Conservation Officer - GrubsUp!

North York Moors National Park; Helmsley; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Generous annual leave

Job summary

The North York Moors National Park Authority invites applications for a Conservation Officer to lead the GrubsUp! project. The role is full-time on a two-year fixed-term contract, beginning October 2026, with 37 hours per week.

You will work with land managers, volunteers and communities to protect and enhance habitats for invertebrates and pollinators, manage budgets, and monitor ecological outcomes. Weekend and lone-working commitments apply.

Qualifications

• Experience working in rural areas with land managers, volunteers, partner organisations and communities to implement countryside conservation projects.
• Experience working with volunteers, including the line management required to manage a range of individuals and groups completing various tasks.
• Working knowledge of GIS packages and ability to develop monitoring approaches.
• Excellent technical report writing skills and experience using a wide range of communication methods.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the GrubsUp! project, helping protect, enhance and create wildlife-rich habitats and increase biodiversity across the National Park.
• Identify and assess sites, work with land managers to improve habitats and support creation of species-rich grassland, hedgerows, wetlands, orchards and woodlands.
• Engage communities and volunteers in practical conservation and species monitoring activities to build local action for biodiversity.

Skills

Rural conservation experience

Volunteer management

GIS knowledge

Report writing

Negotiation skills

Driving licence

Tools

GIS software

Job description

The North York Moors National Park Authority helps to care for one of the UK’s most distinctive protected landscapes. Spanning 554 square miles, the National Park is home to expansive heather moorland, woodland, remote dales, historic villages and dramatic coastline, and plays an important role in supporting nature, communities and sustainable access for visitors.

GrubsUp! is an ecological project that aims to restore, enhance and connect precious habitat for invertebrates, increase the number of insect species and boost environmental resilience in the face of climate change. Covering nearly 200 square miles of insect superhighways, the project will restore and create verges, hedgerows, grasses, wildflowers and grasslands to produce the right environment for insects to thrive.

We are now looking for a Conservation Officer to join us on a full-time basis, working 37 hours per week, for a two year fixed-term contract, commencing October 2026.

The Benefits

• Salary of £36,580 per annum
• 25 days’ annual leave, rising annually by one day to 30 days after five years’ service, plus public holidays

This is a rewarding opportunity for an experienced conservation professional with strong ecological knowledge and a track record of working with land managers, volunteers and communities to join our dedicated organisation.

You’ll have the chance to make a visible difference to one of the UK’s most distinctive protected landscapes, creating and improving habitats that support pollinators, invertebrates and wider biodiversity.

What’s more, you’ll be able to broaden your conservation experience while benefitting from a strong pension and generous annual leave, and leaving a lasting legacy for wildlife and communities.

The Role

As a Conservation Officer, you will deliver the GrubsUp! project, helping protect, enhance and create wildlife-rich habitats, and increase biodiversity across the National Park.

You will identify and assess sites, work with land managers to improve habitats and support the creation of species-rich grassland, hedgerows, wetlands, orchards and woodlands. Working with colleagues and partners, you will maximise the biodiversity value of conservation projects, with a particular focus on invertebrates and pollinators.

You will also engage communities and volunteers in practical conservation and species monitoring activities, helping to build local action for biodiversity and gather ecological data that demonstrates project impact.

Additionally, you will:

• Support land managers to access agri-environmental support and bespoke grants
• Develop and deliver ecological monitoring approaches
• Co-ordinate action to control Invasive Non-Native Species
• Work with partners to improve verge and hedgerow management
• Manage allocated conservation budgets
• Support contractors delivering rare plant propagation in a bespoke nursery
• Promote wider biodiversity messaging to communities and stakeholders

About You

To be considered as a Conservation Officer, you will need:

• Experience working in rural areas with land managers, volunteers, partner organisations and communities to implement countryside conservation projects
• Experience working with volunteers, including the line management required to manage a range of individuals and groups completing various tasks
• Experience following finance and procurement protocols and managing contracts and consultants undertaking remote activities
• An ecological understanding of the range of priority and wildlife-rich habitats found in the NYMNP
• Working knowledge of GIS packages
• Excellent technical report writing skills and experience using a wide range of communication methods
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills
• A full, valid driving licence and access to your own vehicle

Please note, this role will involve working occasional weekends and evenings, as well as lone working in remote areas.

Applications must be completed by 23.59 on 20th September 2026.

Interviews are to be held on Monday 28th September 2026.

Other organisations may call this role Conservation Project Officer, Habitat Restoration Officer, Ecological Projects Officer, Wildlife Conservation Co-ordinator, Environmental Conservation Officer, or Biodiversity Projects Officer.

Webrecruit and the North York Moors National Park Authority are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.