Speculative and community ecologists for environmental charity

East London Water Park; City of London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A local ecological charity is seeking speculative ecologists to lead community-engagement projects creating a biodiverse park. This volunteer role involves collaboration with architects, ecologists, and community members to develop habitats and engage the public. Ideal candidates should have a strong understanding of ecology, excellent communication skills, and experience in community facilitation. Join us in shaping a sustainable park that reflects community needs.

Qualifications

• Understanding of ecological principles, biodiversity, ecosystems, and environmental systems.
• Experience facilitating workshops and discussions with community groups.
• Ability to research and analyze information from scientific literature and community input.

Responsibilities

• Lead speculative ecology research projects to shape community infrastructure.
• Coordinate with various volunteers to create community infrastructure.
• Participate in co-design sessions with the local community.

Skills

Understanding of ecological principles

Knowledge of local ecology

Experience with speculative design

Excellent communication skills

Research and project management skills

Job description

Overview

East London Waterworks Park is looking for speculative ecologist volunteers to lead community-engagement projects in creating our community-owned park.

What difference will you make? You will have a significant impact on the creation of a new biodiverse community-owned park with free access natural swimming ponds. By leading speculative ecology research projects that explore how diverse professionals (architects, ecologists, etc.) collaborate to shape community infrastructure, volunteers will directly contribute to the development of a park that truly reflects the needs and desires of the local community. Your input will help us craft ecological habitats that restore, conserve, inspire, educate, and engage our wildlife, the bioregion, service users, stakeholders, funders, and the general public, ultimately driving support for the park's mission and ensuring its long-term sustainability.

Responsibilities

• Lead speculative ecology research projects that explore collaboration between professionals to shape community infrastructure.
• Coordinate with volunteer architects, ecologists, community researchers, political campaigners, fundraisers, and communications professionals to create community infrastructure.
• Participate in co-design sessions with the local community and wider public to develop speculative habitats and engagement spaces (dry brownfield ecologies, wetlands, natural swimming ponds, forest school and learning spaces, pond-dipping areas, and indoor community spaces).
• Attend Design Circle meetings (monthly on Tuesday evenings via Google Meet) and complete agreed tasks remotely; there are optional monthly in-person meetings for those near North East London.

Qualifications & Skills

• Foundational Knowledge & Skills
  • Understanding of ecological principles, biodiversity, ecosystems, and environmental systems.
  • Knowledge of local ecology, including flora and fauna of the East London Waterworks Park area.
• Speculative Thinking & Futures Studies
  • Experience with speculative design, fiction, or other creative methodologies that explore potential futures.
  • Ability to think critically and imaginatively about alternative ecological scenarios and possibilities.
  • Interest in exploring "what if" scenarios and challenging existing assumptions about nature and urban environments.
• Community Engagement & Facilitation
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to explain complex ecological concepts to diverse audiences.
  • Experience facilitating workshops, discussions, and participatory activities with community groups.
  • Experience working with diverse communities and understanding their needs and perspectives; ability to build trust and foster inclusive participation.
• Research & Project Development
  • Ability to research and analyse information from scientific literature, local data, and community input.
  • Ability to develop and implement community-led projects related to ecological restoration or urban greening; strong organisational and project management skills.
• Desirable Skills
  • Experience with permaculture, ecological design, or regenerative agriculture.
  • Knowledge of local environmental policies and regulations.
  • Experience with community-based research methods (e.g., participatory mapping, citizen science).
  • Proficiency in design software or tools for visual communication.

What will you be doing?

East London Waterworks Park is a volunteer-led charity that won a 2024 New London Architecture award and has raised £2m towards buying land from the Department for Education to transform the 14-acre Thames Water Depot on Lea Bridge Road on the border of Waltham Forest and Hackney into a new biodiverse park with natural swimming ponds, forest schools and community spaces.

We are looking for speculative ecologists to participate in our community-led working group who are co-designing the park with the local community and wider public. You'll have the chance to create speculative habitats to engage the wider public across dry brownfield ecologies, wetlands, natural swimming ponds, forest school and learning spaces, pond dipping areas, and indoor community spaces.

There is opportunity to lead on speculative ecology projects collaborating with volunteer architects, ecologists, community researchers, political campaigners, fundraisers and communications professionals coming together to create community infrastructure.

The Design Circle currently meets monthly on a Tuesday evening on Google Meet, and spends voluntary time outside of the meetings completing agreed tasks remotely. There is also optional monthly in-person meetings for those near North East London.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Volunteer position

Job function

• Research, Analysis

Industries

• Non-profit Organizations

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Note

We are not adding or altering factual details of the role beyond organizing the description for clarity and readability.