Newt Conservation Partnership - Project Assistant – South Central (Hampshire & Surrey)

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Newt Conservation Partnership

Project Assistant – South Central (Hampshire & Surrey)

Contract: 1-year Fixed-Term Contract, full-time (35 hours per week)

Salary:  £24, 000 per annum

Location:  Flexible/hybrid working

We are looking for an enthusiastic Project Assistant to join our Delivery Team and help create and restore high-quality habitat for great crested newts and other freshwater wildlife.

This is an exciting early-career opportunity for graduates or people with equivalent experience who want to develop a career in practical conservation. Working alongside experienced NCP Project Officers, you will help deliver our programme of habitat creation, restoration and monitoring across southern England. The role combines practical site-based conservation work with project planning, monitoring, mapping, data management and administration, giving you broad experience of how landscape-scale conservation is delivered on the ground.

You’ll receive training, mentoring and day-to-day support, have opportunities to develop your field skills, contribute to monitoring, build your confidence using GIS and data systems, and work with landowners and conservation partners.

We welcome applications from people who can demonstrate relevant knowledge, enthusiasm and transferable skills through a degree, volunteering, work placements, student projects, seasonal or paid work, or other practical experience. We are looking for people with the motivation, reliability and potential to learn.

The roles involve regular travel to NCP compensation sites and working outdoors in a range of conditions, so a full current driving licence and regular access to a vehicle are essential.

The successful applicant will be employed by Amphibian Reptile Conservation and seconded full-time to the Newt Conservation Partnership.

Role: Pool Frog Recovery Manager

Contract: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, fixed term contract starting as soon as possible and ending 31 March 2029, with possibility of extension subject to funding.

Salary: £30,000, the Trust offers a pension of 8% with a minimum contribution from yourself of 1%.

Location: Home-based, within easy reach of the Thetford (Norfolk) area

Reporting to: Species Recovery Manager

We are seeking an experienced ecologist to lead on its work to recover the critically endangered northern pool frog (Pelophylax lessonae). A substantial part of the role will be to manage an exciting new project, “Targeted Recovery Actions for the Northern Pool Frog”. Thanks to a substantial award from Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme Grant Scheme, ARC is initiating this project to enhance the conservation status of the pool frog in England. The northern pool frog is currently found at only two sites in Norfolk, having been reintroduced from Sweden after going extinct in the 1990s. This new project will aid the recovery of the critically endangered northern pool frog by completing a previously started translocation and initiating translocations to two additional sites. Preparation of these sites includes pond creation and pingo restoration. It will involve working with a wide range of partners, including regulators, landowners, volunteers and researchers. The project also involves initiating and supporting a PhD project in conjunction with the University of Salford.

The post requires an understanding of amphibian conservation, planning, reporting and financial management, as well as line managing two non-concurrent seasonal posts.

The post will be home-based, and the post-holder will be expected to either live in or be able to travel regularly to the Thetford (Norfolk) area for meetings and fieldwork, so owning a car is necessary. Some travel elsewhere in Britain will be required, including occasional visits to ARC’s offices in Dorset. Travel expenses and home working expenses will be paid, and IT equipment will be provided.

The main duties are as follows:

• Planning and reporting on Species Recovery Programme (SRP) project progress internally to ARC and to Natural England.
• Overseeing the SRP project budget and risk register.
• Establishing SRP project evaluation methods.
• Delivering major elements of the project directly, including: liaison with researchers and supporting PhD student, leading on reintroductions, monitoring, volunteer engagement, habitat restoration, communications and liaison with landowners.
• Line managing a seasonal Project Officer to deliver, or assist with delivery of, certain elements of the project, focusing on practical aspects of reintroduction, monitoring and volunteer engagement.

Note: because this post involves work with legally protected amphibians for which there are particular concerns over pathogen risks, the post would not suit someone who currently keeps non-native amphibians at home, unless they are willing to comply with strict biosecurity protocols.