The job is part time and flexible, averaging 2 to 3 days a week in total, and runs until the end of March 2025.  The role is to protect water voles and other native wildlife by supporting and extending the current mink control network in Lincolnshire. It is funded through a Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) grant to the Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (GLNP) and functionally managed by the Waterlife Recovery Trust (WRT).

The role will be home-based, located with good access to the project area. A base in or around Louth would be ideal.  The Project Officer will be expected use their own vehicle and fuel and be paid pro rata at £175 for an 8-hour day. Full training will be given on working practices and the use of the databases supporting the ‘smart’ traps, and the Cloud database used to record trapping results.

The role involves developing and supporting a network of volunteers who will look after the ‘smart’ rafts. The post holder will need to work flexibly, as required, to support the volunteers with at least a few minutes of phone / web-based work needed every day, including at weekends.  This is to support volunteers with any problems and ensure that work is always carried out to the highest animal welfare standards.  The WRT has other staff working in the county and the post holder would have support from them and other partners involved with the project.  More details of the work of WRT can be found on their website https://www.waterliferecoverytrust.org.uk/.

Essential criteria:

• Own transport and driving licence.
• An appropriate home location to deliver the project effectively.
• Ability to communicate and build good relationships with a wide range of partners, volunteers, and landowners.
• Flexible, enthusiastic and self-motivated: can work unsupervised, reliably delivering the requirements of a project.
• Prepared to work out of doors, alone in the countryside and, when necessary, outside standard office hours.
• Willing to humanely dispatch trapped mink.
• Degree in environmental subject or good wildlife knowledge and passion for conservation.
• Comfortable with the use of IT.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience in the safe use of weapons.
• Practical experience of the control of mink or other invasive species.
• Desire to foster continual improvement within the project.

If you are interested, please email us at vacancies@waterliferecoverytrust.org.uk  with your name, telephone number and a brief note on why you are interested in the role and we will contact you to discuss it further.