Conservation Officer - Nature Restoration Fund

About Us:

The Cairngorms National Park is an incredible place to live and work. The UK’s largest national park is a place of sheer abundance, having more high mountain ground than anywhere else in the UK, the largest Caledonian forest, some of Scotland’s purest rivers and finest livestock rearing farmland. It is also home to 25 percent of the UK’s rare and endangered species. It is a truly unique place to work, with our dedicated and passionate nature and climate change team who are committed to achieving the best for both conservation and land management, every day. Furthermore, there is access to some of the most beautiful countryside straight from our Headquarters office door.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority is a fantastic place to work and offers great opportunities to grow your career. The Park Authority is listed in the UK’s top 100 best not- for-profit companies to work for. We’re dedicated to both this amazing place and our employees.

We now have an exciting opportunity for a Conservation Officer – Nature Restoration Fund to join the CNPA and help build the portfolio of nature restoration and species recovery work in the National Park, through the implementation of Nature Restoration Funded (NRF) projects.

Equalities:

CNPA is an inclusive organisation and we welcome applications from everyone irrespective of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion and belief, pregnancy and maternity, relationship status, disability, age and social class. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, disabled and LGBTQ+ communities, as they are under-represented in the environment sector.

We are Disability Confident committed employer, if you are an applicant with disabilities who meets the essential requirements of the post, we will interview you. In all circumstances CNPA appoints on merit-based evidence the applicant supplies in meeting the essential criteria for the post.

The Role:

As our Conservation Officer – Nature Restoration Fund, you will help build the portfolio of nature restoration and species recovery work in the National Park, through the implementation of Nature Restoration Funded (NRF) projects. The NRF projects will contribute to the delivery of National Park Partnership Plan and Cairngorms Nature Action Plan. Specifically, priority species and habitats work including freshwater pearl mussel, wood ants, aspen and montane network and work to support the Capercaillie Emergency Plan.

As the Conservation Officer – Nature Restoration Fund, you will manage the individual Nature Restoration Funded projects and their budgets. You will also work with land managers, partners, local communities and volunteers to deliver species and habitat projects, meaning you will directly contribute to on the ground change.

In this role you will support the collation and analysis of habitat and species information and data, ensuring it is freely available and accessible for use in land management and conservation decision making. You will also raise awareness and understanding of conservation in the Cairngorms National Park, developing Cairngorms Nature communications and engagement activities to showcase nature projects.

For further information about the role, please see the attached job description.

So, if you are keen to be our Conservation Officer – Nature Restoration Fund and you can display the skills and experience listed here, this is the role you’ve been waiting for.

Job Type: 18 month fixed term contract
Hours: Full time; 35 hours per week

CNPA Benefits:

• Civil service pension scheme – some of the benefits include:
  • member contribution rates among the lowest in the public sector
  • tax relief on your contributions
  • generous employer contributions
  • a secure, inflation-proof pension for life, with no investment uncertainty
  • the option of tax-free lump sum on retirement
  • potential access to ill health and injury benefits if you become too ill to work
  • life assurance cover
  • benefits for loved ones and dependants
  • options to increase your pension
  • keeping all your pensions in one place by transferring in a pension you have built up elsewhere
  • support from our trusted charity partners
• 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service, plus Public Holidays
• Professional development
• Flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme
• Use of pool cars

About You:

To be considered as our Conservation Officer – Nature Restoration Fund, you’ll need:

• Organised, self-motivated and driven;
• Recognised qualification at least degree level or equivalent experience in an appropriate ecological or environmental discipline;
• Good experience of conservation project and budget management; with demonstrable experience of managing multiple projects and budgets from conception through to completion;
• Excellent knowledge of biodiversity and conservation gained from demonstrable relevant experience;
• Good communication skills and interpersonal skills and ability to work constructively with a wide range of partners;
• Able to demonstrate positive and effective team working;
• Computer literate and IT literate - able to use Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook;
• Ability to produce accurate and concise reports;
• Experience of working with and managing volunteers to undertake conservation activities;
• Excellent team and partnership working skills;
• Full UK driving licence or access to driver if disability prevents driving.
• Permission to work in the UK

Closing Date: 23:59 hrs, Wednesday 10 September 2025
Interview Date: Wednesday 8 October 2025