Tag: Careers and training

The Careers in Conservation: Below the Surface series takes a deep dive into the variety of job roles available within the conservation sector. In this article, Project Seagrass Digital Content Creator Tim Horton shares his experiences and the route he took to a career in conservation. Job Description and Skills Tim joined Project Seagrass as our Digital Content Creator in April this year. His role involves creating compelling video, photographic, and written content for Project Seagrass’ social media channels and website, aiming to convey the importance of seagrass and inspire global action to protect it. One of the aspects Tim enjoys most about his role is the opportunity to capture the work of the team in some fantastic landscapes. He also enjoys connecting with partner organisations, volunteers, and the general public. However, there are some challenges within the role. Tim notes how content creation takes time, pointing out how a high quality 1 minute video can actually take more than 2 hours to edit. Tim also points out the necessity of having a well thought out content plan for projects and how this can sometimes get forgotten about in the project planning phase. Previous Experience Prior to joining Project Seagrass, Tim gained over 3 years of experience as an environmental content creator, videographer, and photographer with the Wildlife Trusts and in a freelance capacity. Tim has a BSc in Natural History from the University of South Wales and an MA in Wildlife Documentary Production from the University of Salford. Tim also has a CIEEM accreditation as a chartered ecologist. The most influential factors in Tim attaining his first environmental roles were his videography and photography portfolios in addition to his degrees. On top of this, Tim had been volunteering for 6 summers with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, giving him contacts within the organisation. In reflection, Tim mentions if he could go back he would have completed his drone training earlier as this is a qualification that he is still yet to complete. Advice for working in conservation Tim advises the ideal person for a career in conservation and restoration would be an open-minded individual who is able to connect with a wide range of people – a useful skill when trying to engage the public with projects. The ability to adapt to changing plans, problem solve, and employ quick thinking and resilience is also very useful. Tim also adds: ‘If you’re aiming for more practical conservation work, you should also be willing to work in all weather conditions. Dependability and a level-headed attitude will also go far.’ He also emphasises the importance of volunteering and gaining practical experience in environmental charities. Tim recommends using environmentjob and Countryside Job Service as places to look for openings, adding that LinkedIn and Indeed can be a good resource, but should be used alongside other platforms. When asked about networking, Tim responded: ‘The first port of call for networking within conservation is through long-term volunteering and work experience, although building initial connections on platforms like LinkedIn and through emails can be helpful. For example, I still retain regular, positive contact with the Head of Communications from one environmental charity via email, even though I was unsuccessful in gaining the role.’

The Careers in Conservation: Below the Surface series takes a deep dive into the variety of job roles available within the conservation sector. In this article, Project Seagrass CEO Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth shares her experiences and the route she took to a career in conservation. What does it take to move from studying biology to leading a conservation charity? For Leanne Cullen-Unsworth, the route was neither quick nor linear. It included supermarket shifts, unpaid research, fieldwork in Indonesia, academic posts in Australia and Wales, and many years spent building Project Seagrass before her role became paid. In this career profile, Leanne reflects honestly on that journey and explains why experience, curiosity, and an understanding of people are every bit as important as formal qualifications. My current role What is your role at Project Seagrass? I am Chief Executive Officer and a charity co-founder of Project Seagrass. I became CEO in 2024, having previously served as a Director and original Trustee helping to build our organisation over many years. What does the role involve? My responsibility is to lead Project Seagrass in achieving its mission to save the World’s seagrass. That means setting and holding the strategic direction of the organisation, working with our executive team and Board, overseeing delivery and organisational development, and ensuring that we remain financially sustainable. At present, fundraising is a significant part of my work because securing income is fundamental to keeping our team together and sustaining the long-term programmes we have worked so hard to build. I also represent Project Seagrass externally. This includes advocating for seagrass with governments and decision-makers, building partnerships, speaking at events, working with funders, and contributing to media interviews. No two days are quite the same: I can move from budgets and people decisions to scientific strategy, policy discussions and public communications, within a few hours. What skills are most useful in your role? The most useful skill is being able to see how different parts of an organisation and a wider system connect. I need to understand the science, but also people, finance, policy, communications, partnerships, and delivery. Clear communication matters enormously, as does listening well and being able to make decisions when the information is incomplete. Resilience, adaptability, and persistence are also essential. Conservation rarely progresses in a straight line. Funding can be uncertain, policy change can be slow, and ecological recovery takes time. You have to keep sight of the long-term goal while responding sensibly to what is in front of you. Is fieldwork still part of your job? Much less than it once was. As CEO, most of my time is now spent leading the organisation, securing its future, and creating the conditions in which our specialists can do their best work. I still visit our restoration sites and Nursery, take part in field activities when I can, and value time spent with the people delivering the work. Staying connected to what happens on the ground is important, but my role in enabling that work is now usually more valuable than being the person doing it. What do you enjoy most? I enjoy seeing ideas turn into lasting action: research becoming practical restoration, a conversation developing into a partnership, or years of evidence beginning to influence policy. Most of all, I enjoy working with people who care deeply about the same mission. Watching our team grow in confidence and capability, and seeing communities become part of seagrass recovery, is hugely rewarding. What are the greatest challenges? The constant challenge is balancing ambition with capacity and financial reality. The need is enormous, but a charity cannot do everything at once. Leading well means making difficult choices, protecting the team from unsustainable pressure, and ensuring that growth does not come at the expense of quality or our values. There is also a deeper challenge in conservation: ecological problems cannot be solved through ecology alone. Effective recovery requires changes in policy, practice, finance and behaviour, and it must make sense to the people who live and work alongside these habitats. Leanne hosting the UK Seagrass Symposium 2025. Photo credit Bobbie Lee Leanne collects seagrass seeds in Porthdinllaen as part of a Philanthropy Day. Photo credit Charles Bagshaw The route to Project Seagrass What is your educational background? I completed a BSc in Biological Sciences with honours in Marine Biology at Newcastle University, followed by an MSc in Marine Environmental Protection at Bangor University. My PhD was completed through Essex University and my research focused on marine resource dependence and patterns of resource use within a small-island community on Kaledupa in Indonesia. That work taught me to look at marine ecosystems as social–ecological systems: people are not external to nature, but a critical part of the system we are trying to understand and support. We are nature! Which roles and experiences led you here? My first relevant experience was an unpaid work placement at Anglesey Sea Zoo in 1994. While studying for my undergraduate degree, I worked on a supermarket checkout during every holiday to help fund my time at university. That job may not look relevant on a conservation CV, but it taught me reliability, communication, and the value of turning up and doing the work. After my master’s degree, I took an unpaid graduate research position at Bangor University on a hydrothermal-vent mussel growth project in the Azores. I later worked as a graduate consultant evaluating a marine EU Erasmus exchange project, supported by a stipend, and later in a paid bathing-water assessment role with the Environment Agency. I also spent time working as a divemaster in Antigua. It was poorly paid and not a role I enjoyed, but it was useful: it made me absolutely certain that I wanted to return to science and conservation. I then joined the Operation Wallacea marine science team in Indonesia, supervising undergraduate dissertation projects and running Reef Check and whale-watch surveys. I continued to work with the team while completing my PhD. After my PhD, I became a Postdoctoral Research

Are you an early-career researcher interested in seagrass conservation, people–nature relationships, and the future of coastal sustainability? Project Seagrass is keen to hear from potential applicants to the 2026 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships programme. We welcome ideas spanning climate resilience, restoration ecology, water quality, biodiversity, blue carbon, genetics and connectivity, innovative monitoring technologies, and people-centred conservation. We are particularly interested in ambitious, interdisciplinary research that advances ecological understanding while delivering practical solutions for seagrass recovery, management, policy and long-term resilience. Project Seagrass offers a unique opportunity to work within an international conservation organisation that operates at the interface of science, policy, practice, and community action. Successful fellows would have opportunities to collaborate with our global network of partners, contribute to active conservation programmes, and help shape the next generation of seagrass research. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships are applicant led. If you are considering making an application and would like to explore developing an ambitious project hosted by Project Seagrass, get in touch. Full details on the programme can be found here. Deadline 9th September.

The Careers in Conservation: Below the Surface series takes a deep dive into the variety of job roles available within the conservation sector. In this article, National Seagrass Action Plan Project Manager Carl Gough shares his experiences and the route he took to a career in conservation. Job Description Carl began his role as Project Manager for the National Seagrass Action Plan in March 2025. The National Seagrass Action Plan presents a blueprint of action to achieve a vision where Welsh seagrass meadows are supporting marine biodiversity, vibrant communities, a sustainable economy, and making a valuable contribution to the climate emergency response. The 4 priority areas of action needed to achieve this vision are: Mapping Wales’ seagrass Building partnerships across land and sea Halting seagrass loss Reversing seagrass loss. Carl’s role involves cultivating a supportive operational environment for seagrass conservation in Wales. Carl’s main responsibilities include coordinating Seagrass Network Cymru partner organisations, reporting, strategic planning, organising funding, networking, communications, meeting facilitation, and governance.   Carl notes that listening, negotiation, communication, planning, and flexibility are the most helpful skills he utilises to carry out his role. Problem solving is Carl’s favourite aspect of his role, stating: “Any difficulty is an opportunity depending on how you choose to approach it.” Previous Experience Carl left school at the age of 15 and joined a youth training scheme, working in pet shops followed by a public aquarium. At the age of 21, he returned to education and completed a BSC in Marine Biology before achieving an MSc in Zoology. Carl highlights that the life experience he gained between leaving school and returning to full time education was invaluable and says that even the jobs he didn’t perhaps enjoy at the time provided him with valuable skills and knowledge.  When asked about which of his previous roles and experiences led to his current role as Project Manager, Carl said: “I’m sure my background in marine science helps, but it is certainly not the main reason for my appointment. My background and the skills I have developed from working in community development are possibly the most relevant to my role. This has included working in local authorities developing, facilitating, and monitoring large scale strategic plans; working directly with communities and being able to navigate the conflicting priorities that so often exists; supporting social enterprises with business planning and securing funding and interfacing with Welsh Government; and translating national policies into local action.” Advice Carl suggests that the qualities of patience, resilience, and perseverance make someone ideal for working in conservation. When asked what he would look for if recruiting for his own role Carl said, “Most of all, someone who has experience of local communities and demonstrable examples where they have managed to achieve a successful outcome when faced with multiple and differing viewpoints.” Carl also emphasised the importance of networking to help build connections: “Networking is very important! Getting active on LinkedIn is a useful way to develop your knowledge as well as your connections.”

The Careers in Conservation: Below the Surface series takes a deep dive into the variety of job roles available within the conservation sector. In this article, Project Seagrass Programme Manager Mark Hart shares his experiences and the route he took to a career in conservation. Job Description Mark has been Programme Manager with Project Seagrass since the end of 2025. As Programme Manager, Mark spends a lot of time working closely with the science and operations teams to co-ordinate and deliver a portfolio of projects to agreed timescales, budgets, and outcomes. He leads the setting up of new projects, including development of project plans and reporting frameworks, supports the implementation of new systems and processes to improve efficiency and collaboration, liaises with internal and external stakeholders and ensures compliance with contractual requirements, funder expectations, and organisational policies and strategy. Solid IT skills and being a good communicator are essential skills for this role. Although fieldwork is not an essential aspect, Mark mentions how attending fieldwork where the opportunity arises is beneficial as it helps him better understand operational challenges, costs, timescales and risks. Mark most enjoys the teamwork aspect of his role, as well as meeting like-minded people and contributing to better outcomes for nature. Previous Experience Previously, Mark has had various roles in the UK Hydrographic Office, NHS, local government, consultancy and Royal Navy related to risk and project management deliverables as well as volunteering as a school governor and with his local Wildlife Trust. He notes how despite the various roles throughout his career, he enjoyed sciences and the environment as a student and never lost that enthusiasm. During university, Mark studied a BSc in Oceanography and an MA in International Security. Mark notes the experience he gained in previous roles with operational delivery, strategic planning, partnership working, and collaboration across different sectors were most helpful in getting him where he is today.  Advice Mark suggests that the best qualities that make someone ideal for working in conservation are passion, energy, a can-do attitude, and a love of the outdoors. Mark previously knew very little about seagrass until he started working with the organisation – so it is important to remember you don’t have to be an expert in a subject before starting to work with it!

The Careers in Conservation: Below the Surface series takes a deep dive into the variety of job roles available within the conservation sector. In this article, Project Seagrass Senior Science Officer Ally Evans shares her experiences and the route she took to a career in conservation. Job Description and Skills Ally first worked with Project Seagrass through roles at Swansea University – leading the Seagrass Ocean Rescue: North Wales programme and then joined the Restoration of Seagrass for Ocean Wealth (ReSOW) project to understand how social and governance factors can be used to support seagrass restoration. She started her current role with Project Seagrass in December 2025 as Senior Science Officer at our Seagrass Nursery in West Wales. Her role as Senior Science Officer consists primarily of designing experiments, collecting and analysing data, writing scientific reports, publishing peer-reviewed papers and communicating work to broader audiences via conferences and other outlets. Ally notes the most useful skills required for her role are good attention to detail and communication (both written and spoken), critical thinking, creative planning, data analysis, and a can-do attitude to learning new things. When asked what she enjoys most about her scientific roles, Ally talked about her love-hate relationship with fieldwork, stating: ‘I love setting my rhythm to the moon and tides and working outdoors, problem-solving, and observing nature close-up. But I hate being cold and wet and the disappointment of losing experiments or failing at what I’m trying to do because of weather, tides, etc. It’s exhausting but it’s what makes me tick as a scientist.’ Previous Experience After initially beginning a Psychology undergraduate degree, Ally switched to studying Maths. From there she completed an MSc in Global Aquatic Biodiversity: Monitoring and Conservation and a PhD focusing on ‘Artificial coastal defence structures as surrogate habitats for natural rocky shores: giving nature a helping hand’. Looking back, Ally mentions she wishes she had done a BSc in Marine Biology instead of Maths, noting she didn’t know Marine Biology was even an option when first looking for undergraduate degrees. Despite this, Ally believes the Maths degree was helpful for her career as it gave her a solid understanding of statistics and kept all doors open. Despite not being science-related, Ally mentions how equally impactful her initial student jobs in hospitality have been throughout her career. These roles taught her to have pride in her work and she was able to develop interpersonal skills early on, making future interviews and professional interactions more comfortable and successful. After completing her Master’s degree, Ally volunteered for a marine wildlife charity to gain experience before getting her first job for CEFAS as a GIS and Data Scientist. Other paid roles include working for a marine conservation charity in the tropics, with Natural England as a Marine Advisor and a Lab Assistant with the British Antarctic Survey. Post-PhD, Ally went on to work in a series of postdoc research positions at Southampton, Plymouth, Aberystwyth and Swansea Universities before finally joining Project Seagrass. Her experience in the field includes both intertidal and subtidal work consisting of dive, snorkel, and on-land surveys. Ally has also set up manipulative experiments such as planting seagrass plots and attaching bolt-on habitat units to artificial structures and is a qualified skipper. Ally monitoring an eco-engineering experiment on a seawall in Milford Haven Ally diving under Busselton Jetty in Western Australia Ally points out that no specific experience stands out in getting her to where she is today, but each was a stepping stone, allowing her to develop valuable transferable skills which have all led to her being the scientist she is today.   Growing up, Ally didn’t know she wanted to work as a marine biologist. She knew she enjoyed the outdoors and biology, but wasn’t aware marine science was a potential career path. She even notes how a career advisor suggested potato farming as a career path to fit her love of the outdoors! It wasn’t until after a gap year of learning to surf and dive that Ally realised her true passion and where she wanted to focus her life’s energy. Ally points out even if you don’t have a traditional direct route into a career, there is always a route and the skills you gain along the way will still benefit you and make you stand out amongst the crowd. When asked about some of the challenges she has faced throughout her career, Ally said: ‘Weather, tides, vandalism of experiments, exhaustion, anti-social hours, limited budgets, etc. In terms of the science itself, nature doesn’t work like a lot of other sciences – ecological data are always messy and incomplete and there is a lot of variability/noise that can mask patterns and responses. It’s hard to design really robust experiments and to collect enough data to answer your questions with any confidence. But for a lot of us working in the sector, overcoming these problems is part of the draw.” Advice for working in conservation This is the advice that Ally has for those wanting to get into the sector: Q. Do you have any recommendations of where to look for job opportunities? A. I haven’t actively looked for a while. It used to be twitter – so maybe now LinkedIn? Jobs.ac.uk, conservationjobs.com, Bob Earl’s Coastnet. Q. How important is networking and do you have any advice on how to build connections? A. I hate the thought of networking but in reality all it is is being a nice approachable human being and putting yourself in positions where you have an opportunity to meet people and chat. Don’t try to impress or be something you’re not – just be interested, be yourself, and respect people at all levels. Q. What should someone expect when starting a career in conservation? A. The more flexible and willing you can be regarding what job you do and where, the more doors will open to you. Q. What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a career in

When you think of a career in conservation, what do you see? A lot of people will think a role in conservation is all exciting fieldwork – being out in the field all day every day, monitoring species, and restoring habitats. But this isn’t always the case. Conservation is a very broad sector and requires all sorts of job roles and experiences for organisations to successfully run and for the work to be impactful. Research, engagement with the public and other organisations, communications, fundraising, project management, HR are just some of the essential roles required for effective projects. This new blog series ‘Careers in Conservation: Below the Surface’ takes a deep dive into the variety of job roles available within the sector and talks to the people behind these roles at Project Seagrass to find out how they got to where they are and what insights and advice they can offer to those wanting to get into the sector. Explore the series: Andrew Lee Find out more about Andrew’s role as Finance Manager Discover More Dr Ally Evans Find out more about Andrew’s role as Senior Science Officer Discover More Mark Hart Find out more about Mark’s role as Programme Manager Discover More Carl Gough Find out more about Carl’s role as NSAP Project Manager Discover More Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth Find out more about Leanne’s role as Chief Executive Officer Discover More Tim Horton Find out more about Tim’s role as Digital Content Creator Discover More This blog series exploring Project Seagrass’ Conservation Careers was curated by Conservation Trainee Abi David. Abi was a panel members at the Youth Panel session at the UK Seagrass Symposium 2025 where young people shared their experiences of struggling to know what opportunities and pathways there are into a career in conservation sector. This blog series is a response to those discussions.

The Careers in Conservation: Below the Surface series takes a deep dive into the variety of job roles available within the conservation sector. In this article, Project Seagrass Finance Manager Andrew Lee shares his experiences and the route he took to a career in conservation. Job Description and Skills Andrew joined Project Seagrass as Finance Manager in 2023. Day to day responsibilities within this role include: General financial management of the Charity End of year accounts preparation Regular financial management reports (for Exec and Board) Drafting and managing budgets Fund management and reporting (including project funding) Managing and processing day-to-day transactions and accounting entries Developing/reviewing/managing finance related policies and controls General management support to the Executive team In Andrew’s opinion, the most valuable skills he uses day to day are methodical and process centred thinking, interpersonal skills, effective problem solving, adaptability, and a good understanding of Excel. He also pointed out how his transferable skills were as valuable as specific finance related knowledge during his application for the role. When asked what he enjoys most about his role, Andrew mentioned how good it feels knowing his work is supporting the wider team and enabling them to carry out their work, as well as the satisfaction of achieving balanced reports! Previous Experience A BSc in Accounting and a Master’s degree in Management helped Andrew achieve his current role, alongside a wealth of other experiences. He has always worked in the charity sector, including a position as Church Manager for 20+ years, but this role with Project Seagrass is his first role within conservation. Advice for working in conservation When asked what advice he has for people looking to start a career in conservation/ restoration, Andrew said: ‘Conservation and restoration needs many different areas of expertise to function and thrive. It’s not just about the scientists and conservationists. There are amazing career paths in finance, HR, management etc where you can utilise your skills to contribute to conservation and restoration. These roles are essential to provide a strong organisation under which the scientists and conservationists can thrive.’ When discussing the qualities he would look for if hiring for his own role, Andrew emphasised the importance of a genuine passion for the cause, alongside strong financial management skills — particularly within charity finance. He also noted that successful candidates should be methodical, organised, and able to perform well under pressure. In terms of searching for roles, Andrew recommends looking on charityjobs.co.uk, LinkedIn and to find organisations linked to your passion/ interests and actively pursue jobs with them. Andrew supports Project Seagrass’ citizen science tool SeagrassSpotter. Here is a seagrass sighting that Andrew uploaded during a holiday in Pulurrian Cove, Cornwall. Andrew joined the North Wales fieldwork team for their summer seagrass seed collection in summer 2024. As part of the trip Andrew installed new seagrass signage at Hafan y Mor.