Biodiversity Defender (Project Officer)

Are you ready to dive into one of the most exhilarating projects to hit the UK? Upstream
Thinking to Manage INNS (Invasive Non-Native Species) is not just any project—it’s a
thrilling extension of The Wild Service Trees in WalesProject! We’re on the lookout
for a Biodiversity Defender, an Invasive Species Slayer, a Project Officer bursting with
passion and enthusiasm! We need someone who’s eager to make a tangible difference to
biodiversity in Wales and safeguard the precious natural heritage of Ceredigion. While
experience in the environmental sector and project management is a plus, it isn’t a fundamental
requirement. What we truly value is your unwavering love for the great outdoors, your eagerness
to collaborate with industry-leading professionals in the sector, and your commitment to
engaging with local communities.

If the above information has your attention, this might just be the perfect opportunity for
you!…

KEY INFORMATION

Term: A fixed-term (2 years) opportunity starting this summer.
Location: Home based / Esgair Arth
Closing date: Sunday 23rd June
Salary: £27,000 Pro Rata (2.5 days per week)

ABOUT US

Oxygen Conservation was founded in 2021 by Dr Rich Stockdale and Oxygen
House Group with the mission of Scaling Conservation. We buy land at scale to deliver
positive environmental and social impact, generating profit as a result, not as the purpose, of
what we do. We have acquired ten sites totalling almost 30,000 acres. Our goal is to deploy
capital to protect and restore 250,000 acres of land by 2030. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

Are you eager to be part of an initiative that actively restores and protects natural habitats
in Wales? Do you see yourself getting your hands dirty in the battle against climate change and
the biodiversity crisis? If the answer to both questions is yes, then you know what to do…
Apply Now! 

The Nature Networks Fund (NNF) administered by the Heritage Lottery has been the catalyst for
legitimate environmental change and protection in Ceredigion, as evidenced by its support of
our Wild Service Trees in Wales Project. Building on the success of that project, we have
identified an opportunity for further environmental enhancement within the designated site’s
network (with the Coed Allt Craigh Arth SSSI acting at its core): managing and eradicating
INNS.

The Upstream Thinking to Manage INNS project will take an existing management plan one step
further – delivery! This project has the potential to be the first of its kind, combining
established physical and innovative biological control methods, to best manage INNS and protect
the natural environment surrounding. 

Your responsibilities: 

• Project Delivery: With support from our existing Estate Manager, you will take charge of
  implementing the management plan aimed at managing and eradicating Invasive Non-Native Species
  (INNS) within designated sites, with a focus on Coed Allt Craigh Arth SSSI.
• Stakeholder Engagement: This approach will not work without the support of leading research
  organisations and the collaboration of neighbouring landowners. The successful applicant will
  build strategic relationships so that we can work collaboratively to tackle INNS.
• Environmental Protection: Work diligently to protect native biodiversity by combating INNS
  such as Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed, and Rhododendron, which pose significant threats
  to the unique and rare species found in Ceredigion.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Regularly monitor the progress of INNS management efforts and
  prepare comprehensive reports on project activities, outcomes, and challenges encountered.

ABOUT YOU

We believe in recruiting exceptional people and creating the role that allows you to do
incredible things. We are committed to having a genuinely diverse team drawn from across the
country, with a wide range of lived and learnt experiences. We will help you refine and develop
your skills by working with exceptional people who genuinely care about your learning and
development.

If you think you can lead this ambitious and exciting project we’d love to hear from you. It
doesn’t matter what point in your career you are at, what school you went to, whether you have
a degree or not, we want exceptional people with a desire to make a difference. 

Environment

• Passionate about the environment and achieving a real impact. Our commitment to the
  environment is unwavering and guides us in every decision we make. It is the driving force that
  propels us forward. We are looking for that same commitment in you.
• Knowledge of INNS (Invasive Non-Native Species)

Impact

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to support relationship building
  throughout Ceredigion and beyond. A Welsh speaker would be desirable but not essential.
• Focused on finding pragmatic solutions and rolling sleeves up to solve problems.
  Enthusiastic with a proactive personality and a ‘can do’ approach.
• Collaborative and keen to contribute to the growth and development of the project as a
  whole
• Proactive, hardworking, dedicated, and self-motivated
• Committed to working outdoors (throughout the year) across varied terrain

Adventure

• A passion for adventure, getting into nature, and happy to commit time away with the team
  for incredible experiences.
• And let’s be honest, you have to be really nice too. Sharing snacks on long walks or a
  packed lunch whist out in the rain is mandatory!