Job at a glance
Vacancy: Head of Business & Finance Salary: £50k per annum pro rata – Rivers Trust salary Grade 59% Employer’s Pension Contribution Contract: Permanent Hours: Part-time 0.8FTE Employer: Wessex Rivers Trust Closing date: 12pm, Monday 5th October 2026 Interviews: Monday 12th October 2026 Wessex Rivers Trust (Wessex RT) is an environmental charity dedicated to the protection and conservation of rivers and the globally significant share of chalk streams found in the Wessex area.
Wessex RT is a growing regional Trust at the cutting edge of the Rivers Trust movement. Based in the outskirts of Salisbury on the banks of the beautiful Hampshire Avon, Wessex RT covers the rivers of East Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, the New Forest and Isle of Wight. Our delivery programmes span practical restoration of river habitats, working across broader catchments to address water quality, and educating and engaging communities in the value of rivers.
Full Job Description This is a rare opportunity to help take the Trust on the next stage of its development journey from the core of the organisation, playing a key role in securing its mission for rivers. We are seeking a wellrounded professional to take up the position of Head of Business & Finance: this is a new role which will be responsible for providing strategic and operational oversight of the Trust’s core business functions, spanning finance, contracts, legal, and organisational support functions including governance.
The postholder will ensure the organisation maintains strong financial controls, an accountability culture, robust contractual and legal arrangements, and efficient business processes, that help manage risk and support the delivery of the charity’s mission and objectives. The role will also oversee the core functions of HR, administration, organisational resources, and operational systems, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and supporting a positive, effective working environment.
The role will be a member of the Senior Management Team who, working closely with the CEO, take collective responsibility for the Trust’s operations, ensuring effectiveness, integration, professionalism and alignment to policy and strategy. Recruitment Pack To apply, email your CV (not more than 2 pages) and a cover letter (1000 words maximum) describing your suitability for the role with explicit reference to the Person Specification to: [email protected] by 12pm, Monday 5th October.
Interviews will take place on Monday 12th October at Wessex Rivers Trust headquarters in Salisbury.