Allonby Bay (Marine Science & Engagement) Officer

Location: Allonby Bay, Gosling Sike

Salary: £33,458 based on a 35-hour week, plus pension contributions

Contract length: Fixed term for 12 months. Starting in September 2026

This role will be centred around Allonby Bay Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMA) and the surrounding coastline with the option of working from home and with office space available at Gosling Sike, Carlisle.

The opportunity: 

Cumbria Wildlife Trust is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Allonby Bay (Marine Science and Engagement) Officer to help deliver an exciting 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 an innovative 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 the impact of the project 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.

Whilst we will select against the criteria in the job description, we do not expect candidates to meet 100% of the criteria and encourage you to apply if you believe that you would be a good fit for this role.

The closing date for applications is 09:00 am on 10 August 2026

Interviews will be held at our offices in Kendal and are likely to be held on either 18 or 19 August 2026.

Completed application forms should be returned with a cover letter outlining the candidate's suitability for the post, to Claire Shepherd, HR Manager, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Plumgarths, Crook Road, Kendal, LA8 8LX or by email to admin@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk.

Please note, Cumbria Wildlife Trust does not own the HPMA and is not responsible for enforcement of the HPMA. This is an awareness project about the local marine and coastal wildlife.