Head of Local Nature Recovery Strategy Delivery Partnership

We are looking for an excellent communicator with significant partnership and project experience, along with a natural environment background, to lead delivery of a sub-regional partnership which will work to restore nature at scale, making a lasting difference for our region.

If you would like to find out more, in the first instance please contact Jim Cokill, Durham Wildlife Trust CEO, by email –

Now is a crucial time for nature. Despite long term decline it is still possible to bring nature back and Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) will be an essential part of that recovery process.

Across the North East the Mayoral Strategic Authority is taking on responsibility for delivery of LNRS and has put in place two sub regional partnerships to coordinate delivery on the ground. Durham Wildlife Trust has been appointed as the delivery organisation for one of those partnerships – South of Tyne & Wear and County Durham. This role will be responsible for leading that delivery partnership and championing nature recovery across Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham.

The successful candidate will have responsibility for convening the partnership and putting in place the plans, systems and processes needed to deliver nature recovery. We need an excellent communicator with significant partnership and project experience and a natural environment background. This role provides a unique opportunity to restore nature at scale and make a lasting difference for our region.

You will line manage and be supported by a LNRS Delivery Manger, who will provide direct support to partners on the development and delivery of projects. Administrative and technical support will also be provided by Wildlife Trust colleagues.

About the role:

• Full-time, fixed term to 31st March 2029
• This role will involve travel across the LNRS area to meet partners, so a full current driving licence and use of your own vehicle for work purposes is essential. The office base is the Trust’s HQ at Houghton le Spring and we currently operate hybrid working arrangements with a mix of working from home and the office. The role comes with a dedicated training budget to allow for continued development of your knowledge and skills and access to an employee support package.

The closing date for applications is 23rd October 2026 at 5pm.

Initial online interviews are likely to be held week commencing 2nd November via Teams. Formal face to face interviews are expected to be held week commencing 9th November at Durham Wildlife Trust’s Rainton Meadows HQ (DH4 6PU
). The successful applicant for this role will be subject to a Basic Level DBS check prior to appointment.

For full details about the role, please see the Job Pack below.

• Head of Local Nature Recovery Strategy Delivery Partnership Job  (307.96 KB)
• Durham Wildlife Trust Application Form – Head of Local Nature Recovery Strategy.docx (93.08 KB)