Senior Technical Peatlands Officer

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Senior Technical Peatlands Officer
Job Summary The Senior Technical Peatlands Officer should hold a Level 6 qualification or equivalent in an environmental subject and have proven experience in stakeholder management. You will have practical experience of working with contractors, landowners, farmers and graziers, as well as government and local authority bodies. You will have worked as part of a dedicated project team, delivering outputs on time and within budget.

You will have experience using GIS software, preferably ArcGIS, and be confident with Microsoft Office, including Excel. You will bring strong communication and organisational skills, with the ability to produce clear, detailed documents, reports and action plans related to habitat management and restoration.
Salary

• S01 - NJC Pts 23-25; £34,434 - £36,363 gross per annum.
• Contributory pension with the People s Pension with employer s pension contribution 5% per annum to be matched by at least the same by the employee.
• Appointments will be made at the first point of the scale.

Hours

• Full-time hours 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
• Will require some weekend and evening work.

Location

• Based at Mourne Heritage Trust (MHT) offices, 19 Causeway Road, Newcastle with hot desk access at other locations, and hybrid working by agreement.
• Occasional travel throughout the UK and Ireland will be required.

Contract

• Fixed Term Contract to 31st March 2029, unless SEUPB extension is approved or continued funding becomes available.
• This post is subject to a 6-month probationary period
• Secondment can be considered

Leave

• 25 days per annum plus 12 days statutory holidays

Reporting to

• Peat + Mourne & Slieve Gullion Projects Coordinator

Other Benefits

• Flexi-time system and onsite free parking.

Requirement Prospective candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK. This will be verified with shortlisted candidates at the interview stage. Basic Access NI check will be completed prior to appointment The PEAT+ project is led by Ulster Wildlife and is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). In collaboration with cross-border partners, the project will focus on restoring peatlands across Northern Ireland and Ireland s border counties.

This initiative integrates climate action, biodiversity enhancement, and community engagement to reduce emissions from degraded peatlands and increase their carbon capture post-restoration. It also aims to improve biodiversity, protect historical features, and contribute to flood prevention, water quality, and wildfire risk reduction.
Project Overview The overall PEAT+ project, which includes the Mourne and Gullion projects, is structured into three key work packages:
Conservation Planning & Design, Peatland Restoration, and Capacity Building & Community Engagement. Through these efforts, PEAT+ will leave a legacy, by restoring vital habitats and fostering long-term environmental and community benefits. Partners in the project include Ulster Wildlife (UW), Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council (ABC), Newry, Mourne & Down District Council (NMDCC), Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark (CLG), Mourne Heritage Trust (MHT), Atlantic Technology University, Letterkenny (ATU), Crichton Carbon Centre (CCC), RTÉ.

Mourne Heritage Trust and Newry Mourne and Down District Council are collaborating to deliver work focused on the Eastern Mournes and Slieve Gullion Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). The MHT team includes Coordinator appointed , Senior Peatlands Technical Officer and Peatlands Conservation Ranger appointed . The Slieve Gullion team member will be the AONB Geopark Peatlands Officer to be appointed by NMDDC.

Together these roles constitute a southeastern regional team working to improve peatland habitats in the respective Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). This team will work cohesively as part of a wider Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland programme led by Ulster Wildlife on a cross-border basis. Your work will form part of a collective of peatland restoration projects north and south of the Irish border.

As a member…