Conservation Officer - GrubsUp

Conservation Officer - Grubs Up!

Located in Helmsley.

The North York Moors National Park Authority helps to care for one of the UK’s most distinctive protected landscapes. Spanning 554 square miles, the National Park is home to expansive heather moorland, woodland, remote dales, historic villages and dramatic coastline, and plays an important role in supporting nature, communities and sustainable access for visitors.

Grubs Up! is an ecological project that aims to restore, enhance and connect precious habitat for invertebrates, increase the number of insect species and boost environmental resilience in the face of climate change. Covering nearly 200 square miles of insect superhighways, the project will restore and create verges, hedgerows, grasses, wildflowers and grasslands to produce the right environment for insects to thrive.

We are now looking for a Conservation Officer to join us on a full-time basis, working 37 hours per week, for a two year fixed-term contract, commencing October 2026.

• Salary of £36,580 per annum
• 25 days’ annual leave, rising annually by one day to 30 days after five years’ service, plus public holidays
• Local Government Pension Scheme

This is a rewarding opportunity for an experienced conservation professional with strong ecological knowledge and a track record of working with land managers, volunteers and communities to join our dedicated organisation.

You’ll have the chance to make a visible difference to one of the UK’s most distinctive protected landscapes, creating and improving habitats that support pollinators, invertebrates and wider biodiversity.

What’s more, you’ll be able to broaden your conservation experience while benefit ting from a strong pension and generous annual leave, and leaving a lasting legacy for wildlife and communities.

As a Conservation Officer, you will deliver the Grubs Up! project, helping protect, enhance and create wildlife-rich habitats, and increase biodiversity across the National Park.

You will identify and assess sites, work with land managers to improve habitats and support the creation of species-rich grassland, hedgerows, wetlands, orchards and woodlands. Working with colleagues and partners, you will maximise the biodiversity value of conservation projects, with a particular focus on invertebrates and pollinators.

You will also engage communities and volunteers in practical conservation and species monitoring activities, helping to build local action for biodiversity and gather ecological data that demonstrates project impact.

Additionally, you will:

• Support land managers to access agri-environmental support and bespoke grants
• Develop and deliver ecological monitoring approaches
• Co-ordinate action to control Invasive Non-Native Species
• Work with partners to improve verge and hedgerow management
• Manage allocated conservation budgets
• Support contractors delivering rare plant propagation in a bespoke nursery
• Promote wider biodiversity messaging to communities and stakeholders

To be considered as a Conservation Officer, you will need:

• Experience working in rural areas with land managers, volunteers, partner organisations and communities to implement countryside conservation projects
• Experience working with volunteers, including the line management required to manage a range of individuals and groups completing various tasks
• Experience following finance and procurement protocols and managing contracts and consultants undertaking remote activities
• An ecological understanding of the range of priority and wildlife-rich habitats found in the NYMNP
• Working knowledge of GIS packages
• Excellent technical report writing skills and experience using a wide range of communication methods
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills
• A…