Job description
Contract: 6-month fixed term
Salary: £34K
Location: Oxford, office based or hybrid
Responsible to: Hannah Worker, Regional Programme Manager, Oxon-Bucks Region.
Background
Freshwater Habitats Trust (FHT) is the UK’s leading conservation charity concerned with the protection of freshwater habitats. We are a friendly, evidence-based organisation that works to protect UK and European freshwater wildlife through practical and innovative nature conservation projects. Our organisation is well respected nationally and internationally, and we work with a network of statutory, NGO and private partners both in the UK and the rest of Europe. Freshwater Habitats Trust was originally founded in 1988 (as Pond Conservation) and has a substantial track-record of originating new ideas through research in freshwater biodiversity conservation to inform and drive our practical conservation and policy work.
FHT has a central office in Oxford, and regional hubs in the north of England and the New Forest and out-posted staff in Cornwall and Wales. We run a range of practical projects throughout the Midlands and work with partners on research and policy projects throughout the UK and internationally. Since 2017 we have seconded staff to the Newt Conservation Partnership (NCP), a new community-benefit society established by NatureSpace, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) and FHT, to create and manage habitats for the NatureSpace District Licensing scheme for great crested newts.
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire are key areas for Freshwater Habitats Trust’s work. Building on the Trust’s historic work in the county and starting in 2021, Oxfordshire was the first region where we began the implementation of the organisation’s new strategic approach to freshwater conservation, the Freshwater Network. The Freshwater Network is the network of high quality freshwater and wetland habitats, and terrestrial habitats generating clean water across the landscape, that together support our most important freshwater wildlife.
Role
This is a strategically important role within the organisation, offering substantial responsibility and an opportunity for the successful candidate to play a leading role in delivering one of the UK's most ambitious freshwater restoration programmes.
The role will primarily focus on the Ock and Thame Farmers: Floodplains and Freshwaters Project, Ock and Thame Farmers: Freshwaters and Floodplain Restoration, one of Defra's pilot Landscape Recovery projects. Having recently completed its two-year development phase, the project is now entering a critical stage of assurance and negotiations with Defra ahead of implementation.
Key areas of work will include ongoing engagement with land managers, supporting informed decision-making and participation, supporting the establishment of governance and legal structures required for delivery, developing agreements and ecosystem service contracts, undertaking land assessments, and refining habitat designs where required. The project currently involves more than 80 land managers across approximately 7,100 hectares of land in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
In addition to the Landscape Recovery project, the role will involve managing a portfolio of smaller projects across the region. This will include supporting staff delivering catchment monitoring programmes and helping to develop a pipeline of habitat creation and Natural Flood Management opportunities.
You will be responsible for the day-to-day management and coordination of project delivery, working closely with the Programme Manager, Finance Manager, Senior Management Team, project partners, consultants, contractors, and participating land managers.
Key responsibilities
Project management:
· Responsible for work planning, defining tasks and allocating resources.
· Resource, manage and support the project team.
· Responsible for the projects’ budgeting and financial management including: (i) regular reporting to the Project Director and Regional Programme Manager; and (ii) implementation of all financial processes for the projects including regular claiming and reporting funder.
· Responsible for all contract and logistics management
· Responsible for ensuring health and safety procedures are followed, implemented and reported on.
· Track and monitor project progress.
· Present to stakeholders, as required.
· Implement and manage change when necessary to meet project outputs.
· Update all internal management information data systems
Project communications:
· Working with the Freshwater Habitats Trust Communications Team to deliver the communication plans for the projects.
Project development:
· Working with other members of Freshwater Habitats Trust staff and landowner networks to develop future projects to continue our work on the Freshwater Network in the region.
In the longer term there will be opportunities to influence the development of the Freshwater Network concept as it builds and develops in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and adjacent counties.
Additional general responsibilities for the post holder
· Help to build a positive relationship between Freshwater Habitats Trust and its partners.
· Understand and follow Freshwater Habitats Trust’s internal procedures including Health and Safety, information management systems, site protocols etc.
· Work closely and constructively with your manager and colleagues in all areas of your responsibility.
· Undertake other duties as the Senior Management Team may from time to time require.
Knowledge and experience
· Degree or equivalent in a relevant subject (at least a 2:1)
· Full current driving licence
· Proven project and budget management skills
· Proven experience of managing multi-partner projects in the field of practical habitat creation and management, including on the ground delivery to deliver practical conservation outcomes
· Experience of staff management
· Good knowledge of restoration ecology for both freshwater and wetland habitats
· Experience of contractor management
· Knowledge of land management stakeholders and policy
· Computer literate: Word and Excel are essential, GIS is desirable
· Proven ability to communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders, including landowners and the public
· General interest in wildlife
Personal qualities
· Ability to manage workload and competing priorities effectively and meet internal deadlines through effective forward planning
· Good verbal and written communication skills
· Good interpersonal skills - approachable, professional and courteous
· Attention to detail and able to deliver on time
· Ability to work independently and as part of a team
What we have to offer
At Freshwater Habitats Trust we value employees' unique views and encourage them to develop their interests. We also offer the following benefits:
• Flexible working
• 35-hour week
• 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
• Pension with 6% employer contribution
• Mobile phone allowance
• Free eye tests
• Free Employee Assistance Program
• Mileage pay
Registered Charity
11 - 20
Freshwater is our passion. Together, we can make a difference for wildlife.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Coordinator, Communities, Practice & Participation
Salary: £26,520, per annum, pro rata (£21,216 per annum actual for 4 days per week)
Contract: 2 years fixed-term
Hours: Part-time, 4 days per week (0.8 FTE) Wednesdays and Thursdays plus flexible working hours available.
Location: Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP
About Us
Modern Art Oxford is one of the UK’s leading contemporary art spaces with an international reputation for innovation and ambition. The gallery presents a programme of changing exhibitions of modern and contemporary art each year, coupled with an extensive programme of education, events and performance projects involving several thousand people of all ages and backgrounds.
About You and The Role
The Communities, Practice & Participation Coordinator supports the administration, delivery, and evaluation of Modern Art Oxford’s community-facing participation and exhibition programme, involving a wide range of groups.
Working as part of the Communities, Practice & Participation team at the gallery, you will be a key support in the coordination of our participatory programme and live events, the installation of displays in Modern Art Oxford’s Ground Floor gallery and Studio, and assisting the delivery of workshops, as required. The Coordinator is also responsible for the administration and archiving of Modern Art Oxford’s community-facing participation programme.
This position requires a proactive, detail-oriented approach, to ensure appropriate and ongoing communication across departments to realise projects successfully, within budget, and to the highest standard. You will be trusted to use your initiative in problem-solving and encouraged to contribute ideas. This job is an integral role in the team, aimed at an early-career arts professional.
The Coordinator, Communities, Practice & Participation is line-managed by the Curator, Communities, Practice & Participation and supports the Head of Communities, Practice & Participation and other CPP colleagues.
Primary Objectives
- To support the Curator of Communities, Practice & Participation in the planning and delivery of temporary exhibitions sharing our participatory projects across our Ground Floor, including our Ground Floor Gallery and Studio.
- To support the CPP team in collating, administrating and disseminating all information required for the timely and accurate delivery of all aspects of the CPP programme with early years, young people, and adult communities.
- To assist in the delivery and administration of the workshop programme as requested by the Curator of Communities, Practice & Participation.
Key Accountabilities
Ground Floor Gallery
- To support the planning and delivery of the Communities, Practice, and Participation exhibitions Programme
The Studio and Participatory Programme
- To support with the administration and coordination of the Studio and related participatory programme
Finance
- To support the CPP team with accurate and up-to-date financial administration
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate an enthusiasm for contemporary art and a willingness to gain a broad range of curatorial skills and experiences. They will have strong administration skills, with demonstrable experience, a proactive mindset and the ability to be flexible. They will have a keen attention to detail and an ability to prioritise and deliver multiple strands of work to deadlines. Good planning and communication skills are essential in this busy, demanding and exciting environment. They will be comfortable working as part of a team, and sharing responsibilities and tasks where necessary.
Benefits
An auto-enrolment pension scheme is in place with Legal & General. Under pension auto enrolment legislation, the employee will pay 5% (before tax relief) and the employer will pay 3% of qualifying earnings to the Legal and General plan. A salary sacrifice scheme is available after 3 months employment.
Employees are entitled to a staff discount in the Modern Art Oxford Shop and Café.
There is an Employee Assistance Programme through Gemelli, and a series of discounts and salary sacrifice schemes through BHN Extras.
Applications must be received by 9.00am Monday 29 June 2026
Initial interviews planned for 14, 15, and 16 July 2026
Ideal start date in the w/c 17 August 2026
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.
Modern Art Oxford is committed to creating equality of opportunity for all and we value diversity in our team. As part of our Anti-racism Action Plan, we welcome applications from people from the Global Majority who are under-represented in the workforce in our sector.
No agencies please.
