Job Description

Do you have vision, drive and passion for England’s wild coastline and trails? Do you want to develop and enhance the benefits these special places bring for nature, climate, and people?

If this appeals to you, working as the first Coastal Wildbelt Project Officer for the new Protected Landscape Partnership will offer you fantastic opportunities to be at the forefront of developing a vision and delivery strategy for a nature-rich English coastline.

The creation of the King Charles 3rd England Coast Path (KC3ECP) offers a unique opportunity for large-scale nature restoration work and public engagement around the coast of England.

In the work done to establish the KC3ECP, the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 established the coastal margin, generally described as between 2 meters inland of the route of the KC3ECP and the seaward foreshore. This increase in access to the coast for the public and clear definition of a continuous coastal margin gives an opportunity for the first time to build a cohesive coastal nature restoration and biodiversity net gain project on a national scale.

The Defra funded Protected Landscape Partnership is providing resources to National Trails UK and National Parks England to March 2025 to develop this opportunity.

Hosted by National Trails UK, you will be an integral part of the new Protected Landscapes Partnership made up of the National Landscapes Association (NLA), National Parks England (NPE), National Trails UK (NTUK) and Natural England (NE). Together, the Partnership aims to create more collaborative ways of working that amplifies the impact and influence of our organisations towards our common goals.

The Protected Landscapes Partnership (PLP) recognises that we are in the throes of global nature, climate, and well-being emergencies. In response, the partnership will collaborate closely on the delivery of national priorities for nature recovery, climate change mitigation and adaptation, health and wellbeing, equity of access and thriving local communities.

We are looking for a motivated and passionate individual to engage with the trails, protected landscapes, Heritage Coasts, and other key stakeholders around the coastline to build a vision for a Coastal Wildbelt and seek opportunities to deliver for people and nature.

In this role, you will work in a true partnership, leading on co-creation across organisations and disciplines. We are seeking an individual who is comfortable working in a collaborative, multi-stakeholder environment, thrives as part of a remote team while being able to self-direct and manage their workload efficiently.

The team

This role is hosted by National Trails UK and funded by the Protected Landscapes Partnership. The successful candidate will work closely with other roles funded by the Partnership and hosted within other organisations, including Data and Evidence Coordinators, Communications Manager, and Nature Recovery roles.They will also liaise with the lead from Big Chalk to help accelerate development of Coastal Wildbelt.

National Trails UK is a fully remote organisation, but partners have expressed interest in Protected Landscape Partnership roles hot-desking at their offices. Candidates will need to be comfortable working within this matrix-style framework and across organisational boundaries.

Key tasks

As a Coastal Wildbelt Project Officer your role would include:

• Audit of existing and emerging coastal projects and partnerships
• Audit of existing mapping, data and evidence and data gaps, contract collation of data and new data required
• Convening and engaging with existing and new partners, co-designing a vision and governance structure for Coastal Wildbelt
• Facilitate and oversee the Coastal Wildbelt steering group
• Co-develop and lead the Coastal Wildbelt vision and objectives, campaign, and delivery programme, learning from the establishment phase of the programme
• Identify and engage with key stakeholders to develop and deliver two landscape-scale nature recovery Coastal Wildbelt pilot projects to demonstrate the potential for rolling out around the entire coast
• Work with partners to identify funding opportunities to support project delivery
• Coordinate a joint approach to working and sharing knowledge and learning
• Work with the PLP Communications Manager to tell local stories
• Support evaluation and report on progress against the Partnership Business Plan objectives

The Candidate

We welcome applicants from a range of experience and backgrounds and are looking for individuals who have a broad combination of the skills set out below.

Essential:

• Knowledge and experience of project management techniques, project delivery experience and ability to develop large-scale, multi-sector and multi-stakeholder initiatives
• Significant experience of working in the environmental sector, nature conservation, or agriculture, or a relevant degree in an environmental discipline/ nature conservation
• A passion for nature, the environment, and the outdoors
• Understanding of and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Knowledge of landscape conservation and enhancement, designated and defined landscapes and National Trails
• An understanding of how to integrate access and connect people with nature as part of nature recovery
• Strong interpersonal skills, capable of taking responsibility for managing relationships with key partners, stakeholders and policy makers
• Strong communications and presentation skills, both written and oral, with experience of communicating complex issues to diverse audiences
• Experience of using and interpreting evidence and data
• Ability to work as part of a small team while also working independently, using own initiative and developing ideas
• Effective facilitation and collaboration, using relevant tools and technology, online and face-to-face
• Experience of managing your own time, ability to prioritise work and meet tight deadlines
• An understanding of UK land management
• Competence in the use of IT, including ability to work with spreadsheets, databases & presentation packages

The role will require travel. We encourage the use of active travel and public transport where possible, and reasonable expenses are covered in addition to salary. A driving licence is not essential.

How to Apply

Please email your CV and a two-page Cover Letter or a 4-minute video (sent via WeTransfer) setting out your suitability for the role to Polly Martin with the subject line ‘Coastal Wildbelt Project Officer’. Please include any notice period and details of two references.

Closing date: 23.59 8th January 2024

Interviews will take place on 12th Jan or week commencing 15th Jan 2024

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications.

We welcome and encourage applications from all communities. If you require a reasonable adjustment at interview, or there is anything else you would like the panel to take into consideration, you should notify us of this at application stage where possible, or well in advance of your interview.