Thames Landscape Strategy - Strategic Projects and Engagement Officer

Hours: 35 hours per week (Fixed term contract for 12 months, potential for extension subject to funding)
Reports to: HR matters to CEO of Habitats & Heritage. Day to day tasks, reports to Thames Landscape Strategy Strategic Projects Manager
Location: Flexible working including home working, Holly Lodge Richmond Park TW10 5HS and various locations throughout SW London and North Surrey.
Application deadline: Monday 22nd September 2025, 9am
Interviews: Monday 6th October 2025
Start Date: Flexible / as soon as possible.

Job outline

The Strategic Projects and Engagement Officer (SPO) will build new and develop existing partnerships, work with stakeholders, outreach to new and diverse audiences to assist the TLS in the development and delivery of projects, policy and guidance.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

1. Work with the TLS team and reporting to the Thames Landscape Strategy Strategic Projects Manager, to deliver a range of accessible outreach sessions for communities and stakeholders to deliver TLS aspirations and increase knowledge about the Thames Landscape Strategy and the Joint Thames Strategies Refresh
2. To develop and implement new and existing projects to deliver the Thames Landscape Strategy and the Annual Action Plan
3. To maintain existing and develop new partnerships across the Thames Landscape Strategy area
4. Work with the TLS team to design and implement a range of interpretation material (including interpretation panels, display material, paper and online content) by working with the partners and community to create content that is accessible and relevant to the needs of a diverse audience
5. Develop and deliver a range of special projects and events to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders to promote the TLS and to consult with communities. To include special events and activities, the Arcadian Thames Camera Obscura Tent, meetings, workshops and virtual webinars
6. Recruit new and manage existing volunteers on TLS conservation projects, so that more people can engage with and participate with the TLS practical conservation programme through the Strategy Refresh process
7. Document, monitor and evaluate projects/programmes thoroughly disseminating information to partner organisations, undertaking training where necessary
8. To assist in the preparation of Thames Landscape Strategy and Thames Strategy Kew to Chelsea refresh with a particular focus on GIS data
9. Manage the TLS social media output and website
10. Carry out the responsibilities of the post having regard to the TLS and H&H relevant policies and procedures
11. Undertake all duties and interaction with employees, partner providers and customers fairly, without unlawful discrimination and with due regard to the TLS/London Borough of Richmond’s Diversity & Equality in Employment & Service Delivery Policies
12. Assist with other duties as required for instance events, general administrative duties and staff cover and to be a reliable and flexible member of the Thames Landscape Strategy Team including evenings and weekends

The Charity – Habitats & Heritage

Habitats & Heritage is the local charity that acts for the natural and historic environment and climate in south and west London. We take care of our local landscape; its wildlife, ecosystems, heritage as well as fostering sustainable behaviours by:

1. Using our local knowledge and experience to lead the way in protecting and creating a better and more sustainable environment for everyone.
2. Working in partnership with others to raise awareness and address local environmental and heritage issues.
3. Bringing people together to better understand, learn and connect with and enjoy their local environment and heritage.
4. Empowering and mobilising communities to enhance and maintain the spaces they care about.
5. Building better quality habitats and ecosystems for nature and wildlife to thrive.
6. Encouraging accessibility and involvement to ensure everyone enjoys and experiences the positive health and wellbeing benefits from spending time in our natural and historic environment.

We are based in Twickenham and work across the London Boroughs of: Richmond; Hounslow; Kingston; Wandsworth; and Merton.

This postholder would be an integral part of the Habitats & Heritage team of 16 staff. Day to day they will be working with the Thames Landscape Strategy project team as outlined below.

Thames Landscape Strategy and The Joint Thames Strategy Programme

The Thames Landscape Strategy is a partnership of riparian authorities, stakeholders and communities with a mandate to conserve and enhance the remarkable River Thames from Weybridge to Kew (the Arcadian Thames). The partnership works together to develop and deliver projects which protect this unique stretch of culturally and environmentally significant landscape. The vision and delivery actions are set out in a 100year handbook to guide the management and development of the Arcadian Thames.

The Joint Thames Strategy (JTS) programme represents a landmark collaborative effort to secure the long-term climate resilience of the Thames from "Surrey to the Sea." Over the next 12 months, the TLS Partnership is working with equivalent organisations downstream (Thames Strategy Kew to Chelsea and Thames Estuary Partnership) to update and evolve these management strategies as part of the JTS, as well as continue to deliver the on-going action plan.

Job Purpose

The Strategic Project and Engagement Officer (SPO) role is partially funded through a grant received by London Borough of Richmond, from DEFRA, through the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, to support the TLS staff in the engagement process of the JTS in both the Arcadian Thames areas and the Thames Strategy Kew to Chelsea area. The JTS and TLS set out to explore ways to adapt and make resilient the floodplain of the Thames in response to climate change and increasing flood risk. This includes educating and engaging with members of the public, professional officers, and elected officials, to discuss sustainable future management of the Thames Landscape, not only in terms of flood-management and mitigation, but also in terms of access, heritage conservation, potential for nature-based solutions, local strategic planning and many more multiples benefit opportunities. The aim of this engagement is twofold; to listen to people’s views on how the Thames and its environs could be managed in the future and to enthuse and provide information about what the TLS and JTS are all about.

As well as supporting engagement on the future of the Thames Landscape, this role is also critical to the on-going delivery of the many active TLS projects currently underway, as well as helping to shape and deliver up-coming ones. The other part of the funding for this role comes from the TLS partner, the Father Thames Trust, as charitable organisation that helps to raise funds for the capital and revenue of the TLS. This funding is being provided to manage and deliver on the ground conservation management with local volunteers and community groups. It is also for the project management and delivery of several existing projects including the Naturalisation of Canbury Gardens Riverbank in Kingston, and other floodplain management projects in various stages of development – from consultation, finding funding and/or managing delivery. This is to continue to deliver the TLS’s aims from its exciting Rewilding Arcadia project over the last several years.

The SPO will be employed by Habitats & Heritage on behalf of the Thames Landscape Strategy. The SPO will report to the Thames Landscape Strategy and follow the agreed policies and procedures whilst following the HR policies and procedures of Habitats and Heritage.

This is an exciting and varied role, providing the opportunity to shape a ground-breaking projects like ‘Rewilding Arcadia’ and also take part in shaping future strategic proposals for the Thames both locally and regionally. The post holder will help to develop and roll out the partnerships engagement programmes, producing display materials and attending meetings and events with varied and diverse stakeholders, volunteer management, conservation projects, and strategic programme development.

The post holder will be inventive and enthusiastic about the environment and/or heritage and able to engage with a diverse range of users, stakeholders and communities to develop and implement a variety of projects across the Arcadian Thames and alongside wider partnerships.

Person Specification

Interpersonal skills

1. Excellent team-working and leadership skills with people of diverse backgrounds and levels of knowledge.
2. Excellent oral communication skills including ability to adapt communication styles to a variety of circumstances.
3. Ability to work independently and be self-motivated
4. Highly motivated with a passion for the environment and heritage.

Training & experience

1. A degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (desirable)
2. Experience of working within the heritage / environment / landscape management sector (essential)
3. Experience of organising and managing practical conservation volunteering events on the ground
4. Experience of organising events (desirable)
5. Experience of working within the voluntary sector (essential)
6. GIS experience (desirable)

Knowledge & skills

1. Ability to manage small budgets
2. Computer and social media literate
3. Ability to develop environmental interpretation content and deliver learning programmes and projects, working as part of a team.
4. Understanding of climate change and environmental issues in terms of good practice and in-sector opportunities.
5. Ability to develop and manage on the ground practical volunteering events including undertaking risk assessments and tool safety
6. Ability to work in partnership with a range of different organisations to meet shared goals, priorities and sector standards.
7. Excellent administrative skills including ability to devise and manage projects.
8. Understanding of audience development and commitment to creating accessible educational programmes in a range of formats, which meet the needs of a diverse community.
9. The post will require excellent office/ICT skills including understanding of web and digital based content and an ability to maintain and develop database systems.
10. Ability to understand the requirements of participants with special needs.
11. Commitment and flexibility are key qualities of this post-holder, developing teamwork as well as supporting the work of other staff
12. Ability to demonstrate an understanding of why Equal Opportunities is important in employment
13. A full clean driving licence is required
14. First Aid qualification (desirable)