Core Duties
The core duties are to organise and attend Board meetings, take the minutes and, crucially, to provide good governance in ensuring the Board adheres to the 2003 and 2013 Acts, as well as any other relevant legislation regarding the Board’s operation and legal compliance.
The Clerk is responsible for issuing the fishery assessments to proprietors and chasing up any arrears. It is important to recognise that if any legal action is taken against the Board, it is usually taken against the Clerk, in the same way that it would be against a Company Secretary.
The Clerk of the Ythan District Fishery Board is the representative of the Board and as such must be prepared to attend meetings of many different bodies to represent the interests of The Board.
Description of Role
The Clerk will be responsible for the management of the Ythan District Salmon Fishery Board activities, helping to determine and deliver the long and short-term strategies and goals set out by the Board, and delivering the duties of the legally required position of Board Clerk.
The Clerk will report to the Chairman of the Board.
General Responsibilities
- Delivering the strategic objectives of long and short-term projects to successful conclusions.
- Act as Clerk to the Board, including organising Board meetings and triennial elections.
- Maintain official administrative and financial records and documents and ensure compliance with statute, good governance guidelines and codes of practice, including production of regular and annual reports.
- Maintain an up-to-date management and enforcement database to assist in goal delivery.
- Report to the Board all activities requiring Board oversight and approval on an agreed basis.
- Provide reports to Scottish Government on behalf of the Board, as required by legislation.
- Undertake all responsibilities using modern best practice in management.
Public Relations, Media and Communications
- Manage official Board correspondence in conjunction with the Chairman.
- Maintain active, and up to date knowledge of the fisheries sector, ensuring that Board members are fully informed of important facts, issues or any changes to current legislation or methodology by related organisations.
- Establish good working relationships within the Fishery Board network, relevant Trust, Government agencies, community groups and other organisations.
- Represent and promote the Board’s strategic objectives and formal opinion to other local and national organisations (Aberdeenshire Council, SEPA, Nature Scot, Scottish Water, NFU, River Ythan Trust, local MSP and others) and the general public.
Staff Management
- No staff are currently employed by the Board. Policing and management activities on the river are provided by the Don District Salmon Fishery Board bailiffs through an ongoing Service Level Agreement which is reviewed annually. The current agreement runs to 31st March 2026.
Budgeting and Finance
- Operate the bank account, prepare and maintain full accounts for submission to the Board’s auditors for review and preparation of annual accounts.
- Oversee all operational budget decisions, liaising with the Chairman and Board as necessary.
- Prepare an annual budget for Board approval and ensure that the organisation operates within budget guidelines.
- Ensure that adequate funds are available to permit the organisation to carry out their work.
- Report yearly on income and expenditure
Skills and Background
- You must have a keen interest in, and understanding of the pressures faced by migratory fish, particularly in the Ythan District, and the legislation that protects them.
- You should have a track record in managing and delivering projects involving multiple organisations, preferably with experience of dealing with government, its agencies and environmental bodies.
- You must be an adept and flexible manager, able to cover wide-ranging tasks, both in and out of the office.
- You must be reasonably fit, as visits to remote sites in rough terrain will sometimes be required.
- Your communications skills will be key in this role.
Essential skills and experience
- Proven project management and delivery experience
- Knowledge of the environmental sector
- Experienced in budgeting and finance
- Experienced in public relations and communication
- Excellent people management skills including internal and external stakeholders
- Demonstrable experience in report writing and review
- Good working knowledge of Health & Safety and risk assessment laws and guidelines
- Competency in Microsoft Office packages
- A full driving licence
Desirable skills and experience
- Fisheries or land management experience
- Experience of fisheries law in Scotland
- A record of continual professional development
Applications
Please contact Mark Andrew on 07799 334973 or email markhtandrew@gmail.com if you are interested in applying for the role.
Further information
For more information about the Board including it's role and responsibilities, establishment and legislation, official powers and duties, current board members, funding and meetings please see our Ythan District Salmon Fishery Board page on the site.
