Jersey Project Officer

Blue Marine aims to restore health to the ocean and has advocated for large scale marine protection in Jersey since 2018. From 2021, our local team has been based on the Jersey, engaging with the fishing industry, educating local communities and children, partnering with government and local organisations, and leading local research to help inform better management. Through research and advocacy Blue Marine influenced development of the first Jersey Marine Spatial Plan and is supporting the introduction of a network of Marine Protected Areas. Our ‘snorkel trail’ and low-impact seafood initiatives have also helped to strengthen the sustainable use of Jersey’s seas.   

Blue Marine requires a Jersey Project Officer (Maternity Cover) to assist in delivering our research, education and fisheries engagement work in Jersey. The role will report to Blue Marine and be based at the National Trust for Jersey HQ.

This is an opportunity to join a highly impactful charity at the cutting edge of marine conservation, and an opportunity to support the protection of Jersey’s marine environment.

Salary: £16,800 (full time equivalent £28,000). 

Hours: Part time, three days (21 hours) per week, 9am to 5pm.  Potential to increase to four days (28 hours).

Contract: One-year, fixed term (May 2025 to May 2026)

Location: The Elms, National Trust for Jersey HQ, with quarterly travel to Blue Marine head office in London for specific meetings.  

Holidays: 25 days leave per annum plus national holidays, pro rata to agreed hours, plus any non-contractual seasonal closure.  

Reporting to: Channel Islands Project Manager, Blue Marine.

This role requires the individual to hold Entitled or Entitled for Work employment status for Jersey.

Application deadline: 16th March 2025 

Please send your CV and a letter explaining your skills and suitability for the role. If you would like to know more or have any questions, then we’d be happy to help.

 About the project

Jersey’s waters, with their kelp forests, seagrass and maerl beds, showcase some of the best shallow marine habitats in northern Europe and many are important ‘blue carbon’ stores. Of Jersey’s 2,455 square kilometres of territorial sea, 6.5 per cent is designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), where mobile fishing gear (trawling and dredging) is prohibited, but other fishing (pots, hook and line, diving and static nets) is allowed.

Since 2018, Blue Marine has undertaken research alongside partners on-island and UK academic institutions to assess the benefits of Jersey’s existing MPAs.  This evidence underpinned our proposal for a well-managed network of MPAs closed to mobile fishing gear, to cover over 30 per cent of Jersey’s territorial waters, our overarching project goal.

In October 2023, the Jersey Government released its first draft Marine Spatial Plan, to fulfil its international obligations, under the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which requires 30 per cent of the environment to be protected by 2030. The MSP includes proposals for a network of MPAs covering 23 per cent of Jersey’s waters with the intention of increasing protection to 30 per cent of Jersey’s marine space by 2030. With Jersey’s MSP approved, there is now the prospect of securing tangible marine protection

The Jersey Project aims to enhance marine protection through three key interventions:

• Research: a four-year PhD, multiple MSc studies and collaborative research has built a strong evidence base for marine protection.
• Supporting low-impact fisheries: our initiative, Jersey Hand Dived was developed to improve community awareness of sustainable seafood choices and low-impact fishing practices.
• Education and engagement: our snorkel trail education programmed provides the opportunity for 420 children to be guided through an immersive snorkelling experience every year.

General Duties:

• The Project Officer will work with the Channel Islands Project Manager, wider Blue Marine team and collaborators on Jersey (and other Channel Islands) to deliver local workstreams which benefit people, nature and climate.  
• The Project Officer will be based at The National Trust for Jersey, The Elms, St Mary and the post holder will be expected to integrate, support and be an active member of The National Trust for Jersey team.

Role and Responsibilities:  

The postholder shall be assigned to perform their duties as Blue Marine and the National Trust for Jersey together. These activities will include:  

• Day to day support to the Channel Island Project Manager to deliver Blue Marine’s Jersey project.  

• Lead on the delivery of Blue Marine’s Snorkel Trail initiative and paired education programme.  

• Lead on the development of sustainable seafood initiatives such as Jersey Hand Dived (JHD).

• Deliver wider education activities and assist with local outreach such as work experience and volunteer opportunities.  

• Support Blue Marine funded marine research and monitoring which is specifically relevant to the achievement of Blue Marine’s aims.   

• Support engagement and maintenance of relationships with Government, fishing industry, NGOs, funders, relevant stakeholders and the public.  

• Create regular social media posts and content for Blue Marine initiatives particularly Jersey Hand Dived and Jersey Snorkel Trails.   

• Represent Blue Marine at local events, including presentations and networking.    

• Provide support where required to National Trust for Jersey for marine activities.  
• Assist in the development of projects across the wider Channel Island region.

Candidate profile:

Essential

• Relevant qualification and experience of marine science, marine conservation or fisheries.
• Self-motivated and able to work using own initiative.  
• Comfortable and competent in working with schoolchildren and coordinating and delivering education initiatives.  
• Great inter-personal skills and managing relations across all sectors of the community. 
• Excellent written and communication skills, able to adapt style to a wide range of audiences 
• Command of Microsoft suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• A good team player with a flexible approach. 
• Full, clean driver’s license
• Basic Sea Survival Qualification. Any required training will be provided.

Desirable

• Competent in research, data collection, report writing and literature reviews
• Experience in creating social media content
• Confident on small vessels at sea
• Strong multitasker
• Experience with Adobe software (Acrobat and InDesign), Canva and GIS would all be a bonus
• Power Boat Level 2 license would be a bonus, but not essential.