Species Recovery Officer in Pickering

We’re looking for a Species Recovery Officer to lead the development and delivery of species recovery projects in Yorkshire, with an initial focus on the North East Yorkshire pine marten recovery project. Working at the forefront of nature recovery, you will help shape and deliver projects that support the recovery of influential species and contribute to the restoration of natural processes across our landscapes.

Working closely with Forestry England’s national Forest Wilding Programme, ecologists, foresters, researchers and delivery partners, you will lead projects through feasibility, planning and implementation stages and, where projects proceed, support release and post-release monitoring. You will be responsible for project planning, = budget management, procurement and contract management, commissioning specialist studies, and ensuring projects are delivered in line with national and international best practice for species recovery and conservation translocations.

Successful species recovery depends as much on people as it does on ecology. A significant part of the role will involve engaging with landowners, local communities, interest groups, regulators and partner organisations. You will build and maintain trusted relationships, understand differing perspectives and help ensure that project development is informed by evidence, local knowledge and stakeholder input. Experience of applying social science, behaviour change, conflict resolution or human-wildlife coexistence approaches will be particularly valuable.

Alongside the pine marten project, you will help develop and deliver other priority species recovery initiatives for Forestry England, including projects focused on species such as Northern hairy wood ants and fungi. Working within Yorkshire’s Nature Recovery Team and alongside colleagues across England, you will contribute to innovative approaches to nature recovery, develop effective partnerships, support funding and reporting requirements, and help shape the future of species recovery in the nation’s forests.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in species recovery, helping deliver lasting change across some of England’s most important landscapes.

Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.

Where you’ll work…

The post will initially be based at Forestry England’s Yorkshire Office in Pickering. It will move to the Dalby Forest Office in early 2028. Regular travel around Forestry England’s estate in Yorkshire will be required. There will be occasional trips outside of Yorkshire for Forestry England-wide meetings, which may require an overnight stay.

Key responsibilities & accountabilities

1) Project Management

• Lead on the development of the vision and the project plan for the pine marten recovery project, and other priority species where required.
• Apply appropriate project management principles to ensure effective and timely project implementation, in accordance with Forest Wilding Programme guidance and frameworks.
• Ensure relevant project documentation is produced and maintained throughout the lifecycle of the project.
• Develop annual and long-term work programmes and budgets for the project(s), supported by relevant project boards and sub-groups and the Forest Wilding Programme Team.
• Manage a delegated budget to ensure the project(s) are managed within budgetary limits and fiscal guidelines.
• Support funding bids for external funding and ensure that commitments to funders for the projects are appropriately met through project delivery.
• Fulfil necessary corporate and funder reporting.
• Lead on progressing one or more species recovery projects, at feasibility, planning and development stages, and where projects progress support delivery of release, post-release monitoring and management stages; working with district colleagues and the Forest Wilding Programme Team to recover influential species to our landscapes.
• Follow and adhere to conservation translocation best practice to ensure an evidence-informed approach is applied throughout, whether we are a lead or supporting partner.
• Ensure biological, ecological and socio-economic factors are considered and addressed throughout the project’s lifecycle, including end-of-project review.
• Procure and manage contracts and contractors, including ecological and social science consultants, and academic institutions.
• Support the investigation of the (re)introduction of influential species to wild areas, which help restore natural processes.
• Ensure Forestry England procurement and contract management regulations are followed throughout the project.

2) Species Recovery

• Lead on progressing one or more species recovery projects, at feasibility, planning and development stages, and where projects progress support delivery of release, post-release monitoring and management stages; working with district colleagues and the Forest Wilding Programme Team to recover influential species to our landscapes.
• Follow and adhere to conservation translocation best practice to ensure an evidence-informed approach is applied throughout, whether we are a lead or supporting partner.
• Ensure biological, ecological and socio-economic factors are considered and addressed throughout the project’s lifecycle, including end-of-project review.
• Procure and manage contracts and contractors, including ecological and social science consultants, and academic institutions.
• Support the investigation of the (re)introduction of influential species to wild areas, which help restore natural processes.
• Ensure Forestry England procurement and contract management regulations are followed throughout the project.

3) Knowledge and Monitoring

• Ensure best practice and evidence-informed release strategies and post-release monitoring and management are implemented.
• Work with the national Forest Wilding programme team, colleagues from Forest Research and wider academia to learn from and share best practice from the projects.
• Ensure appropriate licensing requirements are understood and met, in addition to considerations around forestry operations.
• Lead or feed into the design, commission and interpretation of ecological, biological and socio-economic feasibility studies to guide new species reintroduction projects.

4) Communications and public engagement

• Support the development of partnerships with other organisations to increase the scale and effectiveness of species recovery outcomes.
• Lead on the delivery of a stakeholder engagement plan(s) alongside district and national colleagues, building and managing relationships with relevant stakeholders.
• Work with district and national communications colleagues to maintain and update a communications plan(s) for the project(s).
• Showcase the project to internal and external stakeholders to gain support for forest wilding, nature recovery and further delivery within the nation’s forests.

Species Recovery Officer

Company: Government Recruitment Service Salary: £35,039 to £35,039 a year Hours: Full-time Location: YO18 7EL Job type: Temporary Posting date: 12 Nov 2026 Closing date: 30 Nov 2026

Summary

We’re looking for a Species Recovery Officer to lead the development and delivery of species recovery projects in Yorkshire, with an initial focus on the North East Yorkshire pine marten recovery project. Working at the forefront of nature recovery, you will help shape and deliver projects that support the recovery of influential species and contribute to the restoration of natural processes across our landscapes.

Working closely with Forestry England’s national Forest Wilding Programme, ecologists, foresters, researchers and delivery partners, you will lead projects through feasibility, planning and implementation stages and, where projects proceed, support release and post-release monitoring. You will be responsible for project planning, = budget management, procurement and contract management, commissioning specialist studies, and ensuring projects are delivered in line with national and international best practice for species recovery and conservation translocations.

Successful species recovery depends as much on people as it does on ecology. A significant part of the role will involve engaging with landowners, local communities, interest groups, regulators and partner organisations. You will build and maintain trusted relationships, understand differing perspectives and help ensure that project development is informed by evidence, local knowledge and stakeholder input. Experience of applying social science, behaviour change, conflict resolution or human-wildlife coexistence approaches will be particularly valuable.

Alongside the pine marten project, you will help develop and deliver other priority species recovery initiatives for Forestry England, including projects focused on species such as Northern hairy wood ants and fungi. Working within Yorkshire’s Nature Recovery Team and alongside colleagues across England, you will contribute to innovative approaches to nature recovery, develop effective partnerships, support funding and reporting requirements, and help shape the future of species recovery in the nation’s forests.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in species recovery, helping deliver lasting change across some of England’s most important landscapes.

Where you’ll work…

The post will initially be based at Forestry England’s Yorkshire Office in Pickering. It will move to the Dalby Forest Office in early 2028. Regular travel around Forestry England’s estate in Yorkshire will be required. There will be occasional trips outside of Yorkshire for Forestry England-wide meetings, which may require an overnight stay.

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