Access & Recreation Project Officer
Dulverton, Somerset (flexible working arrangements apply to this role, with a mix of office, home and site working)
About Us
Exmoor National Park is a unique and beautiful part of the country. Our vision is to ensure Exmoor remains a thriving, living landscape – a place where people can enjoy its special qualities and where sustainable communities flourish.
We are now looking for an Access & Recreation Project Officer to join us on a two year, fixed-term contract, working full-time for 37 hours per week, with part-time hours considered.
The Benefits
- Salary of £37,280 - £41,771 per annum (pro rata for part-time)
- Generous annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time)
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Paid sickness, parental and compassionate leave, plus time off for dependants
- Time off to attend medical appointments
- Access to trained Mental Health First Aiders and a 24/7 confidential helpline
This is an exciting opportunity for an individual with experience of working in a rural or protected landscape context to help more people enjoy Exmoor’s special landscape.
You’ll find real variety in ensuring our Public Access Network and facilities support multiple public benefits and achieve wider objectives for sustainable travel, health and wellbeing, and carbon reduction. What’s more, you'll work in a passionate, dedicated environment with like-minded people all working together to deliver great things for Exmoor.
The Role
As an Access & Recreation Project Officer, you will lead the delivery of new access and recreation infrastructure projects, ensuring everyone can enjoy Exmoor’s special qualities.
You’ll be involved in all manner of inclusive projects to support and deliver Exmoor’s Active Travel Plan, from ensuring that our Public Access Network and visitor facilities are welcoming for all to developing new paths and bridges within our Public Rights of Way network.
Managing projects from feasibility through to completion, you will support design, planning, permissions, fundraising, procurement and contract management. You will work closely with landowners, communities, statutory bodies and colleagues across the organisation, as well as the Access and Recreation team and public consultations to support your work.
Additionally, you will:
- Carry out feasibility studies for new assets such as car parks and cycle trails
- Organise surveys, studies and design work and secure statutory permissions
- Draft tenders and supervise consultants and contractors to ensure delivery is on time and within budget
- Contribute to strategic document development, business cases, grant returns and funding bids
- Prepare progress reports and support public communication activity
About You
To be considered as an Access & Recreation Project Officer, you will need:
- Experience of working in a rural or protected landscape context
- Supervisory experience to direct consultants and contractors
- A good understanding of recreational access in the countryside and related good practice
- An understanding of construction techniques, design, safe working practices and legislation in relation to access infrastructure, e.g., bridges
- An understanding of and the ability to work with technical documents, drawings and geographical information
- The ability to carry out independent research and analyse results to make recommendations
- Excellent project management and collaborative working skills, with the ability to work to tight deadlines and manage a complex workload
- Good communication skills with the ability to advise and negotiate with stakeholders
- Excellent ICT skills, including Microsoft Office, social media and GIS
- A degree in a relevant subject and/or a relevant postgraduate certificate
- A full, valid driving licence
The closing date for applications is midnight on 24th March 2026.
Interviews are planned for 9th April 2026.
Other organisations may call this role Access Project Officer, Recreation Project Officer, Public Rights of Way Officer, Countryside Project Officer, Infrastructure Project Officer, or Active Travel Project Officer.
Webrecruit and Exmoor National Park Authority are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.
So, if you’re ready to help enhance access and recreation opportunities across Exmoor National Park, please apply via the button shown. This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency