Do you enjoy inspiring people, being part of a community, and building relationships? Do you have passion for nature and South Devon’s incredible landscape? If you have a genuine desire for a career in community engagement and/or the environment sector but haven’t yet got the qualifications or experience you need, then one of our Life on the Edge trainee posts might just be for you!

We are excited to offer two new trainee posts as part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund supported, Life on the Edge Project (LotE), one focused on community engagement and one on ecology and conservation.

Our trainee scheme enables people with no previous experience or qualifications to work alongside our staff and volunteer teams, to develop hands-on practical experience and vital professional skills to help take that first step to a career in community engagement and conservation.
Life on the Edge aims to restore species-rich grasslands to secure a positive future for some of the UK’s rarest invertebrates and plants living along the South Devon coast, while improving people’s nature-connectedness. We are looking for someone who shares our passion and enthusiasm for impactful landscape scale nature recovery for the benefit of people and wildlife. This entry level position is aimed at progressing important skills and gaining invaluable experience in the environmental sector and suitable for someone who has not had paid work in this field before.

Day-to-day work of the Communities Trainee will be varied. Working alongside the engagement team, you will assist with a broad range of activities with target groups, schools, communities and the public. You will be directly involved in tasks ranging from craft workshops, planning a community celebration, staffing an information stand at a community event, backmarking a group walk, networking with partner organisations and working on practical conservation tasks. You will additionally be part of wider Life on the Edge project delivery.

Trainees will be employed on a 6-month contract at 0.5FTE by South Hams District Council, the host of South Devon National Landscape. Given the nature of the role, weekend and evening work is sometimes required, and flexible working will be necessary. If you have a keenness to learn about effective community engagement, supporting people to overcome barriers to involvement, and connecting people to their landscape in a way that inspires them to take action, and you meet the scheme requirements, then we’d urge you to apply and we look forward to hearing from you.

All interested candidates are encouraged to view a recording of the online webinar session that was held on 28th July, to learn more about the Life on the Edge project, the trainee scheme and hear attendees questions answered.

View the webinar on the South Devon National Landscape YouTube channel.

Due to policies and procedures, we are only able to accept applications from candidates over the age of 18 years old.

This is an entry level position aimed at individuals who have not previously had paid work in this field.

For an informal discussion you can either contact Nicky Bailey, Life on the Edge Volunteering and Learning Officer, up to 4th August on 01803 229334 (or email nicky.bailey@southdevon-nl.org.uk) or after 4th August contact Rob Skinner, Life on the Edge Project Manager, on 01803 229346 (or email rob.skinner@southdevon-nl.org.uk).

Closing date – Midnight Thursday 7 August 2025

Interviews will be held Tuesday 19 August 2025.

For further information on the project, go to this webpage.

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job Purpose

Life on the Edge (LotE) is a multi-partner project, led by South Devon National Landscape, with main partner, Buglife, along with South West Coast Path Association, National Trust and Doorstep Arts. With support from National Lottery Heritage Fund, LotE aims to restore viable populations of some of the UK’s rarest insects living along the South Devon coast between Berry Head and Wembury.

Involving people in the conservation of these special species is core to the project, not least, through a programme of upskilling, empowering and training within the ‘Learning with LotE’ workstream.

The LotE Communities Trainee will gain specialist hands-on experience with project team and project partners. They will directly assist with project delivery, working alongside the Community Officer, assisting in engaging under-served groups of both young, and older people in activities increasing their connection to nature and gaining the health and wellbeing benefits of being active outside. Trainees can expect to assist in delivering target audience activities, public events, schools programmes, volunteer activities and other interactions with the general public explaining the importance of the project target species and the promotion the project. Engaging people with the LotE target species is intrinsically linked and therefore the communities workstream is developed to complement the conservation programme.

LotE trainees must be able and willing to work outdoors, in sometimes challenging conditions, in a variety of locations along the South Devon Coast, which in some cases may be remote. Trainees will be able to learn from project staff and will have opportunities to develop their own initiatives with support.

Role Profile

During this 6-month trainee scheme you can expect to learn techniques and expand theoretical knowledge on the following topics and themes:

You will assist with the delivery of the following elements of the project, and receive both on the job and formal training in the skills required to do this:

• Participate and aid delivery of public, target group, school and volunteer activity programmes
• Promote Community engagement through Life on the Edge project delivery
• Engage with wider LotE project activity, working across all workstreams, as well as with partners and landowners
• Work under the direction of the Community Officer, LotE project staff and other senior South Devon National Landscape staff to assist in the delivery of the project
• Understand and follow South Devon National Landscape & South Hams District Council internal procedures including Health and Safety, information management systems, site protocols etc.
• Work closely and constructively with your manager and project colleagues in all areas of your responsibility
• Undertake other duties as the Senior Management Team may require from time to time

The list of duties is not to be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive; there will be other duties and requirements associated with the post, and you may be required to undertake such other duties as may reasonably be required of you.

Qualifications

Essential

• A specific qualification is not required but applicants should have a desire to pursue a career in the environment or community engagement sectors
• Full current UK driving licence
• Basic knowledge of environmental issues and/or nature conservation
• Experience of being involved in assisting your community
• An appreciation of the breadth of the voluntary and community sectors
• Interest in engaging communities to make landscape or environmental change
• Ability to build effective working relationships
• Good interpersonal skills – approachable, professional and courteous (assessed at interview)
• A keen interest in artistic and/or creative expression
• Aptitude for learning and personal development
• Good attention to detail and organisational skills
• Not previously had paid work in this field
• Ability to attain agreed standard of high-quality work
• Ability to manage workload and competing priorities effectively
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team

Desirable

• Knowledge of invertebrates and British wildflowers
• Ability to work with teams across the project, organisation and partnerships
• Ability to work with a range of people adapting actions to meet their needs
• Practical arts and craft skills
• Ability to self-motivate

Job details

• Salary  £12.26/hr – £23,656 per annum (pro rata)

• Contract  0.5FTE on 6 month Fixed Term Contract

• Department South Devon National Landscape Team

Do you enjoy inspiring people, being part of a community, and building relationships? Do you have passion for nature and South Devon’s incredible landscape? If you have a genuine desire for a career in community engagement and/or the environment sector but haven’t yet got the qualifications or experience you need, then one of our Life on the Edge trainee posts might just be for you!

We are excited to offer two new trainee posts as part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund supported, Life on the Edge Project (LotE), one focused on community engagement and one on ecology and conservation.

Our trainee scheme enables people with no previous experience or qualifications to work alongside our staff and volunteer teams, to develop hands-on practical experience and vital professional skills to help take that first step to a career in community engagement and conservation.

Life on the Edge aims to restore species-rich grasslands to secure a positive future for some of the UK’s rarest invertebrates and plants living along the South Devon coast, while improving people’s nature-connectedness. We are looking for someone who shares our passion and enthusiasm for impactful landscape scale nature recovery for the benefit of people and wildlife. This entry level position is aimed at progressing important skills and gaining invaluable experience in the environmental sector and suitable for someone who has not had paid work in this field before.

Day to day work of the Conservation Trainee will be varied; Working alongside the Conservation Officer, they will assist with specialist species surveying, working with volunteers, land management advice and assisting on our nature focused events, as well as being part of the wider Life on the Edge project delivery along the South Devon coast.

Trainees will be employed on a 6-month contract at 0.5FTE by South Hams District Council, the host of South Devon National Landscape. Given the nature of the role, weekend and evening work is sometimes required, and flexible working will be necessary. If you have a keenness to learn more about the natural world, how to conserve it and engage people along the way, and you meet the scheme requirements, then we’d urge you to apply and we look forward to hearing from you.

All interested candidates are encouraged to view a recording of the online webinar session that was held on 28th July, to learn more about the Life on the Edge project, the trainee scheme and hear attendees questions answered.

View the webinar on the South Devon National Landscape YouTube channel.

Due to policies and procedures, we are only able to accept applications from candidates over the age of 18 years old.

This is an entry level position aimed at individuals who have not previously had paid work in this field.

For an informal discussion you can either contact Nicky Bailey, Life on the Edge Volunteering and Learning Officer, up to 4th August on 01803 229334 (or email nicky.bailey@southdevon-nl.org.uk) or after 4th August contact Rob Skinner, Life on the Edge Project Manager, on 01803 229346 (or email rob.skinner@southdevon-nl.org.uk).

Closing date – Midnight Thursday 7 August 2025

Interviews will be held Wednesday 20 August 2025.

For further information on the project, go to this webpage.

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job Purpose

Life on the Edge (LotE) is a multi-partner project, led by South Devon National Landscape, with their main partner, Buglife, along with South West Coast Path Association, National Trust and Doorstep Arts. With support from National Lottery Heritage Fund, LotE aims to restore viable populations of some of the UK’s rarest insects living along the South Devon coast between Berry Head and Wembury.

Involving people in the conservation of these special species is core to the project, with a programme of upskilling, empowering and training through the ‘Learning with LotE’ workstream. LotE is committed to engaging people to make a difference for nature and the trainee roles assists in forming that important link between communities and conserving species along the south devon coast.

The LotE Conservation Trainee will assist with events, specialist invertebrate ecological surveying and practical tasks involving volunteers and interacting with the public explaining the importance of the project target species and promoting the project. Trainees will also assist in meeting with farmers and landowners to develop landscape enhancements plans, which will involve bespoke conservation interventions to benefit project species. There is significant overlap between the conservation and communities workstreams, involving people in all areas of project activity. The Conservation Trainee can expect to be involved in works which will complement the community engagement programme.

LotE trainees must willing to work outdoors, in sometimes challenging conditions, in a variety of locations along the South Devon Coast, some of which may be remote areas. Trainees will be able to learn from project staff and will have opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge as well as work under their own initiative with support from project team.

Role Profile

During this 6-month trainee scheme you can expect to learn techniques and expand theoretical knowledge on the following topics and themes:

You will assist with the delivery of the following elements of the project, and receive both on the job and formal training in the skills required to do this:

• Specific species monitoring – both directly and development of volunteer opportunities
• Participate and aid delivery of land management to benefit project target species – both through land management advice in group workshop sessions and on-farm advice, and practical habitat management, working with partner organisations to facilitate monthly volunteering sessions.
• Engage with LotE project activity as a whole, working across all workstreams – working with target and general audiences.
• Work under the direction of the Conservation Officer, LotE project staff and other senior South Devon National Landscape staff to assist in the delivery of the project
• Understand and follow South Devon National Landscape & South Hams District Council internal procedures including Health and Safety, information management systems, site protocols etc.
• Work closely and constructively with your manager and project colleagues in all areas of your responsibility
• Undertake other duties as the Senior Management Team may require from time to time

The list of duties is not to be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive; there will be other duties and requirements associated with the post, and you may be required to undertake such other duties as may reasonably be required of you.

Qualifications

Essential

• A specific qualification is not required but applicants should have a desire to pursue a career in the environment or community engagement sectors
• Full current UK driving licence
• A keen knowledge of nature conservation and species recovery
• Ability to build effective working relationships
• Good interpersonal skills – approachable, professional and courteous
• Aptitude for learning and personal development
• Good attention to detail and organisational skills
• Ability to self-motivate
• Ability to manage workload and competing priorities effectively
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Not previously had paid work in this field

Desirable

• An understanding of Countryside Management in a rural sector environment
• Knowledge of a range of invertebrate groups and some botanical knowledge of British wildflowers
• Some knowledge of working with groups to deliver practical conservation activities – working safely in a practical conservation setting
• Ability to effectively motivate colleagues at all levels to work collaboratively
• Ability to work with teams across the project, organisation and partnerships
• Ability to work with a range of people adapting actions to meet their needs

Job details

• Salary  £12.26/hr – £23,656 per annum (pro rata)

• Contract  0.5FTE on 6 month Fixed Term Contract

• Department South Devon National Landscape Team