Senior Project Officer – Coleraine
Location: Coleraine
Salary: £25,477 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
This role offers the chance to bring people together to improve local green spaces, including caring for habitats across nature reserves and country parks through work funded by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).
About the Organisation
Charity Jobs NI is delighted to be supporting The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) in the recruitment of a Senior Project Officer to help protect local environments and connect communities with nature in the Coleraine area.
Since 1959, TCV has brought people together to create, improve and care for green spaces across the UK. Its work supports nature, strengthens communities and improves health and wellbeing through practical volunteering and conservation activities.
The Role
This opportunity will suit someone with practical experience in conservation, horticulture, landscaping or environmental work who enjoys supporting others and seeing the results of their work outdoors.
The successful candidate will lead volunteers in practical conservation activities, including tree planting, pond construction, woodland management, invasive species control and path construction. They will also support habitat management across a network of nature reserves and country parks.
Alongside practical delivery, the role involves working with schools, community groups and landowners to identify projects, agree costs and timescales, and generate income through TCV’s services.
The successful candidate will combine practical skills with the ability to organise activities, manage resources and provide a safe, welcoming volunteering experience.
This opportunity may appeal to candidates with experience as a Conservation Officer, Environmental Project Officer, Countryside Ranger, Horticulture Project Officer, Community Project Officer or Volunteer Co-ordinator.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan and deliver practical conservation projects to agreed standards, timescales and budgets.
- Lead volunteers in activities such as tree planting, habitat management, woodland work and path construction.
- Provide volunteers with guidance, support and practical training.
- Work with schools, community groups and landowners to develop projects and agree costs and delivery arrangements.
- Promote TCV’s work, recruit volunteers and identify opportunities for new projects and income.
- Manage project resources and oversee the safe use and maintenance of tools and equipment.
- Complete risk assessments and uphold health and safety and safeguarding requirements.
- Maintain accurate project and volunteer records, including photographs, monitor outcomes and prepare reports for funders and partners.
About You
TCV is looking for a practical, organised person who can motivate volunteers and help communities improve their local environment.
Essential Criteria
Applicants should bring:
- A good general standard of education, typically including GCSE passes in English and Maths, or equivalent qualifications or equivalent relevant experience.
- Relevant experience in practical environmental work, horticulture or landscaping.
- Experience of co-ordinating volunteers and providing guidance to help them complete activities.
- Experience of planning and delivering practical projects or services.
- The ability to organise people, manage project budgets and use resources effectively.
- An understanding of safe working practices and the use of relevant tools and equipment.
- Good communication and relationship-building skills.
- The ability to maintain records, use IT systems and report on project progress.
- An interest in conservation, community involvement, health and wellbeing, and the work of the charity sector.
- A full, clean or near-clean UK driving licence held for at least one year.
- A First Aid at Work certificate, or willingness to undertake the training.
Desirable Criteria
An NVQ Level 3, equivalent qualification or equivalent relevant experience would be beneficial. Additional qualifications or training specifically related to the project work, including relevant horticultural or environmental qualifications and equipment competency certificates, would also be helpful, alongside previous experience within a not-for-profit or funded organisation.
Applicants must be resident in the UK and have the right to work in the UK.
Benefits
TCV’s benefits include:
- 26 days’ annual leave, including Christmas Eve, plus recognised bank/public holidays, increasing with service to a maximum of 31 days.
- A 5% employer pension contribution where employees contribute at least 3.5%.
- Training and development opportunities.
- A confidential Employee Assistance Programme.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- Life assurance at twice annual salary.
- Family-friendly leave policies.
How to Apply
If you have practical conservation, horticultural or landscaping experience and enjoy helping people make a difference in their communities, we’d love to hear from you.
Simply apply now with your CV to register your interest. A member of the Charity Jobs NI team will be in touch to discuss your application and guide you through the next steps of the process.
Closing Date: Monday 26th October 2026
This vacancy may close early depending on application levels.
Interviews: TBC
Equality, Inclusion and Safeguarding
TCV welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. As a Disability Confident Employer, it offers interviews to applicants with a disability or health condition who meet the minimum criteria. Reasonable adjustments are available.
Appointments are subject to satisfactory references, confirmation of the right to work and a satisfactory Access NI check. All employees must follow TCV’s safeguarding policies and complete mandatory safeguarding training.
Charity Jobs NI is delighted to be supporting The Conservation Volunteers with this recruitment.
