Conservation research assistant jobs
Salary: £38,346 -£42,544 per annum (depending on experience and skill level)
Contract length: Permanent
Location: Remote/ Hybrid – Oxfordshire preferable but open to other locations within catchment area, flexible working.
Responsible to: Programme Manager Catchment Partnerships, or directly to Assistant Head of Improving Rivers / Head of Improving Rivers
About Thames21
Thames21 is an environmental charity which works across London and the Thames Basin to deliver high-impact nature-based solutions to the climate and biodiversity crisis by restoring rivers, whilst also connecting communities to their local green-blue spaces and inspiring long-term stewardship of them.
Diversity at Thames21
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Thames21 is key to our success and as such we employ staff from a diverse range of backgrounds, this we feel is key in ensuring that everybody has an equal opportunity and is not treated differently or discriminated against because of their characteristics. We value the voices of our individual employees, and we strive to work in a collaborative, innovative balanced way. The postholder must actively support this.
Purpose of the job
To drive forward Thames21’s ‘Thames Valley’ (broadly Oxfordshire/ Buckinghamshire/ Berkshire) catchment areas programme in line with our 5-year plan and future strategies ensuring appropriate integration across Thames21 and partner organisations. This includes building and sustaining a team to reduce diffuse pollution, increase biodiversity, improve water quality, and support agricultural businesses to deliver environmental improvement works and nature friendly farming practices.
The postholder requires operational experience and knowledge at catchment scale as well as project and people management experience. They will take a strategic overview of the programme and guide our growth in the thematical and geographical area, with a particular focus on the following outcomes.
- Work with 20 farmers each year to reduce diffuse pollution at source and flood risk.
- Offer advice on nature-based solutions and grant funding to farmers and landowners.
- Plant 30,000 trees annually.
- Input and support the achievement of other applicable 5-year plan targets. i.e. River restoration and catchment scale monitoring.
- Increase Thames21 presence in the Thames Valley, identifying opportunities, supporting, and complimenting the work of other NGOs and regional Rivers Trusts.
The role is a relatively new area of work for Thames21 and may consist of supporting a range of projects and programmes including Catchment Partnerships, Farm Clusters and Natural Flood Management.
Finally, the postholder will take a lead in progressing Thames21’s resilience strategy i.e. working closely with the Fundraising Team, the Catchment Partnership Team, and partner organisations to increase private and public investment to deliver healthy resilient rivers and catchments.
Additional requirements may include supporting other Thames21 projects and funding applications, as the need arises.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
You will oversee and manage the delivery of diverse projects. You will also develop your team’s scope, strategy and action plan in order to grow the team to deliver 5-year plan targets work closely with expert (e.g. statutory bodies, authorities, NGOs and academics) and non-expert (e.g. community groups and volunteers) stakeholders to develop, fund and deliver projects within the catchments, and oversee their management. You will also work closely with the Assistant/ Head of Improving Rivers and other members of the Thames21 team to develop funding applications and steer the direction of the catchment areas.
Tasks include:
· Programme Development & Integration
Develop and expand the Thames Valley catchment programme in line with Thames21’s 5-year strategy, ensuring integration with other teams.
· Funding & Financial Management
Secure diverse funding sources and manage project budgets, including financial reporting and cost tracking to meet objectives.
· Project & Risk Management
Lead project delivery, monitor progress, and identify risk mitigation strategies to ensure continued success.
· Team Leadership & Staff Development
Manage and support staff through training, appraisals, workload balancing, and adherence to health and safety requirements.
· Stakeholder Engagement
Build and maintain relationships with internal teams, funding bodies, landowners and other external stakeholders.
· Technical & Farm Advisory Support
Provide farm advice, generate reports (including GIS mapping), and maintain a database of visits and environmental opportunities.
· Catchment-Based Approach Advocacy
Promote and apply catchment-based principles internally and externally in water and land management.
· Health, Safety & Compliance
Ensure compliance with health and safety policies and broader regulatory requirements across all projects.
· Information & Data Management
Maintain accurate documentation and project data systems, supporting transparency and accountability.
· Promotion & Communications
Support production of publicity materials and represent Thames21’s work to broader audiences.
Other Duties
This job description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise within Thames21. At various times the post-holder will be directed to carry out other reasonable duties in support of other Thames21 activities that are consistent with those in this Job Description.
Thank you!
Assistant Director of Operations
Salary: £72,000 per annum
Work Pattern: This is a permanent contract, working full time, Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours a week.
Location: Your base can be at any of the 6 mainland UK Discovery Sites: Arundel BN18, Llanelli SA14, London SW13, Martin Mere L40, Slimbridge GL2 or Washington NE38. The 7th site is Castle Espie.
For this role we can offer the opportunity for hybrid working. It is expected the role will need you to be present at each of your sites on a regular basis, at least once per month.
About The Role
WWT is the charity for wetlands.
This is a critical role in the recently restructured Operations Directorate at WWT. As Assistant Director, you will be directly responsible for the performance of our 7 Wetland Discovery sites. You will provide inspiring and professional leadership to your teams, whilst proactively collaborating cross organisation and externally.
Your focus will be on driving meaningful improvements at sites across our three ambitions of Restore, Inspire and Thrive, with emphasis on financial performance driven by visitor experiences. Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will directly manage two Heads of Operations, a Head of Retail and Head of Catering. You will indirectly lead more than 400 staff and volunteers across Living Collections, Reserve Management, Visitor Experience, Trading, Marketing, Facilities and Grounds.
You will work closely with Health & Safety and Sustainability leads to ensure good governance and compliance at sites and across the Operations Directorate.
You will have a background working in visitor attractions or a very similar sector, coupled with a passion for purpose-led organisations and a keen interest in the environment. You will be an inspiring leader with high levels of emotional intelligence and values & behaviours that align with WWT.
About You
To join as our Assistant Director of Operations, you will need to evidence:
- Experience in a senior position(s) held in the visitor attraction/events management sectors, directly accountable for site operations and visitor experience throughout the visitor journey.
- Strong skills in leading business planning, financial analysis, budget development and management, and delivery of significant capital projects across £multi-million business unit(s).
- Demonstrable ability to recruit, performance manage and motivate large (>100) diverse multi-disciplinary teams.
- The ability to develop, communicate and implement strategic change, turning organisational vision into improvements at scale.
- An inspirational and empathetic leadership style, able to role model an organisation’s values and behaviours, and to evidence strong emotional intelligence. Able to prioritise effectively, to collaborate, network and influence internally and externally at a senior level.
- A highly creative and inquisitive mindset, able to spot and exploit potential opportunities, keen to explore, test and learn as a means of driving continual improvement and excellence in the visitor experience.
- Experience of working collaboratively with insight, marketing and communications teams to deliver strong brand and marketing campaigns which drive footfall.
About Us
We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.
Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.
Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?
Why you’ll love working at WWT
- Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands, and our world
- Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people
- 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) – this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want
- Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
- Free car parking and secure bike storage areas
- Colleague discount on shopping and memberships
- Cycle to work scheme
- Contributory pension scheme
- Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones
- Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme
Closing Date: 23rd February 2026
N.B. We reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a sufficient number of applications from candidates who meet the required skills and experience. We therefore encourage early applications.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.
No agencies please.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Restore Wetlands and Unlock their Power
Thank you!
Your outstanding management of the Woodland Heritage Skills project will ensure that the project meets its objectives and in doing so help the charity in achieving its mission.
You will be a core part of how Woodland Heritage is achieving its mission and it will be an incredibly rewarding and varied experience!
Your work with the charity will be as part of a small, dedicated team of staff and a wider group of passionate trustees. Everyone will want you to succeed and will support you along the way.
Woodland Heritage is creating a thriving UK wood culture that benefits our environment, all people and our economy. We do this by championing the good use of home-grown timber from sustainable, productive woodlands for the benefit of present and future generations. Through a combination of demonstration sites, research, education, membership and outreach, we build on the wisdom and skills of the past to weather the challenges of tomorrow.
About the role
- The role is full time 37.5 hours per week for a fixed term of two years, with planned evening and weekend working as required.
- We can offer flexible working and hybrid working. You may wish to work at Whitney Sawmills, Herefordshire, for example for a day per week, though this is not required.
- 25 days plus Bank/Public holidays as paid leave
- Salary £35,000 PA FTE
- Your line manager will be the Chief Executive
- Employer contribution from nest pension
All other terms and conditions will be as per your contract. More details are available via our staff handbook which can be provided to shortlisted candidates.
This role is part of a £238,442 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to create ‘Woodland Heritage Skills’; two years of educational workshops, digital educational assets and collaboration with its members and partners to deliver the charity’s new Open Woods & Workshops initiative.
A tremendous £13,547 of this grant is matched funding from the outdoor furniture B-Corp Gaze Burvill, a corporate member of Woodland Heritage, alongside fellow personal and corporate members of the charity.
About you
You will have a committment to the vision and values of Woodland Heritage and a desire to bring about positive change in the relationship between people and woodlands. You will have demonstrable experience of managing projects, delivering educational impact and a willingness to learn and to be flexible.
Visit our website to download the job specification and learn how to apply. We'd love to hear from you!
Registered Charity
1 - 5
Woodland Heritage is creating a thriving UK wood culture that benefits our environment, all people and our economy.
Thank you!
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Salary: €4.521,21 gross per month (Brussels) / £50,331 gross per annum (London)
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Location: Brussels or London
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Contract Type: Indefinite
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Hours: Full Time
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Closing Date: 9 February 2026
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First Interview Dates: 16 & 17 February 2026
About the role
Are you interested in an impactful fundraising role with global reach? At ClientEarth we are hiring a Philanthropy Manager to join our team in either Brussels or London. The Philanthropy team is key to securing unrestricted income and supporting the organisation to achieve financial resilience. You will represent the Philanthropy team internally and externally and provide key support across the philanthropy portfolio as well as manage their own portfolio of supporters and multi-year donors. This role will help lead on our prospecting plan and work across teams to implement fundraising initiatives.
Meet your Manager
In this role you will be managed by Clea Fergusson. Clea joined ClientEarth in March 2023 and is based in Berlin. Prior to joining ClientEarth, Clea worked as a fundraiser and marketing specialist for a number of humanitarian and development non-governmental organisations (NGOs), both nationally and internationally. She has led fundraising teams and strategies in countries such as the UK, France and Germany. Through her humanitarian and development work, she has had the opportunity to hear first-hand from many communities directly affected by the climate crisis around the world. Clea graduated with honours in French and Italian from the University of Manchester and obtained her Masters in Marketing from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. She holds a Certificate in Fundraising Management from the British Institute of Fundraising and speaks English, French, German and Italian.
Main Duties
- Actively solicit and manage donor relationships across assigned portfolio to contribute to the global philanthropy income target with a focus on building new income and unrestricted income
- Build a resilient donor pipeline and manage prospects and donors through each stage of the pipeline, ensure annual renewals, uplifts and secure new income
- Develop compelling proposals and reports that engage prospect and meet donor priorities and requirements
- Build relationships with internal senior stakeholders including the CEO, Chief Impact and Programmes Officer, Trustees and the Development Board to achieve outcomes of the development strategy
See the job description (below) for a full list of duties for this role.
Role requirements
- Significant fundraising management experience working in the development or philanthropy fields (essential)
- Demonstrable experience of securing five or six figure gifts as well as multi-year commitments including unrestricted income (essential);
- Experience in writing, coordinating and submitting successful funding proposals (essential);
- Line management experience (essential);
See the job description (below) for a full list of requirements for this role.
Note to candidates: We know that long lists of criteria can be daunting and that some candidates will not apply for a role unless they feel they are 100% qualified. If you feel you meet at least some of the essential criteria, we still encourage you to apply.
Further Information
Have a question about this job? Please visit our Careers site for advice on applying, FAQs, and more.
Flexible working: We are proud to be a Flexa accredited Employer. Visit our Flexa Employer page for more information on our approach to flexible working. Our flexible working policy allows our people the choice to decide to work from home/another location in the country where their contract of employment is issued for 80% of their month, with the other 20% of their month being office-based See our Benefits page for more as well as our flexible working FAQ.
ClientEarth values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We aim to appoint the most suitable candidate at all times and welcome applications from people from all different backgrounds. See our equity, diversity and inclusion journey page for more.
Please note that ClientEarth is only able to employ those who have the pre-existing legal right to work in Belgium or the UK.
ClientEarth is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal services to third parties.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Using the power of the law to protect life on Earth.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Your outstanding delivery of communications for the Woodland Heritage Skills project means you are a core part of how Woodland Heritage is achieving its mission which should make for an incredibly rewarding and varied experience!
Your work with the charity will be as part of a small, dedicated team of staff and a wider group of passionate trustees. Everyone will want you to succeed and will support you along the way.
Woodland Heritage is creating a thriving UK wood culture that benefits our environment, all people and our economy. We do this by championing the good use of home-grown timber from sustainable, productive woodlands for the benefit of present and future generations. Through a combination of demonstration sites, research, education, membership and outreach, we build on the wisdom and skills of the past to weather the challenges of tomorrow.
About the role
- The role is 22.5 hours per week for a fixed term of two years with a salary of £15,000 PA
- We can offer flexible working and hybrid working. You may wish to work at Whitney Sawmills, Herefordshire, for example for a day per week, though this is not required.
- Planned evening and weekend working as required.
- 25 days plus Bank/Public holidays as paid leave pro rata
- Your line manager will be the Woodland Heritage Skills Project Manager
- Employer contribution from nest pensions
All other terms and conditions will be as per your contract. More details are available via our staff handbook which can be provided to shortlisted candidates.
This role is part of a £238,442 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to create ‘Woodland Heritage Skills’; two years of educational workshops, digital educational assets and collaboration with its members and partners to deliver the charity’s new Open Woods & Workshops initiative.
A tremendous £13,547 of this grant is matched funding from the outdoor furniture B-Corp Gaze Burvill, a corporate member of Woodland Heritage, alongside fellow personal and corporate members of the charity.
About you
You will have a committment to the vision and values of Woodland Heritage and a desire to bring about positive change in the relationship between people and woodlands. You will have demonstrable experience of communications delivery and a willingness to learn and to be flexible.
You will join a small, dedicated team of staff and a wider group of passionate trustees. Everyone will want you to succeed and will support you along the way.
Visit our website to download the job specification and learn how to apply. We'd love to hear from you!
NB - This role is closing early, due to a high volume and quality of applications. The new deadline is midnight on Sunday 8th February 2026.
Registered Charity
1 - 5
Woodland Heritage is creating a thriving UK wood culture that benefits our environment, all people and our economy.