Summary
Are you a technical expert in coastal and marine processes, environments and ecology? Would you like to make a real difference by working for Europe's largest conservation charity?
The National Trust is seeking a Coast and Marine Advisor to support our coastal sites and landscapes across the South West region, as they seek to adapt to coastal change and deliver our ambitions for Nature Recovery, Carbon Capture and Sustainable Land Management.
The Trust looks after over 780 miles of the coasts of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Across the South West approximately 40% of our land is coastal. The coast is at the forefront of our work in delivering benefits to people and nature but is also where we are facing some of our greatest challenges, particularly associated with climate change.
This is a senior role where you'll be instrumental in leading our work to support, restore and create nature rich, healthy and climate-resilient coastal properties and landscapes.
This role is advertised as a full-time post, but we are also open to recruiting on the basis of part-time job share.
We are also open to this post being based at any of our hub offices in the South West. We have offices in Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and Bristol.
What it's like to work here
You will be part of the National Trust's South West internal consultancy, which provides specialist support and skills to our properties and projects. You'll be within a multi-disciplinary team of experts working alongside project managers, ecologists, building surveyors, archaeologists, and other specialists to enable projects that support our twin purposes of caring for the nation's nature, beauty and history and making these accessible to all.
The role covers our South West region, from the Bristol Channel around to Christchurch in Dorset. Your contractual base will be the nearest National Trust hub office to your home location (we have offices in Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and Bristol). We support hybrid working with a mix of office, home and on-site working. You will need to be able to travel across the South West for site visits and meetings, as well as occasional nationwide travel for project and programme meetings. Expect to be at a National Trust site office, property or site for 40 – 60% of your working week.
What you'll be doing
As a key member of our Consultancy team, you'll bring your knowledge and innovative thinking to help deliver our coastal strategy and take a leading role in working with our Strategic Steering Group to drive forward activities to deliver our South West Coast ambition.
You'll provide high quality advice to our properties and projects, bringing your expertise and knowledge about coastal and marine processes, policy and legislation to the table.
You'll advise on commissioning external consultants, contractors and research, and will work closely with local, regional, and central colleagues across a range of disciplines.
You'll lead work to review and refresh our Coastal Adaptation Strategies and Coastal Risk Assessments, which are crucial to guide future management of our changing coasts and inform regional prioritisation of actions at our coastal sites.
You'll actively seek opportunities to work in partnership with external organisations to achieve our strategic ambitions beyond our boundaries, by building good relationships and networks with external partners, such as statutory and government bodies, other NGOs, local authorities, and coastal fora.
You will actively advocate for the importance of the coast and marine environment, both internally and externally, through engagement, involvement, publications and communicating the work of the National Trust publicly.
You'll proactively reach out to and support colleagues across the region: building networks and relationships that help to increase awareness, knowledge and confidence in relation to coastal and marine issues.
Who we're looking for
Your application should include a CV and a covering letter setting out how your experience aligns with this role.
We'd love to hear from you if this sounds like you:
- Degree in a relevant discipline
- Substantial post-qualification experience in delivering coastal and marine management advice and support, including to projects
- Excellent technical knowledge of coastal processes and shoreline management along with understanding of climate change and its impacts on coastal and marine environments
- Good knowledge of coastal and marine habitats and species
- Good understanding of current relevant coastal and marine management, legislation, policy, and initiatives.
- significant experience in partnership working, and stakeholder management with excellent written, presentation and verbal communications skills.
- a skilled and proactive communicator and problem solver, who can build strong internal and external networks and relationships and is confident in using expertise to influence decisions.
- lead for inclusion and always think ‘everyone welcome'
First round interviews will be held on 25 September 2024, followed by a face-to-face interview on 3 October (at a location in the South West) for those candidates that taken forward following the first round.
The package
The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever' at its heart. We're working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It's important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we're for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
- Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
- Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
- Rental deposit loan scheme
- Season ticket loan
- EV car lease scheme
- Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
- Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
- Flexible working whenever possible
- Employee assistance programme
- Free parking at most Trust places
Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.