Type of appointment: From April 2026 to March 31st 2029 (fixed term)
Reporting to: Project Manager GWCT Cymru / Wales.
Location: Working from home – Mid Wales / Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire Area
Hours of work: 5 days a week (37.5 hours)
Salary: £27,000 - £29,000 (depending on experience)
Job Purpose
The Gwald y Gylfinir Project, funded through the Nature Networks Fund (Round 5) via the Welsh Government and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, is a major initiative dedicated to safeguarding the future of the Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), a species listed by the IUCN as Near Threatened and now one of Wales’s highest conservation priorities. Without urgent intervention, the curlew faces the risk of extinction as a breeding bird in Wales within the next decade. This project seeks to build and strengthen targeted conservation efforts across Mid-Wales, focusing on three core areas—Montgomeryshire, North Radnorshire, and the surrounding areas of Ireland Moor and Gladestry—to halt and reverse population decline through effective habitat management and community collaboration.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and committed Project Officer to join the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Cymru / Wales team. The successful candidate will work closely with landowners, farmers, local communities, and partner organisations to deliver practical conservation actions designed to improve breeding success and chick productivity, ensuring viable populations of curlew remain part of the Welsh landscape. Responsibilities will include coordinating and implementing habitat management interventions outlined in the Wales Action Plan for the Recovery of Curlew (2021), leading monitoring and data collection efforts, and engaging stakeholders to raise awareness and encourage participation in curlew conservation.
This is a unique opportunity to play a vital role in one of Wales’s most important species recovery programmes. The post holder will contribute directly to reversing the decline of an iconic species while helping to foster collaboration, understanding, and long-term stewardship of the Welsh countryside in support of biodiversity and sustainable land management stakeholders.
The successful applicant will work for The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and be expected to work with key stakeholders which include:
- Farmers and Land Managers
Our vision
To reverse the decline of Curlews in Wales and establish progress in the recovery of local Curlew populations alongside the farming community for a more resilient future where biodiversity and farming may thrive.
Engaging with a wide audience to raise awareness of the plight of a red listed species.
Who will you be working with?
- Project Director
- Project Manager
- Communications Officer
- Farmers and land managers
- Nest protection contractors
- Local communities
- Ornithologists
- Volunteers
- Contractors
- Funders
- Students
- Other GWCT staff and students
- The wider public
Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities
- Forge close working relationships with the farming, landowning and managing community supporting them in working toward curlew-friendly conservation measures.
- To develop and deliver a robust survey and monitoring system to determine breeding occupancy and ascertain the curlew population.
- Enhance conditions for breeding curlew using best-practice conservation methods as outlined within The Wales Action Plan for the Recovery of Curlew to halt curlew declines within ICA 9 and any neighbouring areas as agreed with the Board and Project Manager.
- Build a positive profile for Gwald y Gylfinir Project and Gylfinir Cymru in the local area.
- Work closely with current farming-clusters and collaborate to co-design initiatives which deliver key curlew conservation works.
- Work with Project Manager to develop “Curlew Champions” who will help build a positive profile for the project and encourage landowners to take a proactive part in breeding curlew recovery.
- Collaborate with the Project Manager to enable the development of an effective Communications Strategy and design and effect a delivery plan.
- Support the Communications Officer to develop and implement the ‘Connecting People Plan’ that will inspire and enable a range of audiences including the farming community, young people, the senior generation, and a range of communities to build a high level of local support for breeding curlews both during and beyond the project.
- Co-ordinate and manage contractors to undertake specific works aimed at increasing chick-productivity.
- Work with Communications Officer to maximise volunteer opportunities, such as training volunteers in breeding territory identification for curlew and opportunities to assist in population monitoring across all project areas.
- Prepare reports for the Project Manager, Project Director and Project Steering Group and attend and support these meetings as necessary
- To be responsible for following all Procurement requirements and keeping the Project Manager up to date on all project spend, keeping meticulous financial records devised jointly with the Project Manager that will feed simply into the financial reporting system.
- Provide data and reports to national databases on Curlew numbers and productivity (where this does not conflict with GDPR).
- Ensure all legal requirements, policies and best practice are followed having responsibility for all work in the ACA and any other additional or agreed areas for matters such as Health and Safety, GDPR etc.
- To seek opportunities for further funding of work undertaken in the Project Area or elsewhere in Wales for Curlew Recovery having reference to the Project Manager and Steering Group and where appropriate draft and submit applications.
- Identify areas where appropriate habitat restoration works are appropriate for the benefit of breeding curlew, and liaise with farmers, landowners and wider community on its importance.
- Liaise and coordinate contractors delivering local actions and ensure smooth communications throughout.
- Work closely with the Project Officer team led by the Project Manager to ensure actions and deliverables are clearly communicated across project sites.
- Support wider GWCT Cymru projects 1 day a week.
Person Specification
- Sound practical experience of curlew conservation or similar bird species recovery projects. Essential
- A team player; approachable, flexible, engaging, enthusiastic and welcoming to all. Essential
- Degree in relevant subject or at least 2 years’ experience. Desirable
- Good understanding of breeding Curlew behaviour and the challenges to breeding Curlew success. Desirable
- GVC Drone License Qualification. Desirable
- Good knowledge of species monitoring and surveying techniques. Essential
- Experience of working with land managers and farmers and an understanding of farm businesses and pressures the interactions between farming and conservation objectives. Essential
- Practical experience of working with contractors and supervising contracts. Essential
- Proven experience in project and budget management. Essential
- Experience of developing delivering training materials and of community engagement and working with a wide variety of groups. Desirable
- Excellent communication, public speaking and networking skills, able to negotiate with, persuade and influence a wide range of stakeholders. Essential
- Excellent IT skills including use of Microsoft Office Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint and PowerPoint. Essential
- Ability to undertake demanding fieldwork in remote areas for long hours and in poor weather. Essential
- Able to work independently, prioritise workload and meet deadlines. Essential
- Full UK driving licence and passport (and use of own vehicle). Essential
- Experience of meeting regulatory standards for example in relation to GDPR and Health and Safety. Preferable
- Experience of supervising and motivating volunteers. Preferable
- Welsh speaker or willing to learn basic Welsh. Preferable
- Proficient is GIS software (ARCGIS, QGIS). Desirable
- Working towards BTO ringing license for waders, and understanding of GPS software. Desirable
How to apply
Closing date: 14th May 2026