Project Ecologist - Species Recovery in Cheddar, Somerset

Contract type: Fixed term, until the end of March 2029. Full time, 37.5 hours per week. Level 3. Based in Shipham Gorge BS27, this role covers the Somerset Levels and will be a hybrid role working from the office, home and out in the field.

This exciting new role is a part of the Natural England Species Recovery Programme. Restoring England’s Wildlife initiative aims to enhance threatened species populations across the UK. Our client is excited to lead the Bolstering the Somerset Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) population project.

Our client is a local independent charity and the only organisation uniquely focused on improving the natural environment of Somerset for the benefit of wildlife and people. They champion Somerset’s stunning, diverse, and important natural environment, making the case for nature to the public and politicians. They protect wildlife and lead the recovery of the environment by example, including on their nature reserves.

The Project Ecologist will be responsible for delivering habitat and bittern species surveys across the Somerset Levels and Moors project area. Supported by the charity, landowner engagement will involve the identification of improvement works funded by the project. The survey work will be completed with the support of a new, dedicated volunteer group led by the Species Recovery Project Ecologist.

• Lead Ecological Surveys

Ensure correct data reporting by:

• Leading bittern, reedbed, and wetland mosaic habitat surveys across the project area (Somerset Levels and Moors). This work includes surveying on private land, as well as National Nature Reserves owned by our client, RSPB, and Natural England.
• Keeping up to date with data handling & reporting standards, particularly in close collaboration with Somerset Environmental Records Centre (SERC).
• Working closely with the Project Manager for the BSB project, sharing specialist species knowledge, reporting project progress, being involved in project meetings, and recording volunteer hours.
• Collaborating with the Honeygar Land Management and Monitoring Manager to engage local landowners and organisations around the Avalon Marshes area with the aim of habitat restoration and/or enhancement for bittern recovery.
• Advising landowners across the Somerset Levels project area on habitat enhancement and restoration, identifying and allocating use of project funding to support work on private land.
• Providing leadership and mentoring to volunteers so that they can conduct species and habitat surveys without direct supervision.
• Working with the Volunteering & Community Support Officer to ensure best practice when engaging and recruiting volunteers, including following safety procedures and capturing issues raised by volunteers.
• Contributing to the recruitment & promotion of volunteers for the new bittern survey group, which involves working closely with the Project Manager and the Marketing & Communications team.

7% employer pension contribution ~ Life assurance ~ Flexible and agile working ~ Wellbeing support – Employee Assistance Program, wellbeing champions ~ Diversity networks – through a network of affiliated charities ~ Continuous Professional Development opportunities ~ 33 days of holiday (25 + bank holidays).

The opportunity to make a real and positive difference to nature, communities and the climate.

No agencies please.