Head Riverkeeper, Leckford

About the roleThe role is managing the riverkeeping team at Leckford.
The team are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the 16 river beats and two lakes operated by the John Lewis Partnership as well as rearing fish to stock our river beats and lakes and selling to other local fisheries to provide additional income.
The river keeping team also have a customer service responsibility, ensuring the needs of the customers are met to secure the on-going profitability of the department and its positive financial contribution to the partnership.
Given the team is small, this is a ‘hands on’ management role.

• Salary - £28,700 - £45,200 with on-site accommodation provided

• Contract type - This position is a Permanent contract

• Location - This is an on-site role based at The Leckford Estate, Stockbridge, Hampshire. Some office time will be required; typically this would be from home and timing to work around river keeping responsibilities. Some weekend work will be required 

Key responsibilities

To ensure the profitability of the Fishing Department through the provision of consistently high-quality fishing and stockfish following management and farming guidelines. 

Manage a safe and effective vermin control policy. Demonstrate excellence throughout the business. This is a demanding job in a diverse department with a small workforce. 

The primary responsibility is to provide quality fishing by maintaining the 16 Estate beats of the River Test and two still water fisheries and supplying Trout to stock them. 

The fish farming and fish sales side of the business requires knowledge of rearing Trout ( Brown and Rainbow) to a high standard, from hatchery to on-growing and delivery to customers. 

The work can be physically demanding and the job often requires early starts and late finishes. Compliance with Fish Farming regulations is crucial and up-to-date knowledge of changes to policy needs to be maintained.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need 

• HND or equivalent Fish Farming/ Fisheries Management 

• Driving License 

• Substantial Fish Farming and Fisheries Management experience 

• An understanding of current legislation regarding Fish movement and SSSI Management 

• IT proficient – with budgeting, finance, communications and social media 

• Experienced in health and safety legislation, hazardous chemicals and fire regulations 

• Good staff management, team work and leadership skills

Desirable skills/experience you may have

● Level 2 Coach- Fly Fishing 

● CS0961 Award for Felling and Processing Small Trees 

● Fisheries management 

● Project management, planning and implementation 

● Fish farm management 

● Mechanics 

● Carpentry/ Metalwork 

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About The Partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note:

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting. If required, you’ll find out more about vetting throughout the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays.

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.