Project Officer

Are you interested in working on a programme focused on connecting more people to the nature and heritage in urban areas, ending unequal access to nature, beauty and history? Do you love working in a collaborative and fast-paced environment? Are you highly organised and adaptable, with initiative and a talent for multi-tasking?

We’re looking for a Project Officer to support the North East Urban team with the development and delivery of the North East Urban Programme. This is an exciting programme building our approach to working in urban areas across the North East to address unequal access and deliver benefits for nature, heritage and people.

This is a full time fixed term contract role until the of May 2026, with potential to be extended to November 2026.

Probably not what you think. The NE Urban team works in a very dynamic and collaborative way: we work across urban places and the wider NE landscape, driving forward the National Trust strategy of ending unequal access to nature, beauty and history. We have big ambitions and one of the ways we are achieving these is through robust partnerships internally and externally.

You'll be part of the North East Urban team which covers urban activity across the whole region with focus in our urban priority locations of Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle and Middlesbrough. This will be a hybrid role balancing office and home working with site visits. You will occasionally need to work evenings and weekends and be happy to travel. Your time and expenses would be reimbursed in-line with National Trust policies.

You will be a key team member supporting the development and delivery of North East Urban priorities and current programme of activities that span: research-based projects working in partnership with local universities; developing our 3 green corridors in Gateshead, Durham City and Teesside to our regional NE Blossom programme and ambition to work with communities to deliver a Sky Gardening Challenge project in Byker in 2026.

Our work is guided by partnership and working beyond National Trust property boundaries, where we are trying out new ways to help the National Trust and partners evolve in response to new challenges and opportunities in urban areas.

In practice, this means working with colleagues internally across the organisation as well as external stakeholders, to ensure we have excellent systems and oversight in place to manage this complex programme. This will be a varied and vital supporting role and no one day will look the same.

• experience in the nature conservation sector and knowledge of conservation issues
• experience of leading, motivating and supervising volunteers
• experience of relevant health and safety procedures and experience of undertaking risk assessments
• an effective communicator, able to build good working relationships
• good at listening, building trust and giving a high-quality service to colleagues
• someone with an eye for detail, good organisational skills and able to work at pace and keep to time
• a champion of inclusion, who helps support everyone to feel welcome

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)

Rental deposit loan scheme

Season ticket loan

EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)

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

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