We’re hiring a Rewilding Network Officer
Job Title: Rewilding Network Officer
Organisation: The Irish Wildlife Trust
Location: Coleraine House, Coleraine Street, Dublin 7, Ireland (hybrid working supported)
Hours: This is a full time 5 day week post
Salary Rate: €40-45,000 per year (rate determined by level of professional experience)
Contract Type: Initial 2 year contract with a view to extension (subject to funding)
Start date: As soon as possible
Closing date for application: Midnight on 13th December 2026
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About the Irish Wildlife Trust
The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) is a non-governmental organisation and charity founded in 1979. Our vision is an Ireland where wild nature thrives, and society enjoys the benefits of coexisting with diverse, functioning ecosystems. Our mission is to protect and restore biodiversity in Ireland by motivating and supporting people to take action for nature. We achieve this through assertive advocacy, inspirational rewilding, and building empowered communities for nature. We have a small staff team and a network of volunteer run branches who engage IWT members at a county level. https://iwt.ie/about-us/
Rewilding Network Officer Role
Rewilding is one of the key pillars in the Irish Wildlife Trust’s vision of an Ireland where wild nature thrives, and society enjoys the benefits of coexisting with diverse, functioning ecosystems. The Irish Wildlife Trust does not aspire to being a large landowner in itself, instead we aim to support existing landowners and communities to rewild their own land. The Rewilding Network Officer will be responsible for driving IWT’s rewilding work over the coming years with a particular focus on running the Rewild Your Land network. In 2025 Pádraic Fogarty launched Rewild Your Land, a project that aims to work with landowners interested in rewilding. It gives one-to-one advice on land management, including visiting the site with the owner to discuss conservation issues. The landowners are then presented with a brief plan which includes a survey map.
Rewilding is more popular and more important than ever and there is growing demand for rewilding support and an Irish rewilding network. In order to further develop the Rewild Your Land project to meet this demand, the Irish Wildlife Trust is delighted to now be a key partner in Rewild Your Land, taking responsibility for its day-to-day delivery and employing a full-time rewilding specialist to support this network throughout Ireland.
With support of the IWT staff team and project steering committee, the IWT Rewilding Network Officer will be responsible for managing and developing the Rewild Your Land network as well as supporting IWT’s work to promote rewilding in Ireland through our communications and advocacy.
Goals of the Rewilding Network project
- To develop Rewild Your Land into a national rewilding network for Ireland.
- To see Rewild Your Land become the leading umbrella for landowners and land managers who are rewilding in Ireland.
- For Rewild Your Land to be part of wider European and international rewilding networks.
- To promote the practice and policy of rewilding in Ireland.
- To maintain and grow a network of people engaged in the practice of rewilding.
Duties of the Role
The IWT Rewilding Network Officer will report directly to the IWT Chief Executive Officer and be guided by the IWT Rewilding Steering Committee. Duties will include:
- Lead the management and delivery of the Rewild Your Land project, with support from IWT administration and financial staff.
- Provide ecological advice and support to the Rewild Your Land network members throughout the island of Ireland, including through site visits, surveys and written reports.
- Identify and onboard new rewilding network members (as capacity allows).
- Organise online and occasional in-person network meet-ups.
- Provide content for the rewilding network newsletter.
- Liaise with IWT advocacy and communications staff on rewilding advocacy and communication to the IWT audience.
- Research and write online articles on rewilding for use on the IWT website.
- Support management of the current IWT nature reserve network. We currently have three small nature reserves.
- Support fundraising for the Rewild Your Land network.
Skills, Experience & Attributes
Essential:
- A passion for environmental protection, rewilding and the IWT mission and vision.
- Strong interpersonal skills. The role requires effective face-to-face engagement with a diverse range of landowners across Ireland. The successful candidate will be comfortable meeting new people and assessing potential network members’ understanding of rewilding.
- Specialist knowledge of rewilding and Ireland’s ecosystems and species.
- Specialist knowledge of ecological systems and processes.
- Knowledge of the land use and rewilding policy framework in Ireland and the EU.
- An understanding of the stakeholders involved in rewilding and nature restoration in Ireland.
- Full clean driving licence and access to own vehicle.
- Experience working as part of a busy team.
- Demonstrable organisational, time management and workload prioritisation skills.
- An ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbally.
- A relevant third level qualification e.g. natural science, ecology etc.
Desirable:
- Experience working for a rewilding organisation.
- Experience running a nationwide network.
- Experience engaging directly with landowner and or communities.
- Knowledge of the Irish grants and schemes relevant to rewilding and land use.
Conditions of Employment & Hybrid Working
- The successful candidate is required to be resident in Ireland and eligible to work in Ireland.
- This role allows for hybrid working. The post-holder will be expected to attend in-person internal meetings at our office on a minimum of one day a month as well as attendance of external events in-person around Ireland.
- The IWT office is located in the bustling neighbourhood of Smithfield in Dublin City. It is five minutes walk from the LUAS Green and Red line and close to Heuston train station.
- The role requires travel within Ireland and occasional weekend or evening work. All necessary expenses for work-related travel and subsistence are reimbursed by IWT.
- IWT offers generous annual leave and employee training opportunities.
- The IWT is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building an inclusive and supportive environment for all employees.
- A complete list of all terms and conditions and IWT internal policies will be made available to all staff members. For queries about this position or terms of employment email jobs@iwt.ie
How to apply
- Complete the online application form – application form link
- Email your CV and a Cover Letter in pdf format to jobs@iwt.ie
- Please put “Rewilding Network Officer” in the email subject line.
- Your cover letter should be a maximum of one page in length.
- In your letter please outline your motivation for this position and why you feel you have the skills and experience to deliver on the responsibilities and duties of this role.
- Applications for this position must be received by midnight Irish time on 13th December 2026.
- Late submissions will not be considered.
