Allonby Marine Science & Engagement Officer

The opportunity:

Cumbria Wildlife Trust is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Allonby Bay (Marine Science and Engagement) Officer to help deliver an exciting project supporting the long‑term success of England’s first Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMA) at Allonby Bay, designated in 2023. In this varied and rewarding role, you will combine community engagement, citizen science, marine monitoring, and partnership working to help people better understand, value, and connect with this nationally important marine environment.

Allonby Bay is a unique stretch of coast, rich in marine wildlife and an important place for local communities, businesses, and sea users. You will lead the delivery of an innovative citizen science and marine engagement programme, working with volunteers, local businesses, conservation partners, and recreational and commercial sea users to build awareness of the HPMA and encourage positive action for marine conservation.

You will also design and deliver events, workshops, and interpretation activities that make marine conservation engaging, accessible, and relevant to diverse audiences.

Working closely with project partners, statutory conservation bodies, local stakeholders, and businesses, you will act as a bridge between sea users and conservation organisations, ensuring local perspectives help shape project delivery. Alongside engagement activities, you will contribute to project management, reporting, evaluation, communications, and knowledge‑sharing, helping to demonstrate the impact of the project and share learning with others.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference for marine nature recovery while helping communities engage with one of the UK’s most important marine conservation initiatives. If you are passionate about marine conservation, organised and proactive, and enjoy bringing people together around a shared purpose, we would love to hear from you.

The Project Officer will lead the delivery, coordination, and scientific engagement elements of Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Allonby Bay project, supporting the long‑term success of England’s first Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMA), designated in 2023.

The role will focus on:

• Developing and delivering the citizen science and marine monitoring programme
• Working closely with key sea user groups
• Managing project delivery, reporting, and partnerships

• Plan and deliver the project’s citizen science programme, ensuring robust and usable data collection
• Coordinate and deliver training for Marine Champions and support their development
• Organise and deliver specialist training, including species  snorkel guides
• Oversee and support data collection activities (e.g. Shoresearch, other surveys)
• Ensure data quality and work with partners to align outputs with monitoring and evidence needs
• Contribute to project evaluation and knowledge‑sharing outputs

• Design and deliver targeted workshops/events to improve understanding of the HPMA and encourage responsible behaviours
• Produce tailored communication materials (e.g. leaflets, magazine articles)
• Act as a bridge between sea users and conservation partners, ensuring user perspectives inform ongoing work
• Support development of interpretation materials, films, and digital content showcasing the HPMA

• Lead day‑to‑day project coordination and delivery against agreed objectives
• Track progress across key deliverables
• Monitor budgets and ensure effective use of resources
• Produce regular progress reports and updates for internal and external stakeholders
• Write final project evaluation and knowledge‑sharing events

• Work collaboratively project partners, statutory conservation bodies and local stakeholders and businesses
• Ensure alignment between scientific, engagement, and communication work streams.

• Ensure all project activities comply with Trust health and safety policies.
• Undertake risk assessments for fieldwork, training, and events.

• Raise the profile of Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the Allonby Bay project.
• Support…