Coast & Marine Advisor

Are you a technical expert in coastal and marine environments? Would you like to make a real difference by working for Europe’s largest conservation charity? The National Trust looks after over 780 miles of the coasts of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 

We’re looking for a Coast and Marine Advisor to support our coastal sites and landscapes across Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, as they look to adapt to coastal change and deliver our ambitions for Nature Recovery, Carbon Capture and Sustainable Land Management.

For further information on this role please contact Chris Soans National Trust Land and Nature Consultancy Manager: .uk.

You’ll be part of Midlands and East of England NT internal consultancy, a flexible resource of specialist skills and expertise. As one of a multidisciplinary team of experts, from curators and nature conservation advisors to estate managers and archaeologists, you’ll be working with others to help make things happen. 

As this role covers the Eastern part of the region your contractual location will be the nearest National Trust office to your home location, but our hybrid working policy means you can balance office and home working with site visits and meetings at National Trust places. We’ll talk about this in more detail at interview, but you should expect to be at a National Trust site for 40–60% of your working week.

As a member of our Land and Nature team, you’ll bring innovative thinking to our coastal ambitions, helping both to create our coastal strategy and to achieve its aims. You’ll be developing our coastal adaptation plans, which will help to guide us in managing the changing coasts in our care.

By keeping yourself informed about relevant policies, legislation, research, and projects outside the Trust, you’ll provide high-quality advice and inspiration to our teams.

You’ll actively seek opportunities to work in partnership with other organisations, to achieve our strategic ambitions beyond our boundaries, by building good relationships and networks with such as, statutory and government bodies, other charities, local authorities, and coastal forums.

You’ll advise on commissioning external consultants and research, and will work closely with local, regional, and central colleagues across a range of disciplines. You’ll also help to provide project management and technical expertise, including line management, for coastal projects. You’ll actively advocate the importance of the coast and marine environment, both internally and externally, through engagement, publications, and communicating the work of the National Trust publicly.

You’ll train and mentor staff and volunteers in coastal and marine issues, to increase knowledge and confidence, so that they can become advocates for coastal change work and support our communities.

• highly experienced in delivering coastal advice and/or managing coastal projects
• knowledgeable about coastal processes, shoreline management, coastal and transitional habitats, and relevant species
• experienced in partnerships, engaging local communities, stakeholder management and working with a variety of interested, affected or relevant parties
• up to date and have a detailed understanding of current and relevant coastal legislation, policy, and initiatives
• a skilled communicator, who can build strong relationships within diverse teams, both internally and externally
• a flexible thinker and problem-solver, skilled at negotiating and building productive networks, and confident in using your expertise to influence decisions
• proactive and organised, with experience of managing projects and a talent for multi-tasking and getting things done, strongly focused on detail, quality, cost, and time
• a leader for inclusion, who finds ways to create an inclusive culture

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

• Tax-free childcare scheme

• Rental deposit loan scheme

• Season ticket loan

• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts

• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.

• Flexible working whenever possible

• Employee assistance programme

• Free parking at most Trust places

• Independent financial advice

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.