Swyddog Cymunedol Prosiect SIARC | Project SIARC Community Officer

Purpose of the role

Project SIARC (Sharks Inspiring Action and Research with Communities) works towards a Vision that threatened sharks, skates and rays and diverse coastal communities benefit from an inclusive approach to marine conservation and research in Wales. Project SIARC is led by ZSL and Natural Resources Wales (NRW), and completed in partnership with Delivery Partners, Affiliates and Collaborators. Together, we work with coastal communities around Wales, including commercial and recreational fishers, citizen scientist volunteers, primary schools, and researchers. Using money raised by National Lottery Players, the National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Project SIARC is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Welsh Government’s Nature Networks Fund.

This role will be employed by ZSL (the Zoological Society of London) and seconded to Natural Resources Wales (NRW). The role will work full time on Project SIARC and be based in the Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries (CBAE) Region. While this role will be primarily embedded within Project SIARC, the role holder will also sit within ZSL’s global FAIRER conservation team alongside the Project SIARC Community Equity, Rights and Social Safeguards Specialist.

This is a fixed term position until 31 August 2027 and will primarily involve multi‑sectoral working to better understand the values and perceptions of communities in the CBAE region towards the marine environment (including little understood species of shark, skate and ray). Supported by the Project SIARC Community Equity, Rights and Social Safeguards Specialist the role will identify local actor priorities, develop and support community engagement and coordinate focus group discussions in key areas in the CBAE region. This includes scoping work to co‑develop biological research, school engagement, and community engagement activities while also supporting the implementation of ZSL’s FAIRER framework for Project SIARC activities within the CBAE region.

Key responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list, please see the job description PDF for the full list.

• Build, manage and maintain both existing and new relationships, identifying and pursuing opportunities to work in partnership with other organisations and groups within the CBAE region.
• Be visible and attend local events to learn about community needs and promote community cohesion.
• Work with the ZSL & NRW Project SIARC team, local partners and relevant actors (e.g. local fisher community, coastal community groups, schools, the Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries European Marine Site (CBEEMS) Officer etc.) to define and shape activities.
• Utilising social science principles and approaches, undertake desk‑ and field‑based research to understand local interests in Project SIARC and the marine environment – identifying interests, priorities, barriers to engagement and possible resolutions to identified barriers.
• Work with the ZSL & NRW Project SIARC team, local partners, and relevant actors (e.g. local fisher community, coastal community groups, schools, the Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries European Marine Site (CBEEMS) Officer etc.) to help determine future priority activity locations and co‑design project activity ideas.
• Support the delivery of relevant CBEEMS site actions, linking to the CBEEMS Management Scheme, through knowledge exchange, sharing and collaboration with the CBEEMS Officer.

About you

We are looking for someone who is a strong communicator and relationship‑builder, who enjoys working with people and bringing different groups together. We are particularly keen to hear from applicants who bring lived experience of the communities this project aims to work with, including people from backgrounds that remain underrepresented in the environmental and conservation sector, and those with strong local connections to the CBAE region.

• Experience of fostering relationships, building trust and working with diverse actors and decision‑makers, including remotely.
• Committed to working in a way which promotes equity and inclusion within projects and multi‑collaborative partnerships.
• Basic ability of communicating in Welsh language (e.g. pronunciation of place names, basic greetings, small conversations).
• Experience designing and running community workshops, training, events or activities.
• Ability to facilitate discussions and synthesize different ideas and perspectives.

The experience, knowledge and skills described above are not a comprehensive list, please see the PDF job description for the full list. You do not need to meet every requirement listed to apply.

We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. We are committed to ensuring our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination. ZSL has active equality networks for our staff with lived experience and those who provide active allyship in Race and Culture, Team Pride, Disability Network, and Menopause Network, complemented by our strategic EDI Steering Group.

About us

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.

What do we offer?

At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include:

• Our vision and purpose - you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science‑led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct.
• Pension scheme - we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension.
• Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you.
• Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays.
• Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from their first day.
• Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops.
• Cycle2Work - our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle.
• Season ticket loan - we offer an interest‑free loan for eligible London‑based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work.
• Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages.