Full Time – 35 Hours per week

Salary: £29,000 - £30,000 depending on skills and experience

Fixed Term Contract until 31 March 2026

Location: Beechcroft House, Vicarage Lane, Curdridge, Southampton, Hampshire, SO32 2DP with hybrid opportunities available

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is a grassroots movement working for nature’s recovery and to bring people closer to nature.

‘Our vision for a wilder future is beautiful and vital!’

Our future has to be wilder!

We are seeking a Watercress and Winterbournes Communications Officer to join our cause.

The Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership is a National Lottery Heritage Funded Scheme that focuses on the headwaters of two of the UK’s most iconic chalk rivers, the Test and the Itchen. This is an area of distinctive chalk stream habitats and winterbournes which supports a rich diversity of wildlife.

However, a wide range of factors threaten the character and quality of this chalk stream landscape. Working with a wide range of organisations and individuals, the scheme focuses on improving the resilience of our chalk streams and celebrating their unique qualities through key partnerships and community action. The scheme has been underway now for 4 years and has 16 months remaining.

This role sits within the Watercress and Winterbournes project team and will work closely with the team and with colleagues from across the Trust and the partnership. The post will be responsible for co-ordinating and delivering the communications for the whole scheme for our planned activities, ensuring that we are using the best methods to reach the required audiences.

The post will also co-ordinate Scheme events and will directly deliver two key people-engagement projects including:

Hidden Treasure Trails – co-ordination of the delivery of animated wildlife trails and associated interpretation.
Septic Smart project – co-ordination of messaging about septic tanks and their impact on chalk streams to targeted communities.

Wild About Inclusion!

As an inclusive employer we recognise that our workforce needs to better reflect the communities in which we live and work. We encourage applications from all sections of the community, particularly those underrepresented within our sector, including people from black, Asian, minority Ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities. We are committed to creating a Movement that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities.

We are happy to discuss the possibilities of hybrid and flexible working

This role will be based at our office in Curdridge, however, we are happy to accommodate a hybrid working routine, and discuss a pattern of work which mutually suits the candidate. Traditionally, office hours are Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm with an hour lunch break.

We offer a wide range of benefits including a competitive salary, generous annual leave allowance, a contributory pension scheme, life assurance, learning and development support, 24-hour access to our employee assistance programme, discounted staff travel with our corporate partners Wightlink (subject to T&Cs) and more.

Closing date: 06 January 2025

Interviews: 24 January 2025

To apply for the role, please click on the 'Apply Now' button at the top of the page. In the ‘supporting information’ section, you’ll need to demonstrate, with detailed examples, how you meet the job requirements using the Job Description and Recruitment Pack below.

Please do not use artificial intelligence tools to assist you to complete the application form. We may not accept applications that have been completed utilising AI tools. If you would usually use tools such as these to assist you in filling in a form, please contact tash.stewart@iris.co.uk to discuss this further and understand other options.