/sources of information if RRC is unable to assist. For example, use of a
specific method for flow diversity in a Scottish gravel bed river; which UK
contractors have recently undertaken work in sensitive floodplain environments where
the outcome was deemed successful. They will exercise initiative and judgement to
ensure that efficient, day to day customer service is delivered.
The role will filter some issues/technical queries directed at senior staff/managers.
For example, technical enquiries aimed at a manager that can easily be dealt with to
provide immediate support and advice for problem resolution.
DECISION MAKING
I) You take without reference to others.
 Sequencing and prioritisation within an overall specification.
 Deploy assigned time resources towards defined objectives to ensure efficient
delivery.
 Delivery of technical information to enquirers and routing other enquiries to
more experienced staff.
 Changes to increase efficiency without significant resource implications.
II) You refer to your manager/a colleague
 Allocation of time between multiple tasks within the pre-agreed
targets/deadlines.
 Timing and delivery of major tasks - agree in advance/set by other senior team
members/projects manager.
 Conference draft programme of speakers presented for discussion and
approval.
 Suggested re-direction of time to alternative tasks where this would be of
benefit to the organisation. These elements would be well thought out
suggestions/solutions for discussion or agreement.
 Which events to attend to represent RRC, whether to take on new work, sign
off of detailed technical reports.
GUIDING FRAMEWORK
Work needs to be carried out with full understanding of the relevant internal
(Cranfield and RRC) working practices.
 Cranfield policies and procedures
 RRC working practices
 Risk assessments for site visits
 Reporting formats for advisory work

7.  Project work delivered within deadlines and to agreed standards
The post holder will be expected to maintain and improve operational efficiency and
quality of service of own area via input to procedures and improvements.
IMPACT
 The post holder’s ability to support accurate, well thought out and written advice
to a wide range of stakeholders (government agencies to angling clubs) is critical
to maintaining RRC’s excellent UK-wide reputation and success.
 The reporting and information provided to external bodies often informs the
decision making and technical design of significant capital expenditure works.
 Poor information provision and advice could lose new/existing members, reduce
the customer base and have a negative impact on the reputation of the centre (50%
of turnover is via advisory work).
 Customer focus: On site, email and phone advice for external organisations and
private landowners is the ‘face’ of the organisation. Enquirers will judge the
Centre by the positive and helpful response they receive.
 Poor relationship development or inaccurate reporting could jeopardise core
funding agreements and long term viability of RRC.
 Poor planning and delivery of events, e.g. the ‘appeal’ of the RRC annual
conference abstract selection and draft programme, could compromise a £50,000
turnover, jeopardise its future, detriment the Centre’s reputation.
 The RRC information resource, its quality and its dissemination informs a wide
audience of policy makers, basin managers and practitioners.
FACTS & FIGURES
5-10 advisory projects supported (depending on size and scope of work required
(from 5 days to 20 days)). No direct financial responsibility, but responsible for
delivery (own contribution and others) within pre-defined budgets (time and
expenses) for each project (project values of between £5,000 and £20,000)
4-8 technical enquiries received each week needing simple to complex responses.
2 Technical site visits hosted with 15-20 attendees and a guest speaker/guide.
10 post-project sites visited and case studies collated and written up.
2 training courses/events supported.
30-50 abstracts for the annual conference sifted and collated (200+ attendee event).
100+ new NRRI/River WIKI project entries
2000+ readership for the RRC Newsletter

8. OTHER INFORMATION
RRC at Cranfield University
The River Restoration Centre is a not for profit company limited by guarantee, and is
based within the University. It operates as an independent Centre of Excellence, the
only UK provider of dedicated river restoration expertise. RRC staff are employed
specifically to run the Centre. All funding for the Centre and staff is from externally
funded work.
The post is full time.
Work patterns
Full time 37hrs per week.
Fixed term contract: Annual, renewable.
Location: RRC office, Cranfield.
Travel to meetings and site visits required.
Person Specification
CRITERIA Essential Desirable
Education/ Educated to degree level in an Educated to Master’s
Qualifications appropriate technical or scientific degree level in an
subject, with relevant work appropriate technical or
experience scientific subject with
relevant experience.
OR
Educated to degree level in
an appropriate technical or
scientific subject, with
broad technical
experience, acquired
through on-the-job
learning and application.
Experience Knowledge & understanding of river
restoration & river processes to
provide front line advice & guidance
of a technical nature.

9. Knowledge Knowledge of the EU & UK “water Understanding of the role
management” policy context. & responsibilities of the
key UK statutory agencies.
Thorough working knowledge of
Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel Use of database packages
& Powerpoint) to an intermediate (MS Access, Filemaker)
level.
Working knowledge of GIS
packages (e.g. ArcGIS)
Skills/Aptitudes Proven excellent organisation, verbal Information management.
and written communication skills.
Collation and analysis of
Good command of technical written information for
English and report writing style. dissemination
Methodical with good attention to
detail.
Experience of working/responding
independently and flexibly dealing
with unforeseen problems and
circumstances.
Full driving licence and own car.
Personal Qualities Ability to deliver under own Receptive to new ideas
initiative and when teamed with and approaches
others.
Proactive / resourceful.
Able to work as part of a small busy
team.