Wilder Learning & Communities Officer at Rye Harbour Discovery Centre

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity to join the team at Rye Harbour. The Wilder Learning &
Communities Officer will enable SWT to deliver effective action for wildlife in Sussex by
delivering an inspiring education and community engagement programme at the Rye Harbour Nature
Reserve and Discovery Centre, balancing financial viability with reaching our charitable and
strategic aims.

The Person

You will have a minimum of 2 years’ experience of working in a similar role, working with
children and young people, delivering opportunities for collaborative working with local
residents, community groups and other stakeholders, in order to develop a greater sense of
community ownership and to promote action for wildlife.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are vital in this role, as is the ability to
work both independently and as part of a team. You will be able to think on your feet, work
well under pressure and enjoy a busy working environment. This role needs someone with lots of
initiative and drive to develop and improve our offer, with excellent communication and
relationship-building skills. In this role, you will be required to work some weekends and
evenings.

Sussex Wildlife Trust

Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) is a conservation charity for everyone who cares about nature in
Sussex. We focus on protecting the wonderfully rich natural life that is found across our
towns, countryside and coast. By working alongside local people we create opportunities for us
all to connect with nature and for nature to thrive in even the most unlikely places.

We are now in a critical decade for change to protect and restore nature with the help of more
people taking action for wildlife. Now is the time for an ambitious action plan to match the
scale and urgency of the challenges we are facing. Our new Strategic Plan – Our Wild
Sussex – will be launched in April and sets out our vision and commitment to turning
the tide for wildlife so that by 2030, nature in Sussex will be in recovery.

To deliver our new strategic aims, we have recently completed a comprehensive restructure of
the charity to align to our goals. This restructure has generated a suite of new roles and
opportunities which will enable us to achieve our ambitions of restoring and protecting at
least 30% of Sussex land and sea for nature, inspiring one in four people in Sussex to take
meaningful action for wildlife, building a stronger more inclusive and diverse organisation and
becoming a net zero and climate resilient organisation.

In order to encourage diversity and inclusivity within the environment sector, we particularly
welcome applications from people who have an ethnically or geographically diverse background,
who are non-graduates and/or are living in economically deprived areas

Rye Harbour Discovery Centre

The Rye Harbour Discovery Centre is Sussex Wildlife Trust’s first visitor centre; generously
supported by The Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, the local community and a range of
funders. The 1,110 acre reserve is one of the most biodiverse places in Britain with 4,200
plant and animal species recorded, and over 200 rare or endangered birds and mammals. As well
as engaging the 400,000 annual visitors in this exceptional natural and human heritage area
through exciting interpretation, the Centre draws new visitors to the nature reserve through
its many and varied engagement opportunities as well as its café and retail operations.
Supported by an extensive volunteer development programme, it also boosts the reserve’s
conservation capabilities, improving habitats for endangered species and securing a more
sustainable future for the reserve.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays each year (pro-rated for part time staff)
• Pension – company contribution from 6% and employee contribution of 3%
• Life Assurance – Pension Scheme Members 2 x Salary, Non-Pension Scheme Members 1 x Salary
• 2 days paid leave for volunteering each year
• Flexible working policy
• Enhanced Sick Pay
• EAP
• Employee discounts
• Informal car share arrangements