Somerset Wildlife Trust
Cheddar, Somerset
Project Ecologist - Species Recovery Contract type: Fixed term, until the end of March 2029 Working hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week Salary: £30,000 per annum Salary Banding: Level 3 Location: Based at our Callow Office, Shipham Gorge BS27 this role covers the Somerset Levels and will be a hybrid role working from the office, home and out in the field. This exciting new role is a part of the Natural England Species Recovery Programme. The "Wild Again: Restoring England's Wildlife" initiative aims to enhance threatened species populations across the UK. Somerset Wildlife Trust are excited to lead the Bolstering the Somerset Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) population project. About Us Somerset Wildlife Trust is a local independent charity and the only organisation uniquely focused on improving the natural environment of Somerset for the benefit of wildlife and people. We champion Somerset's stunning, diverse, and important natural environment, making the case for nature to the public and politicians. We protect wildlife and lead the recovery of the environment by example, including on our nature reserves. About You and the Role The Project Ecologist will be responsible for delivering habitat and bittern species surveys across the Somerset Levels and Moors project area. This will include assessing a range of reedbed and wetland mosaic types to assess suitability for bittern, as well as engaging and advising landowners on habitat enhancement. Supported by Somerset Wildlife Trust staff, landowner engagement will involve the identification of improvement works funded by the project. The survey work will be completed with the support of a new, dedicated volunteer group led by the Species Recovery Project Ecologist. Responsibility 1: Lead Ecological Surveys Ensure correct data reporting by: Leading bittern, reedbed, and wetland mosaic habitat surveys across the project area (Somerset Levels and Moors). This work includes surveying on private land, as well as National Nature Reserves owned by SWT, RSPB, and Natural England. Keeping up to date with SWT data handling & reporting standards, particularly in close collaboration with Somerset Environmental Records Centre (SERC). Working closely with the Project Manager for the BSB project, sharing specialist species knowledge, reporting project progress, being involved in project meetings, and recording volunteer hours. Responsibility 2: Enhance Habitat Conditions Improve reedbed and wetland mosaic sites by: Identifying key sites for restoration and/or enhancement, supported by specialist habitat knowledge and SERC. Collaborating with SWT's Honeygar Land Management and Monitoring Manager to engage local landowners and organisations around the Avalon Marshes area with the aim of habitat restoration and/or enhancement for bittern recovery. Advising landowners across the Somerset Levels project area on habitat enhancement and restoration, identifying and allocating use of project funding to support work on private land. Ensure best communication practices that are in line with SWT standards. Responsibility 3: Manage Volunteers Provide leadership and support by: Providing leadership and mentoring to volunteers so that they can conduct species and habitat surveys without direct supervision. Working with SWT's Volunteering & Community Support Officer to ensure best practice when engaging and recruiting volunteers, including following SWT safety procedures and capturing issues raised by volunteers. Contributing to the recruitment & promotion of volunteers for the new bittern survey group, which involves working closely with the Project Manager and SWT Marketing & Communications team We offer some fantastic benefits including: 7% employer pension contribution Life assurance An annual professional institution subscription if applicable Flexible and agile working Wellbeing support - EAP, wellbeing champions Diversity networks through RSWT/TWT Paid volunteer days Continuous Professional Development opportunities 33 days of holiday (25 + bank holidays) The opportunity to make a real and positive difference to nature, communities and the climate. Closing date: Friday 31 July 2026 Interested? If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position. No agencies please.
Project Ecologist - Species Recovery Contract type: Fixed term, until the end of March 2029 Working hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week Salary: £30,000 per annum Salary Banding: Level 3 Location: Based at our Callow Office, Shipham Gorge BS27 this role covers the Somerset Levels and will be a hybrid role working from the office, home and out in the field. This exciting new role is a part of the Natural England Species Recovery Programme. The "Wild Again: Restoring England's Wildlife" initiative aims to enhance threatened species populations across the UK. Somerset Wildlife Trust are excited to lead the Bolstering the Somerset Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) population project. About Us Somerset Wildlife Trust is a local independent charity and the only organisation uniquely focused on improving the natural environment of Somerset for the benefit of wildlife and people. We champion Somerset's stunning, diverse, and important natural environment, making the case for nature to the public and politicians. We protect wildlife and lead the recovery of the environment by example, including on our nature reserves. About You and the Role The Project Ecologist will be responsible for delivering habitat and bittern species surveys across the Somerset Levels and Moors project area. This will include assessing a range of reedbed and wetland mosaic types to assess suitability for bittern, as well as engaging and advising landowners on habitat enhancement. Supported by Somerset Wildlife Trust staff, landowner engagement will involve the identification of improvement works funded by the project. The survey work will be completed with the support of a new, dedicated volunteer group led by the Species Recovery Project Ecologist. Responsibility 1: Lead Ecological Surveys Ensure correct data reporting by: Leading bittern, reedbed, and wetland mosaic habitat surveys across the project area (Somerset Levels and Moors). This work includes surveying on private land, as well as National Nature Reserves owned by SWT, RSPB, and Natural England. Keeping up to date with SWT data handling & reporting standards, particularly in close collaboration with Somerset Environmental Records Centre (SERC). Working closely with the Project Manager for the BSB project, sharing specialist species knowledge, reporting project progress, being involved in project meetings, and recording volunteer hours. Responsibility 2: Enhance Habitat Conditions Improve reedbed and wetland mosaic sites by: Identifying key sites for restoration and/or enhancement, supported by specialist habitat knowledge and SERC. Collaborating with SWT's Honeygar Land Management and Monitoring Manager to engage local landowners and organisations around the Avalon Marshes area with the aim of habitat restoration and/or enhancement for bittern recovery. Advising landowners across the Somerset Levels project area on habitat enhancement and restoration, identifying and allocating use of project funding to support work on private land. Ensure best communication practices that are in line with SWT standards. Responsibility 3: Manage Volunteers Provide leadership and support by: Providing leadership and mentoring to volunteers so that they can conduct species and habitat surveys without direct supervision. Working with SWT's Volunteering & Community Support Officer to ensure best practice when engaging and recruiting volunteers, including following SWT safety procedures and capturing issues raised by volunteers. Contributing to the recruitment & promotion of volunteers for the new bittern survey group, which involves working closely with the Project Manager and SWT Marketing & Communications team We offer some fantastic benefits including: 7% employer pension contribution Life assurance An annual professional institution subscription if applicable Flexible and agile working Wellbeing support - EAP, wellbeing champions Diversity networks through RSWT/TWT Paid volunteer days Continuous Professional Development opportunities 33 days of holiday (25 + bank holidays) The opportunity to make a real and positive difference to nature, communities and the climate. Closing date: Friday 31 July 2026 Interested? If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position. No agencies please.
Somerset Wildlife Trust
Taunton, Somerset
Are you passionate about restoring nature, and want to develop your technical expertise within an organisation which provides data and insight into environmental decision making, both locally and nationally. Somerset Environmental Records Centre are looking for a Data Officer who can help us deliver our core services, but also help us to build upon those, to maximise our conservation impact. Data Officer Somerset Environmental Records Centre Salary: Banding Level 2 - £26,500 - £28,000 per annum Contract type: Permanent Working hours: Full time Location: Taunton, Somerset (Opportunity for hybrid working) About Us: Somerset Wildlife Trust is a local independent charity. We are the only organisation uniquely focused on improving the natural environment of Somerset for the benefit of wildlife and people. We protect, and lead the recovery of Somerset s stunning, diverse, and important natural environment, making the case for nature to the public and politicians. The Somerset Environmental Records Centre (SERC) is a non-profit organization hosted by the Somerset Wildlife Trust . We serve as the county s central hub for data regarding wildlife sightings, habitats, and geology. About you and the Role You ll be part of a team where new software and techniques can do some of the heavy lifting, but we also need you to be resourceful and innovative in your thinking. You will work closely with our Data Manager and colleagues, to refine existing systems and processes, and ensure best practice is embedded in everything that we do. Including within the centre s data acquisition, collation, synthesis, management and analysis, where diligence and achieving efficiencies, are both priorities. Principal elements of the role are to assist in the Data Management process within SERC, data governance and policy, data collection and capture, storage, security, integration and analysis. This includes software management and working with existing data and acquiring or accessing new data and evidence from varying sources. You ll help ensure all incoming and outgoing data processes run smoothly, securely and are up to date, to fulfil SERC s mission as the go to ecological data evidence provider for the county. Whilst working closely with the Data Manager and Head of SERC, there will be opportunities for personal development and to work with other team members in the promotion and growth of SERC, ensuring environmental information is gathered, stored, analysed, interpreted and managed in line with the requirements of the SERC partnership. Responsibility 1: Data Management Helping maintain the integrity of SERC data in the databases and GIS system. This includes the establishment and conformity to SERC IT policies and protocols, ensuring that data integrity is maintained, routine data quality processes are carried out, and data protection legislation is adhered to, for example regarding personally identifiable data such as GDPR. Uploading data to the databases as required. Responsible for the smooth and timely transfer of data between databases/systems, such as uploads from Mapmate files and NBN uploads/extracts, discussing and resolving technical issues as necessary. Carrying out the analysis of SERC s data holdings and identifying gaps at least annually in order to inform the following year s activities. Undertaking SLA deliverables regarding data extracts in a timely and accurate manner as required by each Service Level Agreement. Providing technical input to the development of SERC software applications to assist SERC in streamlining its services and developing its products. Working with the SERC Data Manager and team to optimise SERC s Engineering Data Management Process to facilitate current and future mandatory Government policies, such as BNG etc. Actively sharing IT and systems knowledge and skills with colleagues and volunteers. Responsibility 2: Data Security Working with the SERC Data Manager to continually maintain robust systems and processes, and seek improvements in data security, for example embedding metadata into spatial outputs etc. Ensuring backup arrangements are adequate, ensuring data is as secure as it can be and that recovery procedures work as expected. Implementing the correct processes, tools, and controls to secure and protect SERC s databases against accidental and intentional threats. Secure sensitive data and maintain the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of the databases and associated applications, systems, physical and virtual servers, including all other storage medium held on and off-site, and network infrastructure. We offer some fantastic benefits including: 7% employer pension contribution Life assurance Flexible and agile working Wellbeing support EAP, wellbeing champions Diversity networks through RSWT/TWT Paid volunteer days Continuous Professional Development opportunities 33 days of holiday (25 + bank holidays) + Christmas shutdown Staff social calendar and events The opportunity to make a real and positive difference to nature, communities and the climate Closing date: Monday 15 June 2026 Interested? If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position. No agencies please.
Are you passionate about restoring nature, and want to develop your technical expertise within an organisation which provides data and insight into environmental decision making, both locally and nationally. Somerset Environmental Records Centre are looking for a Data Officer who can help us deliver our core services, but also help us to build upon those, to maximise our conservation impact. Data Officer Somerset Environmental Records Centre Salary: Banding Level 2 - £26,500 - £28,000 per annum Contract type: Permanent Working hours: Full time Location: Taunton, Somerset (Opportunity for hybrid working) About Us: Somerset Wildlife Trust is a local independent charity. We are the only organisation uniquely focused on improving the natural environment of Somerset for the benefit of wildlife and people. We protect, and lead the recovery of Somerset s stunning, diverse, and important natural environment, making the case for nature to the public and politicians. The Somerset Environmental Records Centre (SERC) is a non-profit organization hosted by the Somerset Wildlife Trust . We serve as the county s central hub for data regarding wildlife sightings, habitats, and geology. About you and the Role You ll be part of a team where new software and techniques can do some of the heavy lifting, but we also need you to be resourceful and innovative in your thinking. You will work closely with our Data Manager and colleagues, to refine existing systems and processes, and ensure best practice is embedded in everything that we do. Including within the centre s data acquisition, collation, synthesis, management and analysis, where diligence and achieving efficiencies, are both priorities. Principal elements of the role are to assist in the Data Management process within SERC, data governance and policy, data collection and capture, storage, security, integration and analysis. This includes software management and working with existing data and acquiring or accessing new data and evidence from varying sources. You ll help ensure all incoming and outgoing data processes run smoothly, securely and are up to date, to fulfil SERC s mission as the go to ecological data evidence provider for the county. Whilst working closely with the Data Manager and Head of SERC, there will be opportunities for personal development and to work with other team members in the promotion and growth of SERC, ensuring environmental information is gathered, stored, analysed, interpreted and managed in line with the requirements of the SERC partnership. Responsibility 1: Data Management Helping maintain the integrity of SERC data in the databases and GIS system. This includes the establishment and conformity to SERC IT policies and protocols, ensuring that data integrity is maintained, routine data quality processes are carried out, and data protection legislation is adhered to, for example regarding personally identifiable data such as GDPR. Uploading data to the databases as required. Responsible for the smooth and timely transfer of data between databases/systems, such as uploads from Mapmate files and NBN uploads/extracts, discussing and resolving technical issues as necessary. Carrying out the analysis of SERC s data holdings and identifying gaps at least annually in order to inform the following year s activities. Undertaking SLA deliverables regarding data extracts in a timely and accurate manner as required by each Service Level Agreement. Providing technical input to the development of SERC software applications to assist SERC in streamlining its services and developing its products. Working with the SERC Data Manager and team to optimise SERC s Engineering Data Management Process to facilitate current and future mandatory Government policies, such as BNG etc. Actively sharing IT and systems knowledge and skills with colleagues and volunteers. Responsibility 2: Data Security Working with the SERC Data Manager to continually maintain robust systems and processes, and seek improvements in data security, for example embedding metadata into spatial outputs etc. Ensuring backup arrangements are adequate, ensuring data is as secure as it can be and that recovery procedures work as expected. Implementing the correct processes, tools, and controls to secure and protect SERC s databases against accidental and intentional threats. Secure sensitive data and maintain the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of the databases and associated applications, systems, physical and virtual servers, including all other storage medium held on and off-site, and network infrastructure. We offer some fantastic benefits including: 7% employer pension contribution Life assurance Flexible and agile working Wellbeing support EAP, wellbeing champions Diversity networks through RSWT/TWT Paid volunteer days Continuous Professional Development opportunities 33 days of holiday (25 + bank holidays) + Christmas shutdown Staff social calendar and events The opportunity to make a real and positive difference to nature, communities and the climate Closing date: Monday 15 June 2026 Interested? If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position. No agencies please.
