Leeds Wild Spaces Project Officer
Butterfly Conservation
Responsible To: Head of Engagement
Location: Home based with travel required throughout the project area (Leeds)
Salary: £28,148 - £32,519, depending upon experience plus 8% employer pension contribution
Hours: 1.0 FTE, 37 hours per week
Contract: Fixed term (6 months) from March 2026
We believe our work has never been more important.
Wildlife is in steep decline across the UK and over three-quarters of butterflies and two-thirds of moths are declining. We recognise it needs a great team with a wide variety of skills to tackle the problems facing butterflies, moths and the environment.
If you have experience of habitat creation, working with local communities and of delivering change for nature on the ground - we would love to hear from you. This role will inspire and support local people to learn about and take action to help butterflies and moths so a natural enthusiasm for engaging and inspiring people from a diverse range of backgrounds is essential.
Wild Spaces is Butterfly Conservation’s flagship engagement programme. It provides a simple and easy way for everyone to get involved and make a difference to help butterflies and moths. We have already worked closely with Leeds City Council to identify sites for Wild Space creation within city parks, with some of the work already underway. The Project Officer will pick up the coordination of this work and deliver public events and training for local communities.
Job Purpose
- Contribute to Butterfly Conservation’s ambitious 2021-2026 strategy – specifically the goal to inspire people to take action for nature.
- Work closely with Butterfly Conservation’s Engagement Team to deliver the aims and objectives of the Leeds Wild Spaces project in partnership with Leeds City Council.
Main Responsibilities
- Work with our key contacts within Leeds City Council to plan, create and maintain a network of 8 Wild Spaces (habitat for butterflies to feed, breed and find shelter) within selected parks across the city.
- Liaise with Council staff to appoint and oversee contractors (where necessary) to prepare/clear areas within public parks allocated for Wild Space creation.
- Work effectively with Leeds City Council & Community Groups to share & embed good practice in creating & maintaining Wild Spaces.
- Organise and deliver 20 events across 8 the Wild Spaces, to include training for Community Group volunteers and engagement opportunities for local communities
- Identify and procure supplies and equipment from appropriate local sources (e.g. trees, seeds, shrubs, plants and equipment).
- Gather data necessary for reporting on and evaluating the project’s success in achieving desired outcomes.
- Keep appropriate records of project expenditure and work with the Head of Wild Spaces to ensure the project is delivered within budget.
- Plan and deliver an end-of-project celebration event
General
- Promote BC’s values (Excellence, Passionate, Inspiring, Collaborative) ensuring they are adopted in all aspects of the role.
- Undertake any other reasonable duties as required and commensurate with the grade of post.
- Undertake all duties and responsibilities in compliance with the rules and regulations encompassing equal opportunities to help foster a diverse workforce.
- Work in accordance with BC’s policies, procedures, and codes of conduct.
- Actively participate in on-going professional development activities.
Candidates must have the right to work and be resident in the UK.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early before the advertised closing date and time.
Closing date: Monday, 26 January 2026 at 23:59.
Interviews will be held on Wednesday, 4 February 2026.
REF-225 695
About Butterfly Conservation
Butterfly Conservation is a vibrant, inspiring place to work and we're passionate about connecting people to nature. We're looking to recruit passionate ‘can-do’ people who can help us to create a world where butterflies and moths thrive and can be enjoyed by everyone, forever.
- Butterfly Conservation is a charity dedicated to saving butterflies, moths, and our natural environment. We are a leading authority on the conservation of these beautiful creatures – key indicators of a healthy ecosystem – and we have achieved numerous successes for them locally and nationally.
- Our people are at the heart of what we do. Our work is only possible thanks to the commitment and dedication of our supporters, volunteers, and staff.
- We employ world-class conservation scientists, making us the world’s largest research institute for butterflies and moths. Our data is used by government and policymakers to make a long-term difference for the environment.
- We are actively involved in hands-on conservation throughout the UK, at every level from individual households to landscape-scale habitats, working tirelessly to make a difference for butterflies, moths, and our environment – and to benefit all wildlife and the ecosystems upon which life depends.
- We run projects to protect threatened species, and we are involved in conserving hundreds of other sites across the UK.
Butterfly Conservation is a vibrant, inspiring place to work and we're passionate about connecting people to nature. We're looking to recruit passionate ‘can-do’ people who can help us to create a world where butterflies and moths thrive and can be enjoyed by everyone, forever. Butterfly Conservation is a charity dedicated to saving butterflies, moths, and our natural environment. We are a leading authority on the conservation of these beautiful creatures – key indicators of a healthy ecosystem – and we have achieved numerous successes for them locally and nationally. Our people are at the heart of what we do. Our work is only possible thanks to the commitment and dedication of our supporters, volunteers, and staff. We employ world-class conservation scientists, making us the world’s largest research institute for butterflies and moths. Our data is used by government and policymakers to make a long-term difference for the environment. We are actively involved in hands-on conservation throughout the UK, at every level from individual households to landscape-scale habitats, working tirelessly to make a difference for butterflies, moths, and our environment – and to benefit all wildlife and the ecosystems upon which life depends. We run projects to protect threatened species, and we are involved in conserving hundreds of other sites across the UK.
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