Property Ecologist – Ambleside

Overview

Property Ecologist – Grasmere – RO,Ambleside, United Kingdom

Property Ecologist (Monitoring) 

Please Note – This is a 7 Month fixed-term contract

We’re looking for a Property Ecologist to help shape how nature recovery is monitored and evaluated across National Trust land in Cumbria.

Working across a diverse portfolio of habitats and restoration projects, you’ll help establish the frameworks, indicators and evidence needed to understand ecological change and demonstrate the impact of nature recovery. You’ll bring together ecological information from across projects and landscapes, helping us understand what is working, where change is happening and how conservation outcomes can be improved over time.
Your work will support evidence-led decision making and help ensure our approach to monitoring is consistent, proportionate and aligned with National Trust priorities and external reporting requirements.

We kindly ask that you include a cover letter with your application.

Nature recovery in Cumbria is delivered through collaboration between property teams, specialist advisers and partners. As part of the Restore Nature Delivery Team, you’ll work closely with project teams, specialists and regional and national colleagues to develop a consistent approach to monitoring and evaluating our conservation work.

This is an opportunity to use ecological evidence at a landscape scale, helping colleagues understand the impact of restoration and build the evidence needed to inform future nature recovery.

You’ll help establish a consistent, evidence-led approach to monitoring nature recovery across Cumbria.

Using the National Trust’s emerging monitoring and evaluation framework as a foundation, you’ll adapt and apply it within Cumbria, identifying the indicators, datasets and methodologies needed to demonstrate conservation outcomes across different habitats and restoration projects.
You will:

• Apply and adapt the National Trust’s monitoring and evaluation framework to support nature recovery across Cumbria.
• Identify locally relevant indicators, measures and monitoring requirements that complement national standards and priorities.
• Develop project-specific monitoring approaches aligned with organisational objectives, funding requirements and external reporting requirements.
• Review existing ecological data, monitoring approaches and evidence sources to identify gaps, opportunities and priorities.
• Help establish ecological baselines and monitoring methodologies that allow change to be assessed consistently over time.
• Work with project teams, specialists, consultants and partners to ensure monitoring approaches are practical, proportionate and embedded within project delivery.
• Use GIS and other analytical tools to manage, analyse and present ecological and spatial information.
• Analyse and interpret monitoring data to evaluate conservation outcomes and support evidence-led decision making.

1. Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
2. Experience developing, implementing or reviewing ecological monitoring and evaluation frameworks, including selecting appropriate indicators, methodologies and reporting approaches.
3. Experience bringing together and interpreting ecological information from multiple sources to establish baselines, assess change and evaluate conservation outcomes.
4. Experience using GIS to manage, analyse and communicate ecological and spatial information.
5. Understanding of ecological survey methodologies and habitat condition assessment, including the strengths and limitations of different monitoring approaches.
6. Experience working collaboratively with project teams, specialists, consultants and partners to develop consistent approaches to monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
7. Ability to communicate complex ecological information clearly through reports, presentations and practical recommendations.
8. Understanding of environmental legislation, conservation policy and evidence requirements relevant to habitat restoration, species recovery and nature recovery projects.

Why join us?
This is an opportunity to help shape how nature recovery is understood and evidenced across Cumbria.

Working across a diverse portfolio of habitats and restoration projects, you’ll help develop monitoring approaches that allow us to measure ecological change, evaluate conservation outcomes and demonstrate impact. By bringing together evidence from across multiple projects and landscapes, you’ll help inform future restoration and support more resilient, nature-rich landscapes.

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

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

Grasmere – RO, The Hollens, Ambleside, LA22 9QZ

• Property Ecologist – Grade 7 .pdf
• IRC180487 Property Ecologist Additional Information 1.pptx

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Closing Date: Sunday 18th October 2026
Proposed Interview Date: Monday 2nd November 2026

To apply for this vacancy simply click the ‘apply’ button in the top right hand side of the page.

If you need any help with your application, i.e. due to technical difficulties, please call us on 0370 240 0274 or email us at recruitmentenquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk

If you require an adjustment to the application process, for example due to disability or medical condition, please call us on 0370 240 0274 or email us at adjustments@nationaltrustjobs.org.uk and we’ll support you as best as we can. For examples of how, please see our supporting you page.

Equal Opportunities Statement

The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here.

Safeguarding Statement

The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre.

IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.