We are recruiting! Could you be our next team member?

Jurassic Coast Protected Site Strategy Project Officer

Contract: From January 2024 for 18 months, fixed-term contract (subject to funding)

Hours: We are happy to consider either 28 or 35 hours per week (0.8 or 1.0 FTE) depending on the applicant. We would encourage and welcome applications from individuals seeking the opportunity of a secondment from a relevant agency.

Base: We operate a hybrid working pattern, equally split between working home and at our office at Forston, near Dorchester, Dorset. Travel across the Jurassic Coast region will be required, with the potential for travel across the UK for meetings/conferences

Salary: Circa £30,000 per annum (depending on skills and experience and working pattern)

The role

We are very excited to be recruiting for a new Project Officer, working with the Jurassic Coast Trust CEO, Principal Officer for World Heritage and key stakeholders to help lead in the development and delivery of a vitally important piece of strategic work for the conservation of the World Heritage Site.

The Jurassic Coast occupies a position in wider planning and environmental strategy that is currently unique – it is the only natural World Heritage Site in England. The Outstanding Universal Value of the Jurassic Coast is a distinctive receptor when considering the impacts of climate change and evolving national conservation policy.

The World Heritage designation is now 20 years old and there is a need to update our collective understanding of its conservation needs and the pressures that may arise in the future, not only to the attributes of the site, but to its functional and experiential setting as well.

The Jurassic Coast Protected Site Strategy project is designed to answer some fundamental questions about the future conservation of the WHS and create valuable shared resources for the Jurassic Coast partnership that will support their ongoing work to safeguard the Site’s OUV. The intention is that this will include the formal establishment of Protected Site Strategy for the area by Natural England as well as supplementary planning guidance for the WHS that may be adopted by the local planning authorities.

Within our organisation, the entire staff team collaborate in order to deliver the varied work programme. Colleagues share their knowledge of their work and its relevance to the overall Site to help identify opportunities, steer project planning and inspire their co-workers, partners and JCT audiences.

We are looking for someone with an understanding of and a passion for the landscape of the Jurassic Coast and its extraordinary geological heritage which allows us to lead by example as effective advocates, whether we are speaking to a planning officer, a business partner or a ten-year-old child.

The Jurassic Coast Protected Site Strategy Project Officer will bring dedication and passion to the role, tempered with pragmatism and a sensitivity to partnership working and collaboration. This is a rare opportunity to gain experience in geological heritage conservation and engagement, working along literally one of the most important geological Sites in the World.

Does this sound like a role you can thrive in? If so, please read the attached Role Overview and Job Description and send us your CV and covering letter to explain how your skills and experience align to the role.

For any questions or to have an informal discussion about the role please email Sam Scriven at sam.scriven@jurassiccoast.org

The closing date is Tuesday 2^nd January 2024 at 5pm.