Allonby Bay (Marine Science & Engagement) Officer
Posted 1 day 13 hours ago by England as Cumbria Wildlife Trust Limited
Closing date: 10 August 2026
Salary: £33,458 per annum, based on a 35 hour week, plus pension contribution of 9%
Contract type: Fixed term / Working hours: Full time
Location: Allonby Bay, Main Street, Allonby, Cumbria, CA15 6QF
This role will be centred around Allonby Bay, a Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMA), and the surrounding coastline. Our ideal candidate will have a passion for connecting people to their local marine environment and the ability to engage and help build awareness, shaping how people connect with and benefit from the marine environment around them.
OpportunityCumbria Wildlife Trust is seeking an enthusiastic Allonby Bay (Marine Science and Engagement) Officer to help deliver a project supporting the long-term success of England's first Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMA) at Allonby Bay, designated in 2023. In this varied and rewarding role, you will combine community engagement, citizen science, marine monitoring, and partnership working to help people better understand, value, and connect with this nationally important marine environment.
Allonby Bay is a unique stretch of coast, rich in marine wildlife and an important place for local communities, businesses, and sea users. You will lead the delivery of a citizen science and marine engagement programme, working with volunteers, local businesses, conservation partners, and recreational and commercial sea users to build awareness of the HPMA and encourage positive action for marine conservation. You will also design and deliver events, workshops, and interpretation activities that make marine conservation engaging, accessible, and relevant to diverse audiences.
Working closely with project partners, statutory conservation bodies, local stakeholders, and businesses, you will act as a bridge between sea users and conservation organisations, ensuring local perspectives help shape project delivery. Alongside engagement activities, you will contribute to project management, reporting, evaluation, communications, and knowledge-sharing, helping to demonstrate impact and share learning with others.
This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference for marine nature recovery while helping communities engage with one of the UK's most important marine conservation initiatives. If you are passionate about marine conservation, organised and proactive, and enjoy bringing people together around a shared purpose, we would love to hear from you.
Requirements and Candidate Fit- Passion for marine conservation and ability to engage diverse audiences
- Experience in community engagement, citizen science, or related outreach Roles
- Ability to work with volunteers, local businesses, conservation partners, and sea users
- Strong organisational skills and proactive, team-focused approach
- Comfort contributing to project management, reporting, evaluation, communications, and knowledge sharing
- Contract length: Fixed term for 12 months, starting September 2026
- Location: Allonby Bay HPMA area; option to work from home with office space at Gosling Sike, Carlisle
- Hours: Full time (35 hours per week)
- Salary: £33,458 per annum, plus pension contributions
The closing date for applications is 10 August 2026 at 09:00. Interviews will be held at our offices in Kendal, likely on 18 or 19 August 2026. Applications should be submitted with a cover letter detailing suitability, to Claire Shepherd, HR Manager, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, or by email to . Please note that Cumbria Wildlife Trust does not own the HPMA and is not responsible for enforcement of it. This is an awareness project about local marine and coastal wildlife.