Species Recovery Officer

**Do you want to be part of an exciting opportunity to turn around the fortunes of one of the UKs most iconic species? We’re looking for two project officers**_ _**for our water vole recovery initiative in the Derbyshire and Staffordshire Dove Catchment. You will work in our Landscape Recovery team across two Wildlife Trusts to lead on our work to secure the future of this critically endangered species.**

In this role, you’ll be part of a team to deliver a catchment wide mink trapping program, and a targeted habitat improvement program. Where appropriate this will be through a nature-led approach providing enhanced ecosystem services. You will work with stakeholders and funders to deliver and expand the project making it sustainable for the future.

To be successful you will be an organised approachable person who can work to tight deadlines. You will be able to speak to people and communicate the project vision to ensure maximum impact of the project

**Responsibilities**

In this role, you'll be responsible for the on-the-ground delivery of the project. You will:

- Help to rapidly develop a strategic mink trapping plan for the whole catchment
- Develop a network of landowners and stakeholders who will be part of the project
- Develop a volunteer team to trap mink, monitor water vole numbers and deliver practical work
- Deliver training for volunteers
- Supervise contractors to deliver restoration works
- Deliver on the ground practical work where needed

**About you**

This role might be right for you if:

- You do not need a degree for this role, but have a basic level of understanding of species and ecology with a little industry experience
- You may be looking for your first role in conservation from a related countryside occupation
- You will work well with others across teams and be willing to adapt to varied situations
- You will have worked with volunteers and other stakeholders to deliver projects
- You will have an excellent attention to detail and be able to work to very tight deadlines
- You will have a passion for wildlife and be able to communicate this to a wide and varied audience
- You must be willing to deliver or organise others to trap and remove invasive American Mink, a species directly responsible for the loss of Water Voles across the UK

**We are happy to talk flexible working**

One of these roles will be based at our office in Middleton whilst one will be based in East Staffordshire although a balance of home and office working will be allowed. We are a local charity so applicants should be easily able to access our office and other locations around the county.

**Interviews are planned for week beginning 11th September**

**Derbyshire Wildlife Trust**:
We’re a small charity, with big ideas We believe that everyone has their part to play in Nature’s recovery. We are the only organisation in Derbyshire working to protect and enhance wildlife and wild places throughout the county but through our work with businesses, other conservation charities, and the public we are mobilising others across the county and the rest of the UK to act for wildlife. As are a registered Charity, we are supported by 16,000 members and are part of a movement of 46 Trusts with a collective membership of over 800,000.

Our purpose is to achieve our vision of a Wilder Derbyshire by creating Nature Recovery Networks and reintroducing lost species. We aim to deliver our vision by leading Nature’s Recovery, inspiring people and communities to care and mobilising people to act. All our work is underpinned by our values.

Our Charity is growing, we currently employ 80 people and, crucially, we are supported by over 500 volunteers. We have three delivery teams; Wilder Landscapes, Wilder Communities and Income Generation, supported by the Finance and Resources team. Each team has a Department Lead who reports to the Chief Executive who is responsible for the operations of the Trust and who, in turn, reports to the Board of Trustees which governs the organisation.

We’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and believe that everyone should have access to nature. We expect people to work harmoniously with each other and with volunteers, and to provide help and guidance to others when needed. As a small charity, our employees need to be willing to be flexible about working arrangements and willing to provide occasional cover for absent staff. We want people to develop professionally and personally while working with us and employees are encouraged to participate in the range of opportunities available to enable this.