If you have always been looking for an opportunity to play a role in nature conservation but wondered how and if the right opportunity would come along, then this traineeship may be for you. This traineeship is ideal for career changers and starters.

We are looking for a Landscape Design Trainee to support our team with the design of wild spaces suited for promoting biodiversity with Derbyshire. In this role you will be working with our Planning and Policy, Wild Solutions and Wilder Landscapes teams to gain an understanding of ecological principles underpinning landscape design for conservation.

To be successful you will key eye for design principles, and able to convey visual information clearly and effectively with a well-rounded understanding of the UK environment and the challenges it faces and will be passionate about developing your skills and experience in the conservation sector.

This is an exciting role that will play a key role in creating more space for nature across Derbyshire.

What will you gain:

• knowledge and experience of the planning process
• knowledge and experience surveying plants and protected species
• knowledge and experience of the principles behind landscape design for biodiversity net gain, ecosystem services and rewilding projects.
• wider training opportunities to support your professional and personal development

About you

This role might be right for you if:

• you have a willingness to learn new skills
• you are keen to use your design skills to tackle the climate emergency
• you have great attention to detail
• you have a commitment to the restoration of nature and other environmental issues
• you have a friendly and supportive approach

What our previous trainees, interns and placements have to say about gaining experience with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust

“Overall, I really enjoyed my experience and think that it has really helped me with gaining valuable experience in the industry that I am looking for a career in.”

“I feel like schools, colleges, even some adults give the perception that work is scary and strict and unbearable and that was absolutely not the case with DWT. If anything, it made me look forward to future jobs!”

“It was a good traineeship, I felt just as valued as every other member of staff, everyone was lovely which really helped my anxiety, there were ample opportunities to learn and grow and I love how personal development was a priority within the Trust for all staff.”

We are happy to talk flexible working!

This role will be based at our office in Middleton although a balance of home and office working will be allowed. We are a local charity so applicants should be easily able to access our office and other locations around the county.

How to apply

The job description attached also includes a person specification, this outlines some skills that would be advantageous – not every skill is essential as we don’t expect you to know everything in advance.

In your application, please outline the skills and experience you have that would make you a good candidate for this role. Use the person specification attached to this advert to help you write your application.

You can consider referring to any of the following as examples of your skills: paid work; your education history; societies; sports; volunteering; hobbies or interests; support you provide to family or friends, etc. We want to hear about you as an individual. Enthusiasm and eagerness to learn play a crucial part in being successful in this trainee role.

Interviews are planned for 21st March 2023

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust

We’re a small charity, with big ideas! We believe that everyone has their part to play in Nature’s recovery. We are the only organisation in Derbyshire working to protect and enhance wildlife and wild places throughout the county but through our work with businesses, other conservation charities, and the public we are mobilising others across the county and the rest of the UK to act for wildlife. As are a registered Charity, we are supported by 16,000 members and are part of a movement of 46 Trusts with a collective membership of over 800,000. Our purpose is to achieve our vision of a Wilder Derbyshire by creating Nature Recovery Networks and reintroducing lost species. We aim to deliver our vision by leading Nature’s Recovery, inspiring people and communities to care and mobilising people to act. All our work is underpinned by our values.

Our Charity is growing, we currently employ 80 people and, crucially, we are supported by over 500 volunteers. We have three delivery teams; Wilder Landscapes, Wilder Communities and Income Generation, supported by the Finance and Resources team. Each team has a Department Lead who reports to the Chief Executive who is responsible for the operations of the Trust and who, in turn, reports to the Board of Trustees which governs the organisation.

We’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and believe that everyone should have access to nature. We expect people to work harmoniously with each other and with volunteers, and to provide help and guidance to others when needed. As a small charity, our employees need to be willing to be flexible about working arrangements and willing to provide occasional cover for absent staff. We want people to develop professionally and personally while working with us and employees are encouraged to participate in the range of opportunities available to enable this.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is an equal opportunities employer that strives to be a diverse and inclusive environment in which everyone is valued. We welcome applications from eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

We recognise that our workforce needs to represent the communities and people we work with. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups within Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and the wider charity and conservation sector, such as people from Black and Ethnic Minority backgrounds and those who identify as LGBTQ+.

We are proudly a Disability Confident Commitment employer. The scheme is helping us recruit and retain great people to meet our workforce needs. As a member of the scheme, we interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role. You can request this and adjustments including accessible formats of this vacancy by emailing [email protected]”