Habitat Monitoring Officer

The Ocean Conservation Trust (OCT) is a global Ocean conservation charity that exists
to restore and protect the Ocean. Our work is centred around people and positive action through
pro-Ocean behaviour and habitat restoration. We’re committed to conserving the marine
environment and inspiring others to do the same.

The OCT are amongst the leading practitioners in the field of seagrass conservation within the
UK. Blue Meadows is the OCT’s holistic approach to seagrass protection, regeneration and
restoration at scale, delivering one of the UK’s largest seagrass restoration programmes. Over
the next 5 years our goal is to protect 700 hectares and develop a blueprint for large scale
restoration of this vital habitat.

The Role

Seagrass protection and restoration is a highly inter-disciplinary, rapidly evolving, and
exciting area of marine conservation. Robust monitoring is a fundamental requirement of lab and
field-based activities under OCT’s Blue Meadows programme, as the team seeks to develop
innovative and impactful ways of restoring and regenerating seagrass at scale. The HMO will
join the Ocean Habitat Restoration team, which has expertise across a range of seagrass
conservation areas. They will work closely with the team to develop and maintain systems to
better equip the Blue Meadows programme to monitor both its lab and field conservation
activities, interpret their impact, evidence successes and failures, communicate these and seek
to continually improve these measures.

You will have a relevant background in marine, environmental or data sciences. With a passion
for the environment or the ocean, you seek to apply your data-oriented skills to make a
difference. You enjoy analysing, visualising and communicating stories using data as a tool. A
good self-learner you are able to break down complex tasks to find efficient solutions, and are
organised with your time, your priorities – and your data! You are flexible and a team player.

In return you will be welcomed into a dynamic team, all of us working towards a shared goal to
succeed in the applied conservation of seagrass. The role will be diverse and rewarding, with
plenty of field time on and in the water – you will be required to spend time on boats and
diving if you have the correct qualifications. There will be opportunity to expand on existing
skills and learn new ones. In becoming part of the Blue Meadows team, you will be part of
pioneering efforts in the field of UK seagrass conservation, and in joining the Ocean
Conservation Trust you will be joining an exciting charity that is making a real difference
each day, with a can-do attitude and hope for the future.

The charity is based in Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City, a renowned centre of excellence within
the field of marine sciences and conservation. A vibrant city with a rich maritime history, it
has – we think! – one of the most incredible locations for a city in the country, if not the
world! With the beaches of Devon to the East, the coast of Cornwall to the West, Dartmoor
National Park behind you, and, of course, the beautiful vista of Plymouth Sound in front of
you, it’s a special place to work and to live.

This is a permanent position for 37.5 hours per week. The salary will range £27,000 – £30,000
per annum depending on experience.

If you have any questions or wish to have an informal chat about the role, please e-mail
[email protected]

Please follow the link to our website at the bottom of this advert for the Job Description and Person Specification.

To apply: Please email the following documents to Andy Cameron with the subject title in the
following format. OCT/HMO24_yourname

1. Your CV
2. A cover letter to explain how you meet the essential criteria for the position (2 sides of
   A4 maximum), we are particularly interested to hear about your experience and skills around
   working in the lab with plant cultivation or relevant equivalent, and your field experience.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 4th February.

Only successful candidates will be contacted.

In line with current legislation all applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. As
part of the recruitment process you will be asked to provide documented evidence of
eligibility.

The OCT operates an Equality and Diversity Policy and is committed to promoting a diverse and
inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. All
applications will be judged solely on merit; however, we particularly welcome applications from
groups currently underrepresented in the workforce.