Conservation officer jobs in dumfries, dumfries and galloway

Established in 1954 we are a UK based charity devoted to the study and conservation of the mammals of the British Isles. We aim to raise awareness of the issues mammals face and share our scientific research so they can be best protected in the future. A small team of staff delivers big results through coordination and promotion of surveys, trainings, campaigns, publications and events that inspire, inform and mobilise our members and supporters and support the work of grassroots mammal groups and individual volunteers

Following the recent confirmation of the Mammal Society’s research priorities for the next 5 years, we are seeking a talented, enthusiastic Data and Research Officer with a passion for nature, science and conservation who will help us to put strong foundations in place so that we can deliver maximum positive impact for mammals through our work.

The Mammal Society is committed to being an inclusive and disability-friendly employer and is keen to attract applicants from a range of backgrounds. All applications will be anonymised and shortlisted via a consistent and transparent points-based process against the requirements of the role as set out in the Job Description and Person Specification. The role is home-based, and interviews will be conducted via Zoom unless a candidate raises an issue with this format, in which case an alternative will be arranged to satisfy any requirements for inclusion.

To apply, please submit your CV with a covering statement of no more than 750 words explaining your suitability for the role as outlined in the JD and Person Specification.

We would be grateful if you could also complete and return an Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form, but this is optional and may be submitted separately.

Job Description

Job Title: Training and Development Officer

Location: Home-based, covering the South

Salary: £26,000 (pro-rata), you’d get £15,600 (gross)

Hours: 29.6 hours to be worked flexibly over 4 days

Contract: fixed-term to end of March 2028, Term Time Only

About us:

Learning through Landscapes is the UK’s leading school grounds charity, dedicated to enhancing outdoor learning and play for all. Our vision is a society where the benefits of regular time outdoors are valued and appreciated, and outdoor learning, play and connection with nature is recognised as a fundamental part of education, at every stage, for every child and young person.

We have unrivalled expertise based on three decades of experience, practical action and research. With offices in England and Scotland and staff based across the UK, our team and our accredited network of outdoor learning experts have the capacity to work nationally and internationally. Click HERE for more information.

What you’ll be doing:

As a Training and Development Officer, you will be working directly with teachers and other education staff supporting their journeys in taking curriculum learning and play outside and to utilise their school grounds. You will deliver LtL’s training and projects within diverse communities across a significant geographical area. This role is part of our exciting new climate change education initiative. It is essential that you are able and willing to travel the Southwest and throughout the UK, including overnight. For more details of the role see the Key Responsibilities document.

What you’ll need:

· Experience of delivering projects with diverse communities

· Experience of training and advising educational staff in primary or secondary schools.

· Experience of delivering outdoor nature-based and curriculum linked learning activities

· A passion for nature

· Experience of producing written materials; educational resources, reports, and similar project related communications

· Competent IT skills (particularly Microsoft Office, Teams and Outlook)

· Excellent planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage and deliver a varied workload

· Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to find creative solutions

· Good interpersonal skills

· An understanding of the role safeguarding plays in education

· Ability to work from home or suitable office-type venue

If you don’t have all of the above but feel it could be the role for you, talk to us!

What we offer:

· Flexible working

· Holiday, 28 days + bank holidays + a “birthday gift” day

· Laptop, phone and all travel & subsistence expenses

· Family & carer friendly policies

· Annual training package including: LtL Professional Accreditation in Outdoor Learning and Play, LtL Climate School 180 Network Training package

· Sick pay

· Pension scheme – 5% employer contribution

· Subsidised Christmas meal

· A supportive and welcoming team of colleagues, including our 20+ Delivery Team members.

We’re an equal opportunities employer. All suitable applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

We are actively seeking to increase diversity within our workforce and are committed to recruiting the best people on the objective basis of their skills, ability and experience. We offer a guaranteed interview to eligible applicants who choose to opt-in to the scheme and can demonstrate that they have at least 6 out of the 11 from the “what you need” list. To be eligible to apply via the Guaranteed Interview Scheme, you must be from an ethnic minority. Please state clearly in your covering letter if you are applying under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

We are happy to support with any reasonable adjustments that are needed within the recruitment process.

If you would like an informal chat about the role, please contact the HR Manager, Sarah Knott - see website for contact details.

To apply: Please send the following by email to our recruitment email - see website

· Your CV

· A covering letter explaining in no more than one side of A4, your interest in the role and the skills and knowledge you have that make you an ideal candidate

· Contact details (including email address and phone number) of two referees, one of whom should be your most recent employer.

The recruitment process:

The deadline for applications is 9 am on Monday 12h May 2025.

If you have not heard from us by 5 pm on Tuesday 13th May 2025, you have not been shortlisted.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview (either via TEAMS or at a venue in the South - TBC) on Tuesday 20th May 2025.

Candidates will be informed of the outcome of the interviews by Thursday 22nd May 2025.

PURPOSE OF THIS ROLE

Over recent years, SBP has grown from a fledgling charity to an established and impactful organisation with an annual budget of over £1m in restricted and unrestricted funds. 

Our existing Head of Finance, who has been with us through part of this journey, is shortly due to retire and will be replaced by this Head of Finance & HR role, with strategic and operational ownership of SBP’s finances, as well as responsibility of SBP’s HR policy and processes.

KEY LIAISONS

The Head of Finance & HR will report to SBP’s CEO and sit on SBP’s Management Team, comprising the CEO and other heads of functions. 

The role will manage our Finance & HR Officer and work closely with other members of the home-based SBP team, including colleagues in Fundraising leading on income generation.

The role will also communicate regularly with SBP’s Treasurer and the wider Board of Trustees to support their understanding of the charity’s financial and HR management.

Where required, the role will also have contact with SBP’s partners, suppliers and other external contacts in the course of managing the charity’s financial agreements and transactions.

KEY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational ownership of SBP’s finances, including:

• Control and management of SBP’s bank accounts and financial system (Xero).

• Responsibility for SBP’s financial transactions, payments and payroll.

• Responsibility for external claims/reporting, including Gift Aid claims and VAT returns.

• Responsibility for SBP’s financial processes, controls and policies.

• Line management and development of the Finance & HR Officer to support in the above. 

Strategic ownership and governance of SBP’s finances, including:

• Management and delivery of our annual budget and the budgeting/re-forecasting process, with input from the wider team.

• Management and delivery of our annual accounts and audit, in conjunction with an external accountant/auditor.

• Monthly financial reporting to the Management Team.

• Quarterly financial reporting to the Board of Trustees.

• Financial planning for the organisation, taking into account trends in spending and income, and planned growth of our activities.

• Assessment and communication of financial risks to the Management Team and Board of Trustees.

Financial advice and support to the wider SBP team, including:

• Providing financial information to feed into fundraising applications.

• Providing advice on VAT/financial risk in relation to new products, partnerships and agreements.

• Advising on budget creation and management for projects, commissions and operational areas.

Human resources policy and processes:

• Responsibility for SBP’s human resource processes, controls and policies.

• Oversight of contracting and on-boarding of new employees.

• Oversight of holiday management and storage of key documents/information using our HR system, Breathe. 

• Line management and development of the Finance & HR Officer to support in the above. 

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA), or equivalent level of knowledge/experience.

• Experience of reporting, budgeting, payroll and other finance processes at an operational and strategic level.

• Experience in a charitable organisation, or good working knowledge of the unique aspects of charity finance, including management of restricted and unrestricted funds.

• Experience of taking ownership of either a finance function or a discreet finance area, along with the responsibility for its accurate management and efficient running.

• Experience of presenting and explaining financial information to individuals and groups with varying levels of financial understanding.

• Experience of HR management policy and process.

• Experience of working with Xero, or proven ability to get up to speed quickly with new financial systems.

KEY SKILLS/ATTRIBUTES

• Self-motivated and solutions-focused, with the capability and desire to take ownership of all relevant responsibilities and continually improve the charity’s financial and HR processes. 

• Comfortable working in a small organisational setting, without the support of a wider, multi-level finance and HR structure/team.

• Attentive to detail, in order to ensure that transactions, processes and reporting are accurate and reliable.

• Analytical, with the skills to provide financial analysis in support of decision-making and help others identify trends and anomalies in our finances.

• Skilled at taking financial data from a variety of sources (e.g. accounting software, bank, spreadsheets) and presenting it to a non-financial audience in an accessible format.

• Excellent organisational, time management and prioritisation skills, with the flexibility to respond to changing needs in a dynamic working environment.

• Ability to communicate confidently with a wide range of people and build positive
  relationships with colleagues, partners and stakeholders.

• Desire and ability to stay up to date with financial and HR governance law and requirements as they relate to charities.

• Motivated to be part of a committed wider team working towards our vision for rewilding in Scotland.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Salary: £24,000-27,000 per annum on 0.6 FTE hours (pro-rated from £40,000-45,000 FTE), depending on experience. Salaries are paid in arrears on the last working day of each month by bank transfer.

Hours: Working hours are flexible, but must equate to a minimum of 22.5 working hours (0.6 FTE) per week, Monday to Friday. Note that the full-time working week at SBP is 37.5 hours. The nature of the post may from time to time require evening and weekend work. Paid overtime is not available, but time off in lieu will be given. 

Place of work: This role is home-based within Scotland and will require a suitable home office working environment (SBP can provide a laptop and support additional equipment needs). Attendance of meetings and events in other parts of Scotland will also be required periodically, with travel expenses paid in accordance with SBP’s Expenses Policy. 

Contract: Permanent.

Flexibility: Subject to ensuring that the needs of the charity and the role are met, SBP endeavours to meet the flexible working needs of its employees. 

Holidays: 16.8 days on 0.6 FTE hours (pro-rated from our FTE allowance of 28 days) including public holidays, plus 5 additional office closure days between Christmas and New Year. 

Pensions: You may be eligible to be enrolled into SBP’s employee pension scheme. Written terms of the scheme are available on request. 

Probationary period: 6 months. 

Notice period: 2 months.

ABOUT US

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture (SBP) is a charity that works to make rewilding happen across Scotland, as a solution to the growing climate and biodiversity crises, by influencing opinion and delivering practical change. Our vision is of a vast network of rewilded land and water, where wildlife flourishes and people thrive.

We are a small, friendly, agile and progressive team that works in a spirit of collaboration with many different interest groups to:

• Drive support for rewilding

• Commit more land and water to rewilding

Learn more about SBP and the way we work on our website.