Marine Protected Areas Project Officer

About the Protected Areas Foundation

The Protected Areas Foundation is a UK charity that supports community management of protected areas. It focuses on building coastal communities’ skills to manage protected areas, especially coastal and marine ones, and on developing sustainable finance and governance mechanisms. Its work covers Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), SSSIs/ASSIs, SACs, SPAs and Ramsar sites, initially in England and Scotland.

The Foundation works through long-term relationships, values science and local knowledge, co-designs solutions, offers practical tools, and promotes socially just, nature-positive approaches.

About the Role

The Marine Protected Areas Project Officer will support community-based marine stewardship in a two-year post based in the UK. The role involves travel to Scotland and England, with an initial focus on north-west Scotland. It suits an early-career professional interested in community-led marine conservation. The role mixes fieldwork and desk work and requires strong interpersonal skills.

The post reports to the Head of Communities and Data and works closely with the Director of Protected Area Management and with programme and community partners.

Key Responsibilities

Community and Stakeholder Engagement

• Support engagement with local communities and partners, and build trusted relationships.
• Take part in campaigns, workshops, surveys and capacity-building sessions.

Data and Technical Support

• Help collect and analyse qualitative and quantitative data, and maintain databases.
• Help design and test tools for community-led management.
• Assist with reports, including basic GIS work, and carry out desk research.

Project Support and Coordination

• Monitor progress against milestones.
• Liaise with contractors, partners and stakeholders.

Marine Policy Support

• Keep up to date with global, regional and national policy.
• Contribute to consultation responses.

Travel and Fieldwork

• Travel regularly to MPA sites and remote locations.
• Support logistics, data collection, meetings and stakeholder coordination.

Person Specification

Required

• Very strong interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• A BSc/MSc or equivalent in environmental management, conservation, marine policy, social sciences or a related field.
• Willingness to travel (agreed travel and subsistence expenses are paid).
• High attention to detail and organisation.
• A motivated, self-starting approach.

Desirable

• Experience working with local stakeholders.
• Familiarity with MPA management systems.
• Qualitative, quantitative and spatial data analysis skills.
• Understanding of UK marine policy.
• Responsible use of AI.

Personal Attributes

• Relationship-building, reliability and adaptability.
• Passion for community-led conservation.
• Eagerness to learn.
• Organisation.

Terms and Benefits

• Contract: fixed two-year term.
• Salary: £24,000 to £30,000 per year, depending on experience and qualifications.
• Hours: full time, 35 hours per week.
• Automatic enrolment in a workplace pension.
• 25 days’ annual leave plus public holidays.
• Travel for fieldwork and approved work travel is covered.
• Professional development support (for example GIS, project management and policy).
• Flexible working, including home working with occasional in-person team meetings.

How to Apply

Please email a CV and cover letter to info@protectedareasfoundation.org by close of business on Friday 6 November 2026.

More information: https://protectedareasfoundation.org/vacancy-marine-protected-areas-project-officer/