At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a major conservation project to protect seabirds from offshore wind impacts.
- Company: Join Cornwall Wildlife Trust, a progressive charity dedicated to wildlife conservation.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and 24/7 wellbeing support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in conservation and influence national policy.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management and stakeholder engagement is essential.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic team with opportunities for personal growth.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 36000 £ per year.
Auk Disturbance Project Development Manager
Join to apply for the Auk Disturbance Project Development Manager role at Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
Closing date: Thursday 2 October 2025
Salary: £32,000 – £36,000 per annum
Contract type: Fixed term / Full-time
Location: Cornwall Wildlife Trust HQ, Five Acres, Allet, Truro, Cornwall, TR4 9DJ
The Auk Disturbance Project Development Manager will lead Cornwall Wildlife Trust\’s role in the final stages of development of the Reducing Auk Disturbance programme – a major partnership tackling the impact of offshore wind on seabirds such as guillemots and razorbills. Supported by offshore wind developers, this strategically significant project will shape the future delivery phase intended to generate evidence to inform future policy and compensation mechanisms, including the Marine Recovery Fund.
The role involves overseeing this development stage, managing relationships with partners and stakeholders (including Defra, Natural England, OWIC and COWSC), and planning future work to provide credible, scalable evidence on disturbance reduction. This is a unique opportunity to drive forward an initiative with tangible conservation impact and long-term influence on national policy.
Responsibilities
- Regulatory and Programme Alignment: Act as the key point of contact between Cornwall Wildlife Trust and the developer group, ensuring regular updates, clear communication, and responsiveness to evolving needs
- Work closely with project partners and statutory stakeholders to ensure planned delivery aligns with national frameworks for offshore wind ecological compensation
- Engage the COWSC Gateway Group, Natural England, Defra, and OWIC to ensure proposed delivery phase project outputs are relevant and influential at a strategic level
- Support discussions on the potential future recognition of reducing disturbance as an approved compensation measure through national mechanisms (e.g. Marine Recovery Fund), while focusing on the practical needs of the current development phase
- Project Coordination and Delivery: Plan the detailed implementation, and proposed evaluation of future project activities across all workstreams and multiple sites
- Monitor progress against the 12-month delivery plan, ensuring key milestones are met and risks are managed
- Coordinate with proposed delivery partners, including University of Exeter, GoBe Consultants, Cornwall Marine & Coastal Code Groups, WiSe, and local conservation groups
- Oversee internal reporting and contribute to external reporting, including updates to the developer group and project steering group
- Financial Management and Administration: Manage the project budget in line with agreed forecasts, ensuring spending is monitored, tracked, and reported. Get consensus on scope of delivery phase funding and use that to develop fully costed programme of work
- Support procurement, grant administration, and contract management in line with organisational and funder requirements
- Field Support and Flexibility: Provide additional capacity for fieldwork delivery including assisting with seabird monitoring, data collection, and on-water interventions where appropriate
- Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement: Maintain effective communication with all stakeholders and partners; help facilitate the coordination of the project\’s steering group and attend stakeholder meetings, workshops, and annual conferences
Benefits
- Cornwall Wildlife Trust operates excellent toil and flexible working policies
- Enhanced annual leave entitlement – starting at 25 days plus bank holidays and rising to a maximum 30 days over time
- 3 days Christmas Business Closure for 2025
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 counselling) and wellbeing portal
- Free onsite parking at Five Acres
- Stakeholder pension scheme (subject to eligibility)
How to Apply
Please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability to be submitted by Midnight on Thursday 2 October 2025.
If you would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Dan Barrios-O\’Neill.
Interviews will be held on Tuesday 21 October 2025.
Equal Opportunities
We are committed to ensuring transparent and non-discriminatory recruitment and employment. As a progressive charitable organisation, we champion equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristic.
We offer alternative formats for the application process to support accessibility. If you have specific needs or preferences, please let us know in advance so we can accommodate them. We value inclusivity and celebrate diversity.
Downloads
- Auk Disturbance Project Development Manager Recruitment Pack
- CWT Equality-and-diversity-monitoring-form-template
Posting location: Truro, Cornwall (UK)
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Auk Disturbance Project Development Manager employer: Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Contact Detail:
Cornwall Wildlife Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Auk Disturbance Project Development Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the conservation and offshore wind sectors. Attend events, join online forums, and connect with people on LinkedIn. The more connections we make, the better our chances of landing that dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Cornwall Wildlife Trust and the Auk Disturbance Project. Understand their goals and challenges, and think about how your skills can help. We want to show them we're not just a good fit, but the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a friend or mentor to do mock interviews with you. This will help us refine our answers and boost our confidence. Plus, it’s a great way to get feedback on how we present ourselves.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing our enthusiasm for the role. Let’s remind them why we’re the best choice for the Auk Disturbance Project Development Manager position!
We think you need these skills to ace Auk Disturbance Project Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Auk Disturbance Project Development Manager role. Highlight relevant experience and skills that align with the job description, especially in project management and stakeholder engagement.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Use it to showcase your passion for conservation and how your background can contribute to reducing auk disturbance. Be specific about your achievements!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since this role involves a lot of communication with partners and stakeholders, make sure to demonstrate your strong communication skills in both your CV and cover letter. We want to see how you can effectively engage with various groups.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our organisation there.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cornwall Wildlife Trust
✨Know Your Project Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the Auk Disturbance programme. Understand its goals, the stakeholders involved, and how it aligns with national policies. This will not only show your enthusiasm but also help you answer questions about how you can contribute to its success.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed relationships with various stakeholders in past roles. Highlight your communication strategies and how you’ve navigated complex partnerships, as this role requires effective collaboration with groups like Defra and Natural England.
✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen
Since financial management is a key responsibility, be ready to discuss your experience with budgeting and tracking project expenses. Bring examples of how you've ensured projects stay within budget while achieving their objectives.
✨Be Ready for Practical Scenarios
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios. Think about potential challenges in seabird monitoring or stakeholder engagement and how you would address them. This will show your readiness to tackle the practical aspects of the role.