Development Lead (Chalk Streams in the City)

Hours: Full time (37.5 hours per week) or part time (30 hours per week over 4 days)
Contract: Fixed term contract of 12 months (maternity cover)
Area of work: Predominantly in the London area

Are you passionate about connecting people with nature and empowering communities to protect rivers? Do you have experience delivering engaging volunteering and citizen science programmes that inspire real environmental action? Join us and play a pivotal role in restoring London’s rare urban chalk streams.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and motivated community engagement professional to take a leading role in the Development Phase of Chalk Streams in the City, an exciting National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported initiative. This project will restore 75 km of rare urban chalk stream habitat and connect over 20,000 people with their local rivers through hands-on conservation, education, and citizen science.

As Development Lead, you will shape the Trust’s first Engagement Strategy, coordinate an extensive community consultation programme, and manage the London Volunteering and Engagement Programme. You will also oversee delivery partners and help develop a major funding application for the next phase of work. This is a unique opportunity to gain experience in strategic project management, collaborative programme design, and large-scale heritage funding.

This is a rare opportunity to take on a strategic leadership role within a nationally significant project, gaining valuable experience in programme design, partnership working, and heritage lottery funding. Though fixed-term, it offers exceptional scope to develop your portfolio, broaden your network, and make a lasting contribution to environmental engagement and river restoration.

Working at the South East Rivers Trust is rewarding, fulfilling and fast-paced. We collaborate with energy and professionalism, guided by our values of delivering high-quality work, using expertise and science, building strong relationships, and bringing positivity and integrity to everything we do. If this sounds like the right environment for you - we’d love to hear from you. www.southeastriverstrust.org

This project is made possible with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

Please see the full Chalk Streams in the City Development Lead job description on our website for more information.

The deadline for application is 11:59pm on Sunday 20th July 2025. We reserve the right to close the recruitment early.

Interviews will be potentially w.c. 28th July 2025.

If you would like to discuss the position please email [email protected] with your enquiry and we will arrange to call you back.

Please note: All applicants must have the right to work in the UK. If you require sponsorship as you are an overseas applicant, please let us know.