Project Officer

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust seeks a Project Officer for peatlands in Lincolnshire, UK. The role involves collaborating with partners to promote nature recovery in the Humberhead Levels, focusing on peatland restoration. The officer will manage contractors, monitor projects, and engage with landowners. This position aims to address biodiversity and climate change issues through the restoration of critical peatland environments, contributing to local wildlife and community benefits.
We are seeking to recruit a peatlands Project Officer to work with our partners within the Humberhead Levels. The individual needs to have a ‘can do’ attitude, working with people to secure opportunities for large-scale nature recovery across the Lincolnshire peatlands within the Natural Character Area (NCA39) and working with their counterparts within Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire.

Background

The Lawton Report and subsequent Government’s 25-Year Environment Plan 2018 and Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 articulate the need for ‘more, bigger, better and joined’ areas for wildlife, that nature needs to be recovered and our natural capital assets need to be

more greatly recognised for the societal benefits they deliver.

We are at a tipping point, as we face the biodiversity and climate change crises. Peatlands have been recognised as being critical in addressing these two issues. Lowland peatlands and warped peats have previously been side-stepped in regards to restoration due to many complexities but

this is now being addressed and we must succeed in securing the remaining lowland and warped peat soils.

The Humberhead Levels National Character Area (NCA39) is shared between the counties of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire. Covering the former pro-glacial Lake Humber, including Humberhead Peatlands NNR, the largest lowland raised mire system in the UK, much of which is protected as a Natura site including Thorne Moor SAC. The Humberhead Level Partnership formed in the 2000s, and has successfully delivered various externally funded programmes of works to continue to create an internationally renowned, unique wetland landscape, supporting thriving communities, economy and wildlife. The partnership is now working together to create and restore Nature Recovery Networks (NRN) including with a focus on peatlands.

With Natural England, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has secured EU Life funding for a project called Moor Space. This seeks to restore the peatlands further within Lincolnshire at our nature reserve, Crowle Moor, and Natural England’s site at Thorne Moor including through working with landowners and managers in the area and the IUCN on applying the peatland code. Further to this the partners, including Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and North Lincolnshire Council, have secured funds through the Nature for Climate Fund Peatland Restoration Grant Scheme. This

project looks to restore peat on existing nature reserves and secure buffer zones where possible working with adjacent landowners. to inform a restoration management plan and to provide support to private landowners with peatlands. Both projects are part way through the delivery

phase, with an eye on the legacy of this work and what next.

This truly is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in regards to lowland peatlands for people and wildlife.

General duties

Primarily the Project Officer will work with existing staff within Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Natural England and North Lincolnshire Council, while liaising with the wider Humberhead Levels Partnership. The Project Officer will help manage specialist contractors onsite alongside the

Trust’s North West Lincolnshire Warden, undertake ongoing monitoring and engage landowners and managers in the area in a positive conversation about peatland management. The post-holder will ensure full audit trail is in place for the monitoring, reporting and evaluation of externally funded activities and attend project management meetings and provide secretariat services where appropriate.

KEY TASKS
• Support partners and help manage individual site delivery programmes of work including overseeing contractors as required.
• Work in conjunction with partners to engage and maintain relationships with key landowners and managers to seek solutions to site management issues and land acquisitions.
• Co-ordinate and/or draft the production of individual site restoration plans, identify required consents/permissions and apply for them.
• Co-ordinate and deliver training workshops and community engagement events.
• Collate evidence and input into further grant applications for peatland restoration.
• Maintain records for audit and claims process to meet grant body requirements and for reporting to relevant Project Steering Groups.
• Deputise for the Head of Conservation within the Humberhead Levels Partnership as required.
• Ensure the credibility and reputation of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and Humberhead Levels Partnership by delivering on time and always seeking to improve standards.
• Promote and publicise the work of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and Humberhead Levels Partnership and associated projects, including giving talks, appearing on radio and TV and providing material for our social media platforms and printed documents.
• Comply with Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s General Policy on Health and Safety and in accordance with specific policies and codes of practice for sites, risk assessments, procedures and best practice as amended from time to time.
• Undertake other reasonable duties from time to time in addition to the above normal duties.

Qualifications and experience

The Project Officer will need to show good knowledge and understanding of nature’s recovery particularly with a preference for peatlands, together with benefitting from experience of partnership working, project management and successful advocacy. The ideal candidate will be

able to manage and meet multiple and competing deadlines prioritising them as necessary, understand the importance of influencing others and be able to communicate in a clear and concise manner to varying audiences, especially land managers and farmers. Full details can be found in the person specification (J325-425).

Applications

Candidates should complete all sections of the application form provided and return it along with a short covering letter or email explaining their interest in the post. CVs will not be accepted as a substitute for the application form.

Completed applications should either be:
• emailed to hr@lincstrust.co.uk with the words “Project Officer” as the subject reference
• posted to the Chief Executive, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Banovallum House, Manor House Street, Horncastle, LN9 5HF and the envelope marked ‘Confidential’

to arrive no later than noon on Wednesday 7 May 2025. Interviews will be held at Banovallum House, Horncastle on Friday 30 May 2025. Approved interview travel expenses of up to £100 will be paid. As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled

applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

Only those candidates selected for interview will be notified. If you do not hear from us by Friday 30 May 2025, you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

Please read all the attached documents for full details of the role, person specification and how to apply. CVs alone will not be accepted.

Job information: Project Officer
• Project Officer job information (J325-424).pdf

Job description: Project Officer
• Project Officer job description (J325-423).pdf

Person specification: Project Officer
• Project Officer person specification (J325-425).pdf

Application form
• LWT Application Form (2025).doc