Summary

Property Ecologist (Monitoring) 

Please Note - This is a 7 Month fixed-term contract

We’re looking for a Property Ecologist to help shape how nature recovery is monitored and evaluated across National Trust land in Cumbria.

Working across a diverse portfolio of habitats and restoration projects, you’ll help establish the frameworks, indicators and evidence needed to understand ecological change and demonstrate the impact of nature recovery. You’ll bring together ecological information from across projects and landscapes, helping us understand what is working, where change is happening and how conservation outcomes can be improved over time.
Your work will support evidence-led decision making and help ensure our approach to monitoring is consistent, proportionate and aligned with National Trust priorities and external reporting requirements.

What it's like to work here

Nature recovery in Cumbria is delivered through collaboration between property teams, specialist advisers and partners. As part of the Restore Nature Delivery Team, you’ll work closely with project teams, specialists and regional and national colleagues to develop a consistent approach to monitoring and evaluating our conservation work.

This is an opportunity to use ecological evidence at a landscape scale, helping colleagues understand the impact of restoration and build the evidence needed to inform future nature recovery.

What you'll be doing

You’ll help establish a consistent, evidence-led approach to monitoring nature recovery across Cumbria.

Using the National Trust’s emerging monitoring and evaluation framework as a foundation, you’ll adapt and apply it within Cumbria, identifying the indicators, datasets and methodologies needed to demonstrate conservation outcomes across different habitats and restoration projects.
You will:

• Apply and adapt the National Trust’s monitoring and evaluation framework to support nature recovery across Cumbria.
• Identify locally relevant indicators, measures and monitoring requirements that complement national standards and priorities.
• Develop project-specific monitoring approaches aligned with organisational objectives, funding requirements and external reporting requirements.
• Review existing ecological data, monitoring approaches and evidence sources to identify gaps, opportunities and priorities.
• Help establish ecological baselines and monitoring methodologies that allow change to be assessed consistently over time.
• Work with project teams, specialists, consultants and partners to ensure monitoring approaches are practical, proportionate and embedded within project delivery.
• Use GIS and other analytical tools to manage, analyse and present ecological and spatial information.
• Analyse and interpret monitoring data to evaluate conservation outcomes and support evidence-led decision making.

Who we're looking for

1. Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
2. Experience developing, implementing or reviewing ecological monitoring and evaluation frameworks, including selecting appropriate indicators, methodologies and reporting approaches.
3. Experience bringing together and interpreting ecological information from multiple sources to establish baselines, assess change and evaluate conservation outcomes.
4. Experience using GIS to manage, analyse and communicate ecological and spatial information.
5. Understanding of ecological survey methodologies and habitat condition assessment, including the strengths and limitations of different monitoring approaches.
6. Experience working collaboratively with project teams, specialists, consultants and partners to develop consistent approaches to monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
7. Ability to communicate complex ecological information clearly through reports, presentations and practical recommendations.
8. Understanding of environmental legislation, conservation policy and evidence requirements relevant to habitat restoration, species recovery and nature recovery projects.

Why join us?
This is an opportunity to help shape how nature recovery is understood and evidenced across Cumbria.

Working across a diverse portfolio of habitats and restoration projects, you’ll help develop monitoring approaches that allow us to measure ecological change, evaluate conservation outcomes and demonstrate impact. By bringing together evidence from across multiple projects and landscapes, you’ll help inform future restoration and support more resilient, nature-rich landscapes.

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

•Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

•Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

•Rental deposit loan scheme

•Season ticket loan

•EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)

•Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts

•Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.

•Flexible working whenever possible

•Employee assistance programme

•Free parking at most Trust places

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.