Life on the Edge Nature Connections Trainee


Company:	South Hams District Council
Salary:	£24,796
Hours:	Part-time
Location:	Totnes, TQ9 5NE
Working pattern:	On-site
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	5 Aug 2026
Closing date:	23 Aug 2026

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Summary

We are looking for 2 trainees as part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund supported, Life on the Edge Project (LotE). This trainee will specialise in assisting with our engaging programme of community activities as our Nature Connections Trainee, with the other position specialising in assisting with our land and nature workstream as our Conservation Trainee.

LotE is focused on creating, restoring and conserving important habitats on the South Devon coast, all working towards securing a future for 30 rare and threatened invertebrates which call South Devon home. Species include Mediterranean oil beetle, Long-horned bee and the rarest bee in Britain, the Six-banded nomad bee. Our Conservation and Nature Connections Trainees will help us deliver this important work, shadowing our Conservation and Communities Officers. This entry level position is aimed at progressing important skills and gaining invaluable experience in the environmental sector.

Day to day work in the two positions will be varied; the Nature Connections Trainee can expect to assist with a broad range of tasks including planning events, facilitating craft sessions, networking with community groups, and engaging artists for target audience and general public activities.

The Conservation Trainee will assist with specialist species surveying, assisting developing our volunteering offer and assisting nature focused events or practical engagement activities. The trainee scheme will also benefit from the wider Life on the Edge project with opportunities to be involved with broader project activity with other project delivery partners.

Working at landscape scale, ranging the entirety of the South Devon Coast, our LotE trainees will have fantastic insight into the world of nature conservation whilst improving nature connectiveness and inspiring local communities about nature.

Each trainee position will be employed on a 12 month contract at 0.5FTE (18.5hrs per week) by South Hams District Council, the host of South Devon National Landscape. Given the nature of events on various days during the week, a favourable approach to flexible working will be advantageous. We urge applicants to apply who meet the scheme requirements and have a keenness to learn more about the natural world, how to conserve it and engage people along the way!

All interested candidates are encouraged to join an online webinar session to learn more about the Life on the Edge project, these opportunities and ask any questions in a short Q&A session. This will be held on at 1830 on Tuesday 11 August – please get in contact lote@southdevon-nl.org.uk for the link.

Closing date: Sunday 23 August

Interviews will be held in person at Follaton House, Totnes on Wednesday 2 September (Nature Connections Trainee) and Thursday 3 September (Conservation Trainee).

We are only able to accept applications from individuals over the age of 18 years old.

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