Nature's Recovery Officer

B-Lines are an imaginative and beautiful solution to the problem of the loss of flowers and pollinators. The B-Lines are a series of ‘insect pathways’ running through our countryside and towns, along which we are restoring and creating a series of wildflower-rich habitat stepping stones. They link existing wildlife areas together, creating a network, like a railway, that will weave across the UK.

Avon Wildlife Trust has been working with Buglife (the insect conservation charity) on the B-Lines approach since 2014, enabling us to target work to create continuous swathes of wildlife-rich habitat.

Over the past ten years we have been worked with a wide variety of private landowners and have delivered significant ecological enhancements across the region. This includes the restoration of over 170ha of wildflower-rich grassland and several nature-friendly orchards.

The next phase of B-Lines will focus on the West Mendips, between AWT’s reserves of Folly Farm and Browne’s Folly, with ambitions to scale up and expand this work. As the Nature’s Recovery Officer, you will work with farmers, landowners and communities to grow the network of habitats between these reserves. To ensure climate resilience, you will work on a variety of priority habitats including grasslands, hedgerows, planting in-filed trees and carrying out improvements to woodland edges, all of which are key to the survival of pollinating species.

As the Nature’s Recovery Officer you will:

• Support habitat improvement works on our reserves within the project area.
• Proactively identify sites, providing advice to farmers, landowners and communities, so that they can take action for nature by creating or improving nectar-rich habitats.
• Develop and lead volunteer opportunities, guided by the needs of the landowners and communities you are working with.
• Be supported by the experts at Buglife, who will provide technical advice and training, and ensure that the project is linked to the wider national B-Lines initiative and targeted species recovery where appropriate.

Part time fixed term 1 year contract. 30 hours a week

Staff Benefits

Avon Wildlife Trust provides a range of benefits for employees including;

• Employer pension contribution up to 5%
• Life assurance – death in service
• 25 days annual leave plus public holidays
• Hybrid working
• Pay Progression
• One day a year to volunteer for a charity of your choice
• Cycle to work
• Employee assistance programme

Contact Details and How to Apply

If you are interested in applying, please download the Job Description, Application Form and Equality and Diversity Monitoring at the bottom of this page and fill in your application before proceeding to 'Apply Now'.

When you click 'Apply Now' you will be asked to attach your completed documents via our HR portal as part of the submission process.

To apply by post, please send your completed application marked 'confidential' to: HR, Avon Wildlife Trust, 17 Great George Street, Bristol BS1 5QT to arrive by the closing date.

Closing date:11:59pm, Monday 1st April 2024

If you would like to discuss this role or have any questions, please email hr@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk to arrange a conversation.

Selection process

Application and selection is through a three-step process. It starts with AWT’s standard application form, so please fill this out, paying particular attention to the details of your relevant experience, knowledge and skills, which is used for shortlisting against the person specification. It is best not to assume prior knowledge and higher scoring is more likely if you explain carefully why you meet the person specification in the Job Description.

Step 1 – Apply by filling in the application form.
CVs may be supplied as additional information but will not be used for initial shortlisting, rather used in subsequent steps.
Deadline: 11:59pm Monday 1st April 2024. This process will produce a shortlist of candidates.

Step 2 – Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview by an initial selection panel. First interviews will be on Monday 8th April 2024.

Step 3 – Second interview for leading candidates will be on or around Tuesday 16th April 2024.

(Please let us know in your application if you are unable to make any of these dates - we may be able to arrange a suitable alternative)

Apply Now

For equal opportunities purposes, we are unable to accept only CVs. No agencies please.

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