Weald to Waves Landscape Advisor

Location: Hybrid working role based at the Knepp Wildland Foundation, Knepp Estate, Horsham, RH13 8LJ with regular visits to sites across Sussex.
Working Hours: Full-time, with scope to consider a 4-day week.
Salary: £32,000-35,000 pro rata, dependent on experience. This is an initial one-year fixed term contract. Secondments considered.

Weald to Waves is a visionary 100-mile nature recovery corridor across Sussex. As a land manager-led initiative, we bring together farmers, communities, schools, businesses, councils, and services to create, connect and conserve a ribbon of nature-rich landscape from the forests of the High Weald to the kelp forests of the Sussex Bay. We want the corridor to serve as a proof of concept for restoring biodiversity and ecosystem health, balancing the needs of sustainable agriculture with ecological and social resilience.

Launched in 2021, Weald to Waves is coordinated by the Knepp Wildland Foundation and represents a network of projects, strategies, and groups across Sussex. It is a nationally significant initiative, attracting funding and interest from a range of actors with influence over our natural world.

We are seeking a knowledgeable and dedicated Landscape Advisor to join our team. You will serve as a crucial link between the project and local farmers and land managers, providing guidance on agricultural practices, habitat creation and restoration, natural capital and funding opportunities.

The ideal candidate will have knowledge of the Sussex landscape and experience of working with our farming sector, ideally from a farming background. We are looking for someone with an active interest in nature friendly farming, ecosystem services, habitat surveying and collaborative working.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct on-site visits to farms and other land holdings to assess current practices, identify opportunities for nature recovery interventions and understand land manager goals.
• Lead on farm pledges for new members and carry out UKHabs assessments of holdings to understand and catalogue existing habitats in the corridor.
• Support the creation of environmental land management plans and monitoring frameworks with an emphasis on harnessing natural capital.
• Support co-operation between different land managers to help create and enhance wildlife corridors and nature connectivity.
• Organise workshops, training sessions, resources and events for local land managers to share and enhance their knowledge and skills around nature recovery, addressing shared challenges and opportunities.
• Be a conduit for the latest advancements in sustainable agriculture, especially those related to preserving and enhancing nature.
• Contribute to project outreach and communications through articles, blogs and social media posts.
• Act as a key point of contact and provide support to local farmer clusters and farmer-led initiatives that contribute positively to the environment and align with the goals of sustainable agriculture.
• Develop and deliver habitat creation and enhancement projects in collaboration with project partners across the corridor.
• Collaborate with land advisors from partner organisations to deliver effective advice along the Weald to Waves Corridor.

Required qualifications and experience:

• Farming background.
• Professional or personal connection to Sussex and its landscape.
• Experience of carrying out UKHabs assessments.
• Qualification in a field related to agriculture or environmental studies.
• Strong working knowledge of farm management, sustainable farming practices and understanding of the farmer cluster approach.
• Experience delivering ecological enhancements in the UK.
• Ability to interpret ecological reports and data, GIS mapping, and land management plans.
• Working knowledge of natural capital, Environmental Land Management Schemes and other funding mechanisms for environmental work.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Background in partnership working.
• Confidence with emerging technologies.

Please note:

Candidates will need their own vehicle and must have the right to work in the UK. All staff are required to comply with the requirements of Data Protection and GDPR, Health and Safety Regulations, our charity policies and code of conduct.

Application Deadline: 8th July 2025, 5pm.

Knepp Wildland Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences. If you require this information or wish to submit your application in a different format, please let us know.