Project Coordinator – Species Survival Fund: ‘Bogs and Bitterns’

Contract type: Fixed term until end of February 2026

Working hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week

Location: Callow Rock, Shipham Gorge, Cheddar, with opportunities for hybrid
working

“Bogs and Bitterns”: Somerset Wetland Restoration is one of twenty schemes being funded by the
Government’s Species Survival Fund.

As Species Survival Fund Project Coordinator, you will provide project management and
co-ordination of the Species Survival Fund project and work on the development of specific
species and habitat works at the Brides Mound and St Brigid’s Chapel site in Glastonbury.

We are looking for an individual with both hands on experience of delivering nature
conservation work and project management expertise.

This project is funded by the Government’s Species Survival Fund. The fund was developed by
Defra and its Arm’s-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency. “Bogs and Bitterns: Somerset
Wetland restoration is one of twenty schemes being funded across the country. Within our
project area we aim to deliver 50 hectares of wetland habitat restoring and expanding to
improve and create quality ‘stepping stone’ sites of high quality biodiversity and to enable
species abundance across the wider county. We are looking for an individual with both hands on
experience of delivering nature conservation work and project management expertise.

As Species Survival Fund Project Coordinator, you will have two main areas of work. The main
part of the role is to provide project management and co-ordination of the Species Survival
Fund project, ensuring we are on track, including meeting budget requirements, collating
information and reporting as required, and providing line manager support to the project
Ecologist. The second part of the role is to also to work on the development of specific
species and habitat works at the Brides Mound and St Brigid’s Chapel site in Glastonbury; here
SWT is working in close co-operation with the Friends of Brides Mound and Southwest Heritage
Trust and is funded by the Glastonbury Town Deal Fund.

Responsibility 1: Manage the Project

Share knowledge and expertise by:

• Providing project management and coordination and building relationship with key
  stakeholders.
• Ensuring concise information gathering and reporting for the Species Survival Fund project.
• Providing and sharing expertise on species survival, whilst coordinating evidence and
  monitoring of the project.
• Undertaking a wide range of complex, technical and professional tasks in differing
  situations, with a degree of personal responsibility and autonomy. It is important to be able
  to work both alone and as a member of the team.
• Adopting environmentally friendly working practices, setting, and maintaining high personal
  standards of efficiency and customer care and fostering a ‘can do’ culture based on ownership,
  initiative, teamwork, and exchange of information. All staff are ambassadors for the
  organisation both internally and externally and are expected to always act in a professional
  manner. They are required to abide by organisational rules, policies and procedures as laid
  down in the staff handbook.

Responsibility 2: Line Management

Provide leadership and support by:

• Providing direct line management to the Species Survival Fund Project Ecologist to ensure
  best practice and to drive the project forward.
• Managing the workload, performance, and personal development of the Species Survival Fund
  Project Ecologist.
• Having budgetary responsibility for the project and expenditure.
• Keeping abreast of national and international species recovery programmes and relate these
  to Somerset.

Responsibility 3: Work with Partners and Volunteers

Provide leadership and training opportunities as an influencer for the Trust by:

• Contributing to discussions, workstreams and providing support to the developing St
  Brigid’s Chapel and Brides Mound Project.
• Leading on working with other partners to design and implement habitat works across this
  landholding.
• Enabling the development of volunteering and training opportunities with the Friends of
  Brides Mound so they are resilient as a community to continue managing this land as part of the
  nature recovery network at the end of current funded works.
• Working in close collaboration with the communications and fundraising teams to promote the
  project including the production of articles, blogs and social media posts.

General

• The job holder is required to follow and comply with all policies and procedures of
  Somerset Wildlife Trust which includes our health and safety and safeguarding procedures,
  ensuring the personal safety of all staff, volunteers, young people and vulnerable adults
  involved in the project.
• To carry out other duties relevant to your post as reasonably required by your line
  manager.
• To reflect the Somerset Wildlife Trust Values all areas of work.
• To work collaboratively with other Wildlife Trusts to share learning and achieve greater
  impact collectively.
• Somerset Wildlife Trust is committed to creating a more digital culture across the
  organisation. We aim to become more collaborative, agile and efficient through the use of
  digital technology. A basic level of digital skills is expected of all staff with the
  opportunity to improve these skills with career progression.
• We are a Disability Confident Employer, as such we offer an interview to people with a
  disability who meet the minimum criteria for the job.

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: Sunday 30 June 2024

Interested? 

If you would like to find out more about this position and to apply, please click the
‘Find out more & apply’ button. You will be directed to the Somerset Wildlife Trust website where you can download the job description and application form.

No agencies please.