Engagement Officer – Pine Martens (Exmoor)

Overview

Salary: £17,100 actual (£28,500 FTE)
Contract type: Fixed term
Working hours: Part time – 22.5 hours per week
Location: Somerset Wildlife Trust, 34 Wellington Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 5AW, with opportunities for hybrid working

The Two Moors Partnership, comprised of Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT), Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA), Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA), National Trust (NT), Woodland Trust (WT), Forestry England (FE) and Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT) was formed with the aim of restoring a viable pine marten population, at a landscape scale, to the wooded landscape across Somerset and Devon.

Pine Martens Bounce Back: Two Moors Pine Marten Project is the result of this partnership with objectives to ensure the:

1. a) bringing back of a vital component of our woodland ecology across the South West, restoring a natural process and driving activities which support more resilient woodlands; and
2. b) inspiring and supporting diverse audiences to become Pine Marten Pioneers, growing their conservation skills, capacity and leadership confidence in the process.

Pine Martens Engagement Officer (Exmoor)

The Pine Martens – Engagement Officer will support the Engagement and Nature Recovery Teams by supervising local project volunteers and trainees, and coordinating the work of project consultants within their project locality by:

• Working to build capacity within communities by upskilling and facilitating peer to peer support networks to empower and provide a strong foundation for project legacy.
• Coordinating quarterly ‘surgeries’ in accessible locations within pine marten hubs to provide a regular communication and information point about the project.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks:

Responsibility 1: Building and Nurturing Strong Relationships with Volunteers and the Community

Be proactive and empower those strong relationships by:

• Recruiting and supporting local volunteers to act as project champions, to map/develop local woodland/pine marten trails and to support a whole range of project activities.
• As part of the project team, developing volunteering and nature spotting activities and roles that encourage the participation of those who are new to conservation/are not conservation confident.
• Promoting the local delivery of the project storytelling and arts interpretation activities, providing local coordination as needed.

Responsibility 2: Facilitating and Supporting the Delivery of Inspiring Projects/Activities

Sharing of knowledge and expertise by:

• Shaping and delivering annual programmes of walks, talks and other activities in response to the needs and interests of diverse local audiences – particularly those who are new to conservation and/or who face barriers to participation.
• Developing and coordinating online and in person exchange visits between hub communities and other communities in the United Kingdom that are living with pine martens to share learning and build a far-reaching community of pine marten champions.
• Providing support as needed for the project’s Community Grants Scheme and work with project Field Officers to plan annual community action days focused on woodland habitat improvement projects.
• Promoting Pine Marten Picnics – a self-led activity developed by the project to encourage families to get out in their local green space/s, connect with trees or woodlands and learn about pine martens in a fun and accessible way.

Responsibility 3: Sharing Best Practice, Marketing and Evaluation

Ensuring proactive marketing and accurate evaluation through:

• Supporting project marketing by capturing local activities and participation through film, photos and interviews, and by encouraging local people to generate their own content. Training, equipment and support for this will be provided.
• Delivering, monitoring and reporting activity to support the project’s Evaluation Framework.
• Raising the profile of the project and its funders through the media and other work as required.

Additional benefits of working for the Somerset Wildlife Trust include:

• 7% employer pension contribution
• Life insurance
• An annual professional institution subscription
• Flexible and agile working
• Wellbeing support – EAP, wellbeing champions
• Diversity networks through RSWT/TWT
• Paid volunteer days
• Continuous Professional Development opportunities
• Minimum 33 days of holiday (25 annual leave + bank holidays)
• Active staff social events

The opportunity to make a real and positive difference to nature, communities and the climate.

Closing date: Monday 29 April 2024

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click here. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Somerset Wildlife Trust has an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan and is committed to continuing to improve the equality, diversity and inclusion of every aspect of our work; we know we need to engage with everyone to live our values and achieve our goals. We welcome applications from everyone and are happy to discuss any accommodations or arrangements that would make the recruitment process better for you, and the working environment should you be employed.

No agencies please.