Project Officer – Coniston

Summary

Passionate about the Lake District and working collaboratively with others to restore a
healthy vibrant and diverse upland landscape? In return we’ll provide you with new and
rewarding work experiences you probably haven’t had before. We have a new opportunity for a
Project Officer to join our countryside team to help us deliver on these ambitions across our
4000ha estate.

It’s an exciting time to join the team, in a varied role that will allow you to use your
conservation knowledge to engage tenants, partners and wider stakeholders in the development
and delivery of projects and agri-environment schemes which join up opportunities for habitat
restoration across our tenanted farms.

Hours: Full time, this role requires you to work flexibly where some evening
and weekend working will be required to enable you to carry out successfully the objectives of
the role. 

Salary: £30,966pa

Contract: 2 year fixed term contract

Face to face interviews: Friday 3rd May 

Please include a covering letter (no more than one page of A4) with your application outlining
what key experience and practical skills make you the ideal candidate to take our aspirations
forward.

If you have any questions about this role please contact: [email protected]

We are developing our Project Officers team in the Lake District and currently have another
position available, please see IRC150886. If you would like to be considered for both roles,
please do apply for both.

We would very welcome applications from both internal and external candidates. 

What it’s like to work here

You’ll be based from our office in Coniston in the heart of the Lake District and be part of
our dynamic 25 strong countryside team, working in a supportive learning environment helping
one another and be line managed by our Countryside Manager. 

We care for some of the most spectacular and iconic parts of the Lake District (UNESCO World
Heritage Site) around Coniston, Little Langdale and Hawkshead across a portfolio with strong
ties to Beatrix Potter, her beloved Hill Top House, and legacy of land, farms, buildings,
artwork and Herdwick sheep. This includes the popular visitor destinations of Wray Castle, Hill
Top House, and the iconic Tarn Hows, which together welcome over 450,000 visitors a year.

Our 4000ha countryside estate is a diverse range of habitats from woodlands, and meadows around
the shores of Lake Windermere and Coniston Water to upland wood pasture, heath and peatlands up
to the summit of Wetherlam at 763m.

What you’ll be doing

As Project Officer you’ll help us deliver on our ambitions for our land in the South Lakes.
Working alongside the Countryside Manager and wider ranger team you’ll develop and deliver
agreed projects that seek to restore a rich, diverse and vibrant upland landscape, with a
particular focus in the valley of Little Langdale. Here, you’ll lead the
delivery of the capital work programme for a new countryside stewardship
scheme to restore grassland and scrub habitats on 180ha of common land and plant over
25,000 trees.

Working collaboratively with our tenants, partner organisations and wider stakeholders, you’ll
become their key point of contact with the ability and oversight to join up opportunities for
habitat restoration across our tenanted farms in the valley into a cohesive landscape
vision.

In conjunction with the ranger team, you’ll explore opportunities for habitat and access
improvements within our wider land holding of the South Lakes, along with the management of
other small discreet capital projects. You’ll recognise the importance of monitoring our work
and sharing it with others, investing time and energy in both, providing
opportunities to inspire and involve local and wider audiences.

Please see the additional information and role profile on our website.

Who we’re looking for

We’d love to hear from you if you’ve:

• knowledge and experience of working within an upland environment, alongside an
  understanding of landscape significance and a commitment to the restoration of healthy,
  vibrant, and diverse habitats within an authentic upland farming system
• effective communication skills, able to build genuine long-term relationships with our
  tenants, staff, partners, and wider stakeholders
• strong influencing and negotiation skills, with a natural resilience, able to overcome
  challenges and find solutions
• the ability to work collaboratively, share, motive and inspire others of your work
• high organisational skills, able to work independently and at pace, prioritising and
  managing multiple workstreams
• project delivery experience, including all aspects of contractor management, with a
  particular eye for detail.
• written and verbal communication skills, able to produce concise and coherent reports for
  project management, marcomms and social media.

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to
create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people
reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and
value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our
teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Tax-free childcare scheme
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase
  scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places
• Independent financial advice

Click here to find out
more about the benefits we offer to support you.