Introduction

Cumbria Connect is developing a Landscape Recovery Scheme in the eastern Lake District encompassing land from Penrith to Kendal along a broad geographical corridor we’re calling the Penrith2Kendal Arc. In collaboration with more than 30 land managers we aim to recover nature across 14,500ha of habitats that include upland heath, blanket bog, rivers and floodplain, woodland and scrub, wetlands, semi-improved and unimproved grassland including hay meadows.

The Landscape Recovery Team are based at Lowther, approximately 5 miles south of Penrith.  This role is office based but hybrid working could be agreed.  

What's the role about? 

We are looking for an experienced senior administrator to provide comprehensive administrative and financial support to the project team throughout the Landscape Recovery Scheme development phase.  An integral part of the project team you will be someone who can think on their feet, a ‘can do person’ who is not afraid to ask questions and thrives in a busy, varied working environment.

The role is diverse with a focus on finance and procurement and organising the project team to help then work effectively. Arranging meetings, helping out with events, and making sure things happen on time will on be part of your every day. You’ll need to be detailed and organised, able to juggle tasks and people and enjoy getting stuck in to anything.

You will be joining the Landscape Recovery Scheme from the start, and work alongside a new team under the umbrella of Cumbria Connect, which is already successfully working with partners to restore a nature-rich environment to uplands in Cumbria. 

Duties Include:

• Organising and preparing for internal and external meetings and events
• Procurement of goods and services
• Supporting the project management team with monitoring of project budgets
• Supporting the project management team with the preparation and co-ordination of grant reporting and monitoring
• Building and maintaining effective relationships, internally and externally
• Collating and analysing information
• Working closely and effectively with the wider Cumbria Connect team Cumbria Connect Landscape Recovery Scheme Job Descriptions and Person Specifications 4
• Any other additional administrative tasks to support the Landscape Recovery and wider Cumbria Connect Team
• The role will report to the Cumbria Connect Project Officer and work day to day as part of the Landscape Recovery project team. Occasional evening and weekend work will be required. 

Essential skills, knowledge and experience: 

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (especially Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Sharepoint),
• Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences whether by phone, email or in person.
• Able to organise meetings and events, from small up to very large (hundreds of attendees), and coordinate all aspects of the meeting or event logistics.
• Able to make the best use of time particularly when under pressure from competing priorities, prioritising and delegating tasks effectively, during periods of both low and high demand.
• Able to identify and act on opportunities for continually improving ways of working.
• Able to proactively identify and solve problems.
• Able to deal with confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
• Experience of liaising with staff at all levels in external organisations, particularly to support partnership working.
• Passionate about nature
• Experience of procurement and managing financial information.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of current conservation issues and priorities.
• Experience of complying with health and safety codes of practice.
• Experience of office management and maintaining a safe working environment.
• Familiarity with project management approaches.

This is a Fixed-Term role to 30th April 2026  for 37.5 hours per week. 

 The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 3rd June 2024. For further information please contact martin.varley@rspb.org.uk .

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.