Nature Towns and Cities is a national initiative which seeks to enable more people to experience nature in their daily lives, particularly those places and communities currently lacking access to quality green space.

The Connecting Through Nature Officers will be fundamental to the delivery of Nature, Towns and Cities. The two Connecting Through Nature  Officers, under the direction of the Project Lead (Sunderland City Council), will lead the engagement activities connecting people to their local greenspaces and supporting residents to have a say in their management and futures, championing local voices. 

The key purpose of this role:

• Lead area specific engagement activities and initiatives for the Connecting Through Nature, a Nature Towns & Cities project.
• To share knowledge, grow skills and improve outcomes for people and greenspaces in Sunderland.
• To be an enabler for local communities and groups to support nature’s recovery and help forge Sunderland City of Nature. 

About the role:

• These are full-time, fixed-term roles for 2.5 years.
• Normal working hours are 9 to 5, with a 30 minute meal break. Evening and weekend work will be required.
• These are hybrid roles, with at least one day per week based at Rainton Meadows.

There will be a wide range of activities connecting with individuals and groups. Types of activities the Officers might run could range from walks, crafting activities or nature volunteering on sites. There will be a lot of communicating with the public and supporting people to connect with nature. Greenspace activities may include litter picking and pruning, the Officers will also support groups who would like to design their own activities, which may include training groups on use of basic gardening tools. The programme hopes to enable groups to co-create projects on their local greenspace and so the Officers support these groups and will liaise with key council departments to facilitate this.

We are looking for individuals who are passionate about nature restoration. The key skills required will centre on communication and engagement, for outdoor skills additional training will be offered.

The exact nature of the activities offered through the programme will be shaped by the communities involved.

How to apply:

To apply, please complete the application form below and provide a personal statement (maximum two sides of A4) setting out your suitability for the role. Submit the form and statement as two documents by email to – eroutledge@durhamwt.co.uk 

Please put Connecting Through Nature Officer in the subject line.

The closing date for application is Wednesday 14^th January 2026, interviews are scheduled to take place at Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve, DH4 6PU on 29^th and 30^th January. 

Should you have any concerns regarding availability for interview, please contact eroutledge@durhamwt.co.uk 

Nature Towns and Cities is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to connect communities with nature in Sunderland.