The European Open Rivers Programme is looking for a Development Associate (Consultancy).
This is an exciting opportunity to assist a leading European ecological restoration programme in attracting new funding and increasing its impact. You will help review our portfolio of grant types and develop a prospectus of opportunities to share with selected funders. You will make connections with funders to promote the programme and assess their interest in supporting our work.
The applicant should be an experienced networker and fundraiser with an interest and background in nature restoration, ideally in dam removal and river restoration. You should have a well-developed network with public and private donors in the nature restoration field.
This is a six-month, part-time, remote consultancy position, and you must be based in Europe.
Please read carefully the full role description here.
How to apply
Applications should be submitted electronically to Jack Foxall, applications@openrivers.eu
All applications must contain the following:
- A one-page covering letter outlining why you are suitable for this position and how your skills, interests, knowledge, and experience suit this role.
- A full CV outlining your education and work experience.
Please mark your application ‘Development Associate application, Open Rivers Programme’ and indicate in your covering letter where you saw the position advertised.
Closing date for applications: 17:00 CEST on Friday, 29th May 2026.
Interviews (by Zoom): Week commencing 8th June 2026.
About the programme
The Open Rivers Programme (ORP) offers grants to restore rivers by supporting interventions that lead to the removal of dams and the restoration of river flow and biodiversity. It is administered by Stichting European Open Rivers Programme, a charitable foundation incorporated in the Netherlands. The programme is currently solely funded by Arcadia with a budget of €42.5 million over eight years (2021-29). Grant applications are accepted from any of the 51 countries of Greater Europe via three annual calls for applications.
ORP’s vision is for ‘free-flowing rivers with healthy, diverse and connected ecosystems across Europe, which are enjoyed, valued, and protected by the communities that depend on them’. We work towards this vision by offering several categories of grants, with most funds allocated to preparing for and removing small dams from European rivers.
As of 1st May 2026, ORP had issued 210 grants totalling €18.5 million and supported 103 organisations across 34 European countries. Our grantees have secured an additional €56 million in co-funding for their projects from other public and private sources.
