Conservation Project Officer (South-East Pine Marten Restoration Project Le

at  Kent Wildlife Trust

ABOUT US:

Kent Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading conservation charity with more than 31,000 members and over 1000 registered volunteers. We manage and protect over 9000 acres of land across more than 90 different sites and nature reserves, alongside 2 visitor centres. But we can’t save nature alone. So, we work closely with local communities, businesses, organisations and individuals to protect and restore wildlife and wild spaces and create a wilder Kent for the benefit of people and the planet.

WHAT WE NEED YOU TO BRING:

• Experience of complex project management and ability to deliver projects to schedule and budget, with good organisational and time management skills.
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  Excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrable ability to work as part of a close, multidisciplinary team.
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  Proven experience in collaborative working and networking with multiple partners, peers, and experts in diverse disciplines, including with regulators on policy issues.
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  A high level of initiative – able to think flexibly, creatively, and analytically, and initiate and develop new ways of working.
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  Previous work in an environmental sector.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING:

This is a one year fixed-term contract which may be extended subject to project development and funding. The South-East Pine Marten Restoration Project aims to sustainably restore European Pine Marten to south-east England through Pine Marten conservation translocation, landholder support, and public engagement. The Project Lead will be responsible for driving the project development and planning and, subject to the assessment outcomes and required approvals, implement Pine Marten conservation translocation and post-release monitoring to ensure a successful and sustainable outcome. The role will co-lead the project with Wildwood Trust under a MoU, collaborate with project partners and stakeholders, and engage with statutory agencies and expert advisors. The role will use the latest evidence to develop and deliver innovations, best practice, and legal compliance to support a sustainable Pine Marten conservation translocation.

You will:

• Coordinate the ecological feasibility and social feasibility assessments with relevant internal project teams, partners, stakeholders, and landowners.
• Secure legal compliance for Pine Marten conservation translocation to the south-east.
• Subject to the outcome of feasibility assessments and legal compliance, develop and implement the Pine Marten conservation translocation strategy in alignment with IUCN Conservation Translocation Guidelines (2013) and Defra Conservation Translocation Guidelines (July 2024).
• With advice of Pine Marten specialists and project teams, design and deliver ecological and behavioural research and practical works to evaluate and support Pine Marten translocation success and mitigate potential socio-ecological impacts.