We are looking for 2 trainees as part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund supported, Life on the Edge Project (LotE). This trainee will specialise in assisting with our engaging programme of community activities as our Nature Connections Trainee, with the other position specialising in assisting with our land and nature workstream as our Conservation Trainee.

LotE is focused on creating, restoring and conserving important habitats on the South Devon coast, all working towards securing a future for 30 rare and threatened invertebrates which call South Devon home. Species include Mediterranean oil beetle, Long-horned bee and the rarest bee in Britain, the Six-banded nomad bee. Our Conservation and Nature Connections Trainees will help us deliver this important work, shadowing our Conservation and Communities Officers. This entry level position is aimed at progressing important skills and gaining invaluable experience in the environmental sector.

Day to day work in the two positions will be varied; the Nature Connections Trainee can expect to assist with a broad range of tasks including planning events, facilitating craft sessions, networking with community groups, and engaging artists for target audience and general public activities.

The trainee scheme will also benefit from the wider Life on the Edge project with opportunities to be involved with broader project activity with other project delivery partners.

Working at landscape scale, ranging the entirety of the South Devon Coast, our LotE trainees will have fantastic insight into the world of nature conservation whilst improving nature connectiveness and inspiring local communities about nature.

Each trainee position will be employed on a 12 month contract at 0.5FTE (18.5hrs per week) by South Hams District Council, the host of South Devon National Landscape. Given the nature of events on various days during the week, a favourable approach to flexible working will be advantageous. We urge applicants to apply who meet the scheme requirements and have a keenness to learn more about the natural world, how to conserve it and engage people along the way!

All interested candidates are encouraged to view a recording of an online webinar session held on 11 August. You will learn more about the Life on the Edge project, these opportunities and hear answers to questions raised in a short Q&A session at the end. View the recording on our YouTube channel.

We are only able to accept applications from individuals over the age of 18 years old.

This is an entry level position aimed at individuals who have not previously had paid work in Nature based community engagement type roles.

For further information on the project see www.southdevon-nl.org.uk  

For an informal discussion please contact Rob Skinner, Life on the Edge Project Manager on 01803 229346 or email rob.skinner@southdevon-nl.org.uk.

Closing date: Sunday 23 August 2026

Interviews will be held in person at Follaton House, Totnes on Wednesday 2 September (Nature Connections Trainee) and Thursday 3 September (Conservation Trainee).

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 Southwest Coast Path Association, National Trust and Doorstep Arts. Supported by the 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 Nature Connections 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 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 1-year traineeship the postholder 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, schools and volunteer activity programmes
• Promote community engagement through LotE project themes
• Engage with wider LotE project activity, working across all workstreams, as well as with partners, community groups and landowners
• Work under the direction of the Community Officer, LotE project staff and other 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

Person Specification

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

Knowledge / Experience

Essential

• Basic knowledge of environmental issues and/or nature conservation
• Experience of being involved in your community

Desirable

• Knowledge of British invertebrates and wildflowers
• Interest in engaging communities to make landscape or environmental change

Skills / Abilities

Essential

• 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
• A willingness for ongoing learning and personal development

Desirable

• 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

General / Other

Essential

• Not previously had paid work in this field (Nature based community engagement type roles)
• Ability to attain agreed standard of high-quality work
• Ability to manage own workload and competing priorities effectively
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team

The list is not exhaustive; this role profile sets out the duties of the post at the time it was drawn up. Such details may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility involved

Job details

• LEVEL SCP 03
• ACCOUNTABLE TO Life on the Edge Project Manager, South Devon National Landscape
• SALARY £12.85/hr – £24,796 per annum (National Pay Award pending)
• LOCATION Follaton House, Totnes
• BASIS 0.5 FTE (18.5hrs/week) on 1yr Fixed term Contract until Oct 2027
• PACKAGE Fixed term contract, Local Government Pension Scheme

Closing date 23/08/2026

In person interviews anticipated to be held 02/09/2026

Job reference SS125T004

We are looking for 2 trainees as part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund supported, Life on the Edge Project (LotE). One trainee will specialise in assisting with our engaging programme of community activities as our Nature Connections Trainee, with this position specialising in assisting with our land and nature workstream as our Conservation Trainee.

LotE is focused on creating, restoring and conserving important habitats on the South Devon coast, all working towards securing a future for 30 rare and threatened invertebrates which call South Devon home. Species include Mediterranean oil beetle, Long-horned bee and the rarest bee in Britain, the Six-banded nomad bee. Our Conservation and Nature Connections Trainees will help us deliver this important work, shadowing our Conservation and Communities Officers. This entry level position is aimed at progressing important skills and gaining invaluable experience in the environmental sector.

Day to day work in the two positions will be varied; the Conservation Trainee will assist with specialist species surveying, assisting developing our volunteering offer and assisting nature focused events or practical engagement activities. The trainee scheme will also benefit from the wider Life on the Edge project with opportunities to be involved with broader project activity with other project delivery partners.

Working at landscape scale, ranging the entirety of the South Devon Coast, our LotE trainees will have fantastic insight into the world of nature conservation whilst improving nature connectiveness and inspiring local communities about nature.

Each trainee position will be employed on a 12 month contract at 0.5FTE (18.5hrs per week) by South Hams District Council, the host of South Devon National Landscape. Given the nature of events on various days during the week, a favourable approach to flexible working will be advantageous. We urge applicants to apply who meet the scheme requirements and have a keenness to learn more about the natural world, how to conserve it and engage people along the way!

All interested candidates are encouraged to view a recording of an online webinar session held on 11 August. You will learn more about the Life on the Edge project, these opportunities and hear answers to questions raised in a short Q&A session at the end. View the recording on our YouTube channel.

We are only able to accept applications from individuals 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. (practical conservation/ecology surveyor type roles).

For an informal discussion you can contact Rob Skinner, Life on the Edge Project Manager, on 01803 229346 (or email rob.skinner@southdevon-nl.org.uk).

Closing date – Sunday 23 August 2026

Interviews will be held in person at Follaton House, Totnes on Wednesday 2 September (Nature Connections Trainee) and Thursday 3 September (Conservation Trainee).

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 be 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 1-year traineeship the postholder 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 LotE 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

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• A specific qualification is not required but applicants should have a desire to pursue a career in the environmental sector
• Full, current UK driving licence

Knowledge / Experience

Essential

• A keen knowledge of nature conservation and species recovery

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

Skills / Abilities

Essential

• 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

Desirable

• Ability to effectively motivate colleagues at all levels to work collaboratively
• Ability to work with teams across the organisations in the project
• Ability to work with a range of people adapting actions to meet their needs

General / Other

Essential

• Ability to self-motivate
• Ability to manage workload and competing priorities effectively
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team

The list is not exhaustive; this role profile sets out the duties of the post at the time it was drawn up. Such details may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility involved.

Job details

• LEVEL SCP 03
• ACCOUNTABLE TO Life on the Edge Project Manager, South Devon National Landscape
• SALARY £12.85/hr – £24,796 per annum (National Pay Award pending)
• LOCATION Follaton House, Totnes
• BASIS 0.5 FTE (18.5hrs/week) on 1yr Fixed term Contract until Oct 2027
• PACKAGE Fixed term contract, Local Government Pension Scheme

Closing date 23/08/2026

In person interviews anticipated to be held 03/09/2026

Job reference SS126T005