Restoration Officer

Active restoration

• Lead The Ecology Centre’s work as part of the Restoration Forth partnership to support the delivery of Restoration Forth’s restoration work, with an additional focus on scoping the potential opportunities for community-led seaweed growing.

• Coordinate and contribute to wider Restoration Forth activities, including seagrass, oyster, blue mussel, saltmarsh restoration and water-quality monitoring, citizen science and community conservation.

• Undertake periods of fieldwork for monitoring restoration success at various sites around the Firth of Forth.

• Contribute to the continuous development of the project by identifying opportunities and carrying out scoping in line with the wider project aims.

• Plan and deliver restoration opportunity-scoping activities, including site visits, desk-based research, habitat mapping, community engagement and stakeholder consultation, and produce clear recommendations to inform future restoration delivery.

• Develop and maintain effective partnerships with landowners, local authorities, communities, volunteers, researchers and conservation organisations, helping to build the relationships needed for future restoration.

• Coordinate and contribute to wider Restoration Forth activities, including seagrass, oyster, blue mussel, saltmarsh restoration and water-quality monitoring, citizen science and community conservation.

• Manage TEC’s Restoration Forth project administration, including project reporting, monitoring progress and outcomes, and managing the project budget in line with agreed plans and funding requirements.

Community engagement and education

• Inspire and educate the local community on the importance of marine and coastal ecosystems, the services they provide and the current conservation management challenges.

• Work with Restoration Forth partners to identify citizen science programmes associated with restored species that meet the needs of local communities. Develop appropriate resources and materials on restoration in the Firth of Forth which can be used through the Centre’s wider discovery experience, education and outreach activities.

• Produce interactive communication materials for to creatively engage audiences about Restoration Forth, using a range of digital media and platforms.

Project management

• Attend project team meetings and report project updates regularly to the CEO and Steering Group, as required.

• Lead on the tracking of project activities, outcomes and expenditure for the elements of the project which the Ecology Centre leads.

• Produce accurate and timely information to WWF-UK in line with their reporting requirements and for funder reports as required.

Health and Safety

• Comply with Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requirements and the charity’s own H&S policies and procedures.

• Review and update health and safety risk assessments to safeguard staff, volunteers, and community members participating in events and activities led by the Ecology Centre for Restoration Forth.

Person Specification

Essential skills and experience

• Experience of working in conservation, habitat restoration or a closely related field.

• Experience developing and managing conservation projects, including planning activities, managing deadlines, monitoring progress and reporting on outcomes.

• Excellent people, partnership working, and communication skills.

• Experience organising and leading practical, outdoor activities with volunteers or community groups.

• Confident working independently, using their own initiative to identify opportunities, solve problems and move projects forward.

• Highly organised, with good time management and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

• A passion for nature and commitment to the charities vision and mission.

• Willing to undertake appropriate training, including outdoor first aid.

Desirable skills and experience

• Experience of coastal restoration and/or coastal habitat management.

• Knowledge of seaweed cultivation.

• Experience developing or delivering citizen science projects.

• Experience of developing successful community engagement or volunteer programmes.

• An understanding of the pressures facing Scotland’s coastal environment.

• A full, current driving licence.