Overview

Cumbria Wildlife Trust is seeking a project officer to lead the training & skills work of the Planting for Pollinators project in northern Cumbria.

Planting for Pollinators is a Cumbria Local Nature Partnership project hosted by Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Cumbria County Council and funded by the Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The project is based at the Trust’s offices in Houghton just outside Carlisle.

The successful applicant will work with project partners to:

  • Identify training needs of volunteers and local communities (e.g. habitat restoration techniques or pollinator survey and ID) and put training in place for them.
  • Support groups to utilise the Gosling Sike wildlife garden and plant nursery to learn horticulture and other skills as well as to maximise the benefit of their involvement for their own health and well-being.
  • Work with a number of parishes, churches and other communities to improve the spaces in the place where they live for pollinators.
  • Develop a programme of activities together to enable people to learn about gardening for wildlife at home.
  • Facilitate people to record sightings of pollinators using an on-line app establishing if any specific ID training could support this outcome.
  • Recruit and manage three Entry Level Conservation Officers to the project managing their work plans and putting personal development plans in place. Towards the end of their employment with the project, you will support them in finding suitable continued employment ideally within the conservation sector.
  • Work closely with the project’s Community Engagement Officer hosted by Cumbria County Council.
  • Undertake project recording, monitoring and evaluation of work delivered.

The successful candidate will ideally demonstrate significant relevant experience, ideally with a recognised conservation organisation. Experience of partnership working, delivering training/learning activities, supporting young people in a training or employment role is essential as is experience of working with volunteers.

They will understand the importance of connecting people with nature and have a basic knowledge of pollinators and their ecology along with a basic understanding of principles of wildlife gardening. They will be well organised, able to prioritise work and meet deadlines. They must be able to work as part of a dynamic team and be personally effective with a can-do attitude.

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