Species Recovery Officer

White Cliffs Countryside Partnership

Fixed term until 31 March 2029

Could you help improve the fortunes of some of England’s rarest and most threatened species?

White Cliffs Countryside Partnership is looking to recruit an outgoing and positive individual to help deliver Champions of the Chalk – an exciting project focused on eight chalk specialists: Lady Orchid, Late Spider-orchid, Man Orchid, Musk Orchid, Bedstraw Broomrape, Fiery Clearwing, Straw Belle and the Long-horned Bee. Working across the East Kent downland landscape you will have a focus on three key sites – Folkestone Downs, Folkestone Warren and Wye NNR.

As the lead delivery officer, you will work alongside our Land Management team, colleagues at Natural England and volunteers, undertaking a range of activities, including planning and delivering habitat management actions for the target species, devising and undertaking ecological surveys and monitoring, and project management and reporting. Working with landowners and other stakeholders, you will lead on the development of long-term Species Recovery Plans to ensure a lasting legacy for these threatened species.

What we need from you

An experienced wildlife conservation professional, you will have strong organisational and project management skills, good species ID skills across a range of taxa and an ability to work collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes for the eight target species. You will have excellent written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills and have experience of recruiting and leading volunteers and working with a range of stakeholders.

Outgoing and self-motivated, you will have a passion for nature recovery and be able to work flexibly and under your own initiative, coordinating work across multiple sites, including the management of contractors.

The role will involve working outdoors in all weathers and undertaking physically demanding work on steep and difficult terrain. Due to the nature of the role, this post requires an enhanced DBS check.

Next Steps

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Richard Haynes by email: richard.haynes@dover.gov.uk or by phone: 07775 928226

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 2 September 2026.