At Action for Conservation, our mission is to bring the magic of nature into young people’s lives, inspiring a youth movement committed to conservation, restoration and to the Earth. In 2019, we launched our flagship Penpont Project on a 2,000-acre estate in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), Wales. The Penpont Project is the largest intergenerational nature restoration project of its kind in the world, aiming to demonstrate how youth leadership and ambition can advance nature’s recovery at a time of acute ecological crisis.
We are currently looking for a Community Tree Nursery Coordinator to join the Penpont Project and run our Community Tree Nursery, growing trees from native tree species, including trees of conservation and heritage value, through collaborative learning and community-building activities. The focus of the role is as much on intergenerational learning and community engagement as it is on the processes of tree rearing and producing trees for planting out across the landscape. As the Community Tree Nursery is still in the early stages of its development, there will be many opportunities for you to influence and shape what this approach looks like in practice.
In this role, you will engage local young people, community members, and other project stakeholders with the Tree Nursery through a programme of regular, year-round volunteering sessions as well as seasonal and one-off events and activities. Through this, you will build a solid volunteer base to enable the Tree Nursery to operate continuously throughout the year, while also supporting young people and community members to develop their knowledge, skills and confidence related to trees and engage with Penpont’s woodlands. You will also be responsible for looking after the nursery and its trees between sessions, working in collaboration with our project partners to maintain the space in good condition.
This is a brilliant opportunity for someone with good knowledge of tree planting, growth and care, and a passion for working with young people and communities. Please be aware that this is a physically active role, and you should be willing to work outdoors most of the time.
Applications close on Sunday, 22 March at midnight.
Key terms
Title:Penpont Community Tree Nursery Coordinator
Start date:mid/late April 2026 or sooner, if possible
Contract type:Part-time, fixed-term until 31 December 2027, with possibility to extend subject to funding
Probationary period:3 months
Hours of work:14-21 hours / 2-3 days per week to be agreed with the successful candidate. This role requires evening and weekend work, with the possibility of supporting overnight visits. Time off in lieu (TOIL) can be taken for overtime worked.
Location:Penpont, Brecon
Travel:Occasional travel within the local region and nationally for events and meetings
What you will do
* Be jointly responsible for the day-to-day running and maintenance of the Tree Nursery together with our partners.
* Grow native tree species to use as stock for tree planting at Penpont, with types and quantities of trees to be determined based on project needs and what we can hope to achieve through volunteer action and educational events.
* Engage young people and the local community around Penpont with the Tree Nursery through a variety of events and activities, supporting them to grow their skills, knowledge and confidence related to trees, and ensure there is a solid volunteer base to support the nursery’s operation.
* Be responsible for the general coordination of Tree Nursery events and manage all relevant administration and logistics.
* Support monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) activities as relevant to your role to understand the impact of our work and facilitate learnings.
What we are looking for
* Experience of working with young people, ideally aged 12-18 and community volunteers and proven ability to engage, motivate and support people from diverse backgrounds and age groups
* Good horticultural knowledge, from selecting seeds to growing and nurturing tree stock, including traditional growing techniques; knowledge related to woodlands and forest ecosystems is desirable
* Experience of organising and running events and activities from start to finish, including liaising with stakeholders, managing logistics, health and safety and safeguarding
* Proven ability to facilitate stimulating, interactive and inclusive youth/community group sessions, especially practical activities in an outdoor setting
* Excellent communication, interpersonal and teamwork skills and ability to build and maintain positive relationships with colleagues, partners, young people and other stakeholders
* Excellent organisational and time management skills and ability to prioritise effectively to meet deadlines
* A proactive and self-reliant approach to work, ability to work independently, problem-solve and take initiative to achieve results
* Good IT skills, including using Google Workspace applications (e.g. Gmail, Docs, Sheets, etc.) or similar
* Physical ability to meet the demands of the role as well as willingness to work outdoors in all seasons/weathers and to work outside of usual office hours
* Fluency in Welsh is desirable
Why work with us?
You’ll be joining a dynamic, mission-driven team who truly love what they do. Some of the benefits we offer include:
* A 9-day working fortnight with every other Friday off, or a proportionate amount of time off for part-time staff
* 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, plus one additional day for each year served up to a maximum of 30 days
* Up to 5 days of professional development leave and up to 2 paid volunteer days each year
* A workplace pension with 4% employer contributions
* Access to flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance
* Regular team and organisational away days in the great outdoors
* A robust training package and a bespoke professional development plan
Please read the Recruitment Pack for this role for full details, including the complete job description and guidance on the application process.
If you would like further information, support with access requirements, such as an adjustment to the application or interview process, or an informal chat, please contact us atcareers@actionforconservation.org
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