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Climate Adaptation Assistant

Closing date:
Salary: £23,000 - £25,000
Contract type: Fixed term / Working hours: Full time
Location:
Callow Rock, Shipham Gorge, Cheddar
With opportunities for hybrid working
As Climate Adaptation Assistant, you will be helping to deliver SWT’s climate adaptation work across various projects. The over-arching aim of this work is to develop climate change adaptation pathways at a county level, and in specific local areas relating to flooding, drought and wildfire. This is designed to foster climate change resilience and adaptation in the county, and therefore involves working with a variety of stakeholders, including SWT colleagues, partner organisations, farmers and landowners, experts and academics, local councils and community groups. Additionally, you will have opportunities to undertake training for personal and professional development.

As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) sixth assessment report laid out in March 2023, we are now on the brink of irrevocable damage from climate change; this is our ‘final warning’ and the time is now for action to address this crisis.

The report highlighted that restoring nature was one of the key actions needed to address this issue. Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT) are at the forefront of this work in Somerset, and fully committed to this path through our Wilder Somerset 2030 Strategy and to delivering a vision whereby we reverse biodiversity loss and tackle the climate crisis.

Come and join the team to make a real difference.

Climate Adaptation Assistant

The Climate Adaptation Assistant's role is to support the delivery and embedding of SWT’s climate adaptation work in Somerset, building on the Co-Adapt Adapting the Levels project. This work helps to protect our fabulous wildlife and landscapes as well as local communities, using nature-based and natural process solutions to manage water, heat and wildfire that will help map a positive future for Somerset in the era of Climate Change.

Key outputs for the project will be:  

  • Co-creating Climate Adaptation Plans with communities across Somerset including the coast
  • Inputting a climate focus and RAD (Resist, Accept, Direct) approach with project focus areas (such as the Adapting the Levels Landscape Recovery project in the Brue Valley)
  • Climate adaptation support for Agriculture on the Somerset Levels and Moors – supporting the Moor Association project.
  • The management of priority habitats, identifying triggers for ecological transformation and mapping options

Community engagement and consensus-based solutions approaches are major elements of the role. The role will also include a large degree of partnership working and liaison with technical experts in the Climate Change Adaptation Pathways and RAD approaches.

Application Process

The full job description and person specification is attached in the link at the bottom of this page. 

Send applications to recruitment@somersetwildlife.org ensuring you use the application form attached.

For further information about the role please contact: Natalie Barnett, Climate Adaptation Officer, natalie.barnett@somersetwildlife.org 

Please note this is a fixed term contract until the end of March 2024 when it will hopefully be extended.

Additional benefits of working for the Somerset Wildlife Trust include:

  • 7% employer pension contribution
  • Life insurance
  • An annual professional institution subscription
  • Flexible and agile working
  • Wellbeing support – EAP, wellbeing champions
  • Diversity networks through RSWT/TWT
  • Paid volunteer days
  • Continuous Professional Development opportunities
  • Minimum 33 days of holiday (25 annual leave + bank holidays)
  • Active staff social events

The opportunity to make a real and positive difference to nature, communities and the climate.

Associated Documents

Job Description and Person Specification

Climate Adaptation Assistant