Biodiversity Recovery Coordinator

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful

Salary: £29,734 per annum

Hours: 4-day working week

Contract: Permanent, subject to funding

Location: Hybrid – Home working and Belfast office (minimum 2 days per week)

Charity Jobs NI is delighted to be working in partnership with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful to recruit a knowledgeable and proactive Biodiversity Recovery Coordinator to support the delivery of impactful environmental projects across Northern Ireland.

This role will particularly appeal to candidates currently working as a Biodiversity Officer, Environmental Projects Officer, Nature Recovery Officer, Conservation Officer or Sustainability Coordinator, who are passionate about protecting habitats, restoring ecosystems and delivering meaningful environmental change.

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful is an independent charity dedicated to connecting people with nature through education, community engagement and empowerment. Biodiversity Recovery is a key strategic priority, and this role will play an important part in reversing biodiversity loss and improving natural habitats across Northern Ireland.

About the Role

The Biodiversity Recovery Coordinator will support the design, development and delivery of a range of biodiversity projects, working closely with the Biodiversity Recovery Strategic Lead to ensure projects are delivered effectively, on time and to a high standard.

This is a varied and hands-on role combining project coordination, stakeholder engagement, training delivery and practical environmental work. You will work across a range of programmes, collaborating with schools, community groups, councils and partners to deliver biodiversity initiatives, nature awareness training and habitat restoration activities.

The role also involves supporting cross-departmental collaboration, integrating biodiversity recovery into wider organisational programmes and identifying new opportunities for partnership and project development.

You will regularly work outdoors, delivering workshops, supporting planting and conservation activities, and maintaining outdoor learning sites.

Key Responsibilities

Project Coordination and Delivery

Coordinate project workstreams and resources to deliver outputs on time and within budget.
Support the planning, development and coordination of new biodiversity projects.
Complete all internal reporting requirements and maintain accurate project records.
Support administrative tasks including tracking, monitoring and evaluation.
Ensure health and safety requirements, including risk assessments, are met.

Programme Delivery and Practical Work

Support the delivery of biodiversity and nature awareness training programmes for schools and communities.
Deliver workshops, including outdoor planting, harvesting and environmental education sessions.
Maintain the Stranmillis University College outdoor learning site in partnership with grounds teams.
Integrate biodiversity recovery across wider organisational programmes such as Environmental Education and Public Engagement.

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration

Build and maintain strong relationships with partners including councils, schools and businesses.
Support delivery of biodiversity services within social value and consultative projects.
Identify opportunities for collaboration and new project development.

Communications and Representation

Support communications activity including social media, e-newsletters and website updates.
Assist with consultation responses and policy-related content.
Represent Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful at meetings, events and relevant groups as required.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

A third-level qualification in a relevant field, such as biodiversity, ecology or environmental science, or at least two years’ equivalent experience.
At least two years’ experience delivering environmental projects or programmes.
Experience building and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships, including with communities and schools.
Experience designing and delivering training or workshops.
Practical knowledge of habitat restoration.
Experience managing project budgets.
Strong literacy, presentation, IT and social media skills.
Full driving licence and access to suitable transport.

Desirable

Teaching qualification.
Staff management experience.
Experience working within the environmental charity sector.
Professional qualification in ecology, environmental management or environmental science.

Knowledge and Understanding

Essential

Knowledge of biodiversity and ecological issues relevant to Northern Ireland.
Understanding of Education for Sustainable Development in schools and communities.
Knowledge of climate change issues.
Practical understanding of habitat restoration techniques, including planting.

Desirable

Knowledge of community gardening or food growing initiatives.

Personal Qualities

Essential

Ability to work independently and deliver to a high standard.
Flexible, innovative and solutions-focused approach.
Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple workstreams.
Confident communicator and presenter.
Comfortable working outdoors across a variety of environments.
Motivated and able to bring energy and momentum to projects.

Why Join Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful

Meaningful impact: Play a key role in reversing biodiversity loss and improving habitats across Northern Ireland.
4-day working week: Enjoy full-time pay while working 30 hours over 4 days, with a paid non-working day every week. Staff are contracted to 37.5 hours per week but benefit from this enhanced working pattern.
Flexible working: Hybrid working model with at least 2 days per week in the Belfast office, alongside regular fieldwork and site visits.
Professional development: Access to Carbon Literacy training and ongoing support.
Supportive culture: Collaborative team environment, quality IT equipment and time off in lieu for occasional evening or weekend work.

How to Apply

If you are passionate about biodiversity, nature recovery and delivering practical environmental projects, we would 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: 9am, 16th April. Please note this role may close early in the event of a high volume of applications.

Interviews are scheduled for 28th April and will take place in person in Belfast.

If you have any questions about the role or the application process, please feel free to contact the Charity Jobs NI team — we’re here to help.

Charity Jobs NI is proud to be the exclusive recruitment partner for this vacancy.

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