Wilder Connections Officer in Matlock

We’re looking for a Wilder Connections Officer to deliver the volunteer–powered side of our exciting white stork reintroduction project. In this role, you’ll spark community involvement, lead energetic volunteer work–parties, and build the long–term support networks that help people play an active part in bringing white storks back to our landscapes. To succeed, you’ll bring enthusiasm for working with volunteers, confidence in reaching new audiences, and the ability to listen deeply and respond to the needs of different groups. If you love connecting with communities, value collaboration, and bring a can–do approach to making things happen, we’d love to hear from you.

What we can offer you:

• Flexible working options, we have adopted a 9-day working fortnight meaning all full-time staff get a non-working Friday every fortnight
• 33 days annual leave including bank holidays, we also have a festive shutdown, so all staff get the days between Christmas and New Year off in addition to their leave entitlement
• Climate Perks (extra leave granted for staff using more green, sustainable transport)
• 9.5% employer pension contribution
• Electric bike and car salary-sacrifice schemes available
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Personalised Development programme designed to enhance your knowledge and progress your career
• A multi-disciplinary business, with opportunities to work on a wide range of projects, developing your experience and skills
• A close-knit, friendly and supportive team, with a relaxed office atmosphere

Our Values

Our work towards a Wilder 2030 is shaped by three core values:

• Collaborative – We work together with colleagues, volunteers and communities because lasting change happens when everyone is involved.
• Curious – We ask questions, explore new ideas and stay open to learning so we can keep improving and adapting for nature.
• Courageous – We take bold action, challenge the status quo and stand up for what wildlife and people need.

If these values feel like you, you’ll thrive here.

About you

This role might be right for you if:

• You have experience leading volunteer groups
• You have delivered outreach and recruited support from communities
• You have an interest in nature recovery and could lead simple practical work parties under the advice of a Living Landscapes Officer
• You have some experience developing content such as newsletters or social media
• You are creative and resourceful, and can demonstrate using your initiative to complete tasks

We are happy to talk flexible working! This role will be based at our office in Middleton although a balance of working at home, in the office and in the community around Willington will be necessary. We are a local charity so applicants should be easily able to access our office, our Willington Wetlands Nature Reserve and other locations around the county.

Interviews are planned for 7th May 2026. For more information please refer to the job description and key terms attached. If you have any questions about the role which are not answered in the attached documents, or require adjustments to the application process, please either email recruitment@derbyshirewt.co.uk or call 01773 881188.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust

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.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is an equal opportunities employer that strives to be a diverse and inclusive environment in which everyone is valued. We welcome applications from eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. We recognise that our workforce needs to represent the communities and people we work with. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups within Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and the wider charity and conservation sector, such as people from Black and Ethnic Minority backgrounds and those who identify as LGBTQ+. We are proudly a Disability Confident Commitment employer. The scheme is helping us recruit and retain great people to meet our workforce needs. As a member of the scheme we interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role. You can request this and adjustments including accessible formats of this vacancy by emailing Recruitment@derbyshirewt.co.uk.