Visitor Engagement Officer

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust; Castle Espie; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 28,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days annual leave

Free entry to wetland centres

Contributory pension

Life Assurance

Cycle to work

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) Castle Espie seeks a creative Visitor Engagement Officer to tell the story of the site and Strangford Lough’s wetlands. You will lead engagement, develop the annual plan, manage digital channels and work with central teams to deliver engaging campaigns and interpretation.

You’ll be a strong communicator with experience in content across social, email and PR, capable of turning ideas into compelling visitor experiences and comfortable acting as duty manager when

Qualifications

• Experience of developing and delivering a communications plan across email/eCRM, PR and social media.
• Experience of managing digital content, particularly website content.
• Experience of working with designers to turn ideas into interpretation materials.
• Ability to create engaging content for Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
• Experience of working with visitors or the public face-to-face.
• Creative approaches to visitor experience, PR and social media.
• Confidence to act as site duty manager when required.

Responsibilities

• Lead visitor engagement and communications activity at Castle Espie.
• Develop and deliver Castle Espie’s annual communications plan.
• Manage the site’s digital channels and coordinate with central teams.
• Create engaging campaigns and high-quality interpretation materials.
• Work with designers to produce printed materials and digital content.
• Represent the site as duty manager when needed.

Skills

Communications planning

Social media content

Digital content management

Public engagement

Team collaboration

Face-to-face engagement

Organisational skills

Crisis/issue management

Storytelling

Duty manager readiness

Education

Experience in communications/interpretation

Tools

Design collaboration

Job description

Engaging visitors and communities with wetlands

We are looking for a creative and enthusiastic Visitor Engagement Officer to help us tell the story of WWT Castle Espie and the internationally important wetlands of Strangford Lough.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the next chapter for Castle Espie as we develop a more conservation-led, reserve-focused visitor experience. Working closely with the Site Manager, Head of Operations and colleagues across WWT, you will lead our visitor engagement and communications activity, helping people discover why wetlands matter and inspiring them to value and protect these remarkable places.

Castle Espie has a unique opportunity to act as a Window onto Strangford Lough, connecting visitors with its wildlife, landscapes and conservation significance. You will help bring that idea to life throughout the visitor journey, developing fresh and innovative ways for people to experience and understand the site and its wider wetland environment.

This is a varied role combining communications, interpretation, digital content, PR and face-to-face visitor engagement. You will develop and deliver Castle Espie’s annual communications plan, manage the site’s digital channels and work with WWT’s central communications, marketing and interpretation teams to create engaging campaigns and high-quality interpretation.

This is a 30-hour-per-week role, based at WWT Castle Espie.

If you are a talented communicator who combines creativity with excellent organisation, genuinely enjoys engaging with people and wants to use those skills to help connect more people with wetlands and wildlife, we would love to hear from you.

About You

You will be a confident and creative communicator who knows how to turn a great story into engaging content for different audiences and channels.

You will have experience of developing communications plans and producing content across social media, websites, email and PR, together with an understanding of how good interpretation can transform a visitor's experience of a place. You will be comfortable working with designers and other specialists to turn ideas into high-quality interpretation and communications materials.

Just as importantly, we are looking for someone who enjoys working with people. You will need to communicate confidently and professionally with visitors, volunteers, colleagues, media contacts, local communities and external partners. You will be able to work independently and use your own initiative while also being a collaborative member of the wider WWT team.

It is a broad role, so you'll need to be a good organiser and a self-starter, able to balance different priorities and deadlines without losing your eye for detail or creativity. You'll also need the confidence to take responsibility as a duty manager when required.

Experience of working within conservation isn't essential. An interest in nature, wildlife and the environment would, however, be a real advantage.

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Experience of developing and delivering a communications plan, including detailed content across email/eCRM, PR and social media.
• Experience of managing digital content, particularly website content.
• Experience of working with designers and an understanding of design and print processes, ideally producing interpretation or other high-quality printed materials.
• The ability to create relevant and engaging content for digital platforms including Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
• Experience of working directly with visitors or members of the public face-to-face.
• A high level of creativity and the ability to develop innovative approaches to visitor experience, PR and social media.
• The confidence to act as a site duty manager, taking responsibility for decisions and escalating issues when appropriate.

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands . There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

Why you’ll love working at WWT

• Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people
• 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) –this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Free car parking and secure bike storage areas
• Colleague discount on shopping and memberships
• Cycle to work scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones
• Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme

WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.

Registered Charity Number England & Wales, no 1030884 and Scotland, no SC039410

Engaging visitors and communities with wetlands

Wetland conservation, creation and management