Project Officer Nature and Wellbeing

This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to work on inspiring the next generation of
young people through delivering the Princes Trust Get Started in Conservation programmes at
RSPB Rainham Marshes & South Essex reserves and support the wellbeing of local people
through a strengthened connection to nature.

The Get Started in Conservation programme gives young people from diverse backgrounds a chance
to experience and learn more of what nature conservation involves. The RSPB have developed a
‘Get Started’ programme themed around conservation which is aimed at giving young people a
taster of several different aspects of the conservation sector – from hands on conservation
work, to discovering nature and the challenges facing it, along with confidence building
activities based around bushcraft and survival in the outdoors.

This dual role will also be delivering an exciting RSPB Nature Prescriptions project, working
with healthcare professionals based in South Essex.

Development of RSPB’s Nature
Prescriptions has been driven by a growing understanding of the benefits of nature
connection to people’s mental and physical health. We believe that everyone, no matter where
they live or the challenges they face, has the right to feel a strong connection to the natural
world. Inspiring healthcare professionals and others in the NHS and social care, is a key route
for the RSPB to enable more people from more diverse communities to access nature and in doing
so, learn to love nature and work with us to save it. Working with front line health
professionals, and the wider range of social and community partners they connect with, gives us
the potential to reach into every community, and particularly those communities where people
are living with poor physical and mental health; and/or those who experience health and other
inequalities.

Additionally, the Project Officer will manage the Youth Action Panel, a diverse group of
14–22-year-olds living along the River Thames who have an interest in nature and tackling
climate change. This includes recruitment of new members, co-creating a schedule of in person
and online activities for the group, and facilitating learning for members as the Species
Survival Fund progresses.

This project is funded by the Government’s Species Survival Fund. The fund was developed by
Defra and its Arm’s-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.

This is a full-time contract, starting in June 2024 and finishing on the 28th of
February 2026.

Essential skills/experience:

• Experience of developing and delivering projects with diverse communities
• Experience of working within the health and wellbeing sector
• Ability to clearly articulate the importance of nature to physical and mental wellbeing
  through presentations and verbal or written methods including Report Writing and written
  communications.
• Competent IT user (e.g., MS packages, Outlook etc).
• Excellent planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage and deliver a
  varied workload.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to find creative solutions.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Skilled in being able to communicate clearly and confidently the challenges nature faces
  with young people, inspiring them to want to learn more and take action to help save nature.
  Knowledge of the conservation sector along.
• Experience of delivering outdoor nature-based activities such as BioBlitz/Pond dipping and
  in delivering bushcraft sessions such as fire making, shelter building and outdoor cooking.

Desirable skills/experience:

• Experience of producing written materials, newsletters, and similar project related
  communications.
• Some knowledge of the theory and practice of project management.
• Working with various project teams and stakeholders.
• Experience of developing and working in partnerships to achieve shared outcomes.
• Experience of managing volunteers
• Experience of working with contractors

Additional Information

This is a Fixed-Term role for 37.5 hours per week.

The contract ends on 28th of February 2026 and the RSPB reserves the right to extend or make
this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the
contract term.

For further information please contact [email protected]. Interviews are planned to take
place on Friday 14th June.

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including
evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone
feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a
world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People
of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate,
sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled,
we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any
additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the
successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be
offered an employment contract.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes
attached to the top of this advert.

We reserve the right to close this advert at any time.