Who are we looking for?
We are looking to appoint two new members to the Natural Environment Advisory Group. We seek individuals who can work at a strategic level with Executive Directors, chair group meetings, provide insightful and constructive advice in a collegiate and professional manner during meetings and are keen to get out to National Trust sites when required. Volunteers will be expected to reflect the Trust’s Values at all times,
The Trust is working to improve the way it manages its 260,000 ha of land so that more people can access and enjoy it, nature can thrive, and we can capture more carbon and build resilience to a changing climate. We are looking for experts to join the Natural Environment Advisory Group to help us achieve this ambition and deliver a range of public benefits. We are looking to appoint new members with expertise in the following areas:
Climate change adaptation and/or mitigation
Climate change is the greatest threat to the National Trust’s assets and our ability to deliver benefits to the nation. We have committed to reducing emission from our own activities and ensuring our places are adapting to the impacts of climate change. This is urgent and important work which embraces mitigation and adaptation. We are looking for new experts who have expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Carbon sequestration through land management and agricultural practices.
- Knowledge and experience of a range of habitats and their role in carbon storage and sequestration; particularly inland and coastal wetlands, peatlands and grasslands.
- Climate adaptation responses for the natural environment and our landscapes.
- Assessing climate risks to the natural environment and implementing adaptation strategies.
Practical large-scale farm/ land/ nature management
The National Trust estate is large, dispersed and a significant proportion is managed through agricultural tenancies. We are looking for support and constructive challenge around transitioning this land to be better for nature, carbon and other public benefits (e.g. flood and drought resilience). We are looking for a land management expert with one or more of the following:
- Farm/land/nature management with direct hands-on experience of working at a large-scale stewarding land through periods of significant change.
- Experience of building novel partnerships and funding arrangements for significant land use/management projects.
- Practical experience of working with blended funding to deliver land management outcomes.
We are keen to have Advisory Groups who are representative of communities that we serve. We would be keen to receive applications from people who:
- Are passionate about the historic and natural environment and the National Trust’s core purpose of looking after nature, history, beauty, for everyone, forever.
- Are well networked and can help to develop new and existing partnerships and collaborations, helping to open doors and influence others.
- Are skilled in working in partnership with others.
- Will push and challenge the Executive Directors and their teams, encouraging them to find bold, creative and pragmatic solutions, supporting them to make the right decisions.
- Understand current economic, environmental and/or social trends and the challenges and opportunities they present for our organisation.
- Can share and demonstrate our values.
The roles require a commitment of around six days a year and is for an initial term of three years with the potential for a further term of three years. Advisory Groups each meet once a year to discuss business nominated by the Chair and National Trust Executive Directors, and there is an annual conference of all the Advisory Groups. The Chair and members may be invited to site visits and to provide advice on specific projects or support strategic pieces of work. The positions are voluntary, but expenses are paid.
What’s in it for you?
- You will gain or develop your experience of playing an advisory role in a large, complex organisation with commercial, charitable and public benefit roles.
- You will be contributing to the work of Europe’s largest conservation charity and helping to shape our response to the challenges of the 21st century.
- You will be playing a part in restoring and protecting some of the nation’s finest historic houses, archaeological remains, scheduled monuments, coastline, woods, farmland, nature reserves, gardens and landscapes.
- You will be thinking about how to make these special places more accessible to everyone, broadening our appeal and delivering more public benefit.
- You will enjoy debating issues and problem solving with a diverse group of committed enthusiasts: your fellow Group members, National Trust staff and volunteers.
To help Advisory Group members perform their role, the National Trust offers:
- Induction for new members and access to our volunteering intranet.
- Dates for meetings identified in advance, to enable you to plan into your agenda and/or working life.
- Reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred on Trust business.