Project Officer (Habitat Creation and Restoration)

Help restore one of Cornwall’s most iconic landscapes...

Cornwall National Landscape is seeking a passionate and driven Project Officer to help deliver ambitious peatland and habitat restoration across Bodmin Moor, working with the South West Peatland Partnership.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a hands-on role tackling the climate and biodiversity crises—restoring peatlands that lock away carbon, improve water quality, support wildlife, and strengthen landscape resilience.

This role will be at the heart of a high-profile partnership programme, working alongside farmers, land managers, contractors, and environmental specialists to deliver lasting change on the ground.

The Service & Team:

The Project Officer will be working as part of the Cornwall National Landscape team. Cornwall National Landscape (formerly known as Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) is part of a family of 38 National Landscapes across England and Wales, delivering a wide range of projects to conserve and enhance natural beauty within these iconic landscapes. Cornwall National Landscape have been allocated DEFRA funding to deliver outcomes for creation and restoration of wildlife rich habitats. Locally the team are hosted within the Cornwall Council Connectivity and Environment service. The role will work closely with the South West Peatland Partnership (SWPP) taking day-to-day instruction from SWPP officers, at times operating from their offices.

The Role:

You’ll combine technical expertise, project management, and relationship-building to deliver restoration projects from concept to completion.

Key aspects include:

• Leading peatland restoration projects on site, from planning through to delivery
• Working closely with farmers, landowners, commoners and tenants to develop practical, sustainable solutions.
• Managing contractors and site operations, ensuring works are delivered safely, on time and within budget.
• Preparing restoration plans, surveys and GIS mapping to support high-quality project design.
• Acting as a key link between Cornwall National Landscape and SWPP partners, including South West Water.
• Supporting monitoring, reporting, and funding compliance for project values up to £250,000.

This is a site-based role where you’ll spend significant time outdoors on Bodmin Moor, supervising works and working directly with delivery partners.

This position will be subject to a basic criminal record disclosure check.

Working Pattern:

The core working hours will be 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

What you’ll need to succeed:

We’re looking for someone who is as comfortable on a windswept moorland as they are managing complex projects.

You’ll ideally have:

• Experience managing conservation or habitat restoration projects and supervising contractors.
• A strong understanding of upland farming systems, ecology, and land management.
• Proven ability to build relationships and provide practical advice to farmers and land managers.
• Knowledge of peatland restoration techniques and wider habitat creation approaches.
• Operational experience of CDM regulations
• Confidence in GIS and field survey work
• Excellent organisational skills, with experience managing budgets, timelines and multiple stakeholders

A relevant degree (or equivalent experience) in ecology, agriculture, or environmental management is expected.

Please read the role profile for the full details of this role attached below in this advert

What you’ll get in return:
Be part of a flagship partnership delivering real climate impact

• Work in one of Cornwall’s most spectacular and important landscapes
• Shape projects that contribute to national targets for nature recovery and climate action
• Join a collaborative, purpose-led team across Cornwall National Landscape and SWPP
• Develop your skills across ecology, project management, and stakeholder engagement

Cornwall Council’s ambition is to be an employer of choice, a high performing Council and a learning organisation. We commit to providing a reward and benefits package to attract, motivate and reward our employees. We offer a range of flexible working options to our staff. This helps provide our employees with a greater work/life balance. Whilst still ensuring that service needs are met.

Our core employee rewards and benefits include:

• a competitive salary.
• a defined benefit pension scheme, based on your career average earnings. This includes the option for extra voluntary contributions
• a generous annual leave entitlement with the potential to purchase additional leave.
• a national award-winning employee health and wellbeing programme
• Employee benefits scheme giving employees access to a wide range of discounts to local and national goods and services

Additional Information:

• Regular travel across Bodmin Moor is required and occasional visits to Dartmoor
• Occasional evening/weekend work may be necessary
• A Basic DBS check is required
• This is a position with Cornwall Council

Cornwall Council is unable to offer visa sponsorship or transfer existing sponsorship for this role.

Existing employees must apply using their Cornwall Council email address through the Opportunity Marketplace on Oracle.