Project Officer – ACRES Co-operation Project (Manorhamilton, Leitrim)

If the following job requirements and experience match your skills, please ensure you apply promptly. Closing date for applications is August 17th 2025. This is a fixed-term contract running until December 31st 2027. The Hen Harrier Programme Ltd have been contracted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to operate 3 of the ACRES Co-operation Projects that are part of Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan. Our company is delivering this initiative across ACRES Breifne, ACRES Leinster and ACRES Munster South Connacht. LocationWe are looking for a Project Officer to join our ACRES Breifne team in Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim.

Role OverviewProject Officers are the primary farmer facing role within the Co-operation Project. They have a key role in the delivery of a locally relevant agri-environment programme that addresses the many challenges for our environment. The Project Officer is there to support farmers in the programme and ensure that the outputs from a farmer's participation in the scheme are optimised.

Key ResponsibilitiesAssess habitats and participate in the quality control of habitat assessments submitted by farm advisorsProduce farm plansParticipate in the monitoring of key species/habitats and chemical physical parameters as requiredAssist in the assessment of risks to biodiversity, archaeological heritage, and water qualityAssess fire, flooding, and nest predation risks at a local levelAssist in the selection and design of landscape actionsParticipate in commonage assessments throughout the countryAssist the Remote Sensing officer with drone surveysDevelop engagement with local communities, NGOs and other local stakeholdersProvide support to staff, DAFM, NPWS and other stakeholders as directedScreen proposed non-productive investments and landscape actionsDeliver training to farmers, advisors, and other stakeholdersProfessional DevelopmentFollowing initial training, Project Officers will undergo a detailed Continuous Professional Development Programme, including opportunities in:

Wildlife MonitoringNest ProtectionHabitat remediationRewettingWildfire ResilienceControl of Invasive SpeciesMethods of InstructionMountain SafetySmall Boat HandlingYou'll also gain experience with advanced Remote Sensing, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence technologies. Career ProgressionOpportunities to progress to Senior Project Officer or Team Lead level may be available for suitable candidates after a period of service.

RequirementsLevel 8 degree in Agriculture, Botany, Ecology, Environmental Science, Hydrology, Zoology or similarFull clean driving licenceEligible to work in Ireland2 years of relevant experienceDesirable QualificationsFAS Approval as a Farm AdvisorApproval as a Pesticide AdvisorMembership of Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)Experience in Bat/Bird Monitoring, Hydrology or Environmental Impact AssessmentGIS especially ArcGIS and QGISCompensation & BenefitsStarting salary: €37,000 per year rising to €41,000 on successful completion of year 1. Mileage and other allowances€1000 personal equipment allowance on appointment€300 annual replenishment allowance€500 sustainability allowance for plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle users24 days annual leavePension scheme with matching employers contribution up to 4%