Hometree charity is a landscape restoration charity with a national scope. Our work is to establish and conserve permanent native woodland, encouraging land regeneration and biodiversity through afforestation, restoration and education.

We're a small but rapidly growing charity, at an exciting stage of its development. We have a committed team, and an experienced group of eight board members. Hometree owns sites across the country and delivers workshops, and environmental services throughout Ireland.

What began as a tree-planting charity is growing into a project which endeavours to deeply connect people with nature, and facilitates a wide variety of projects that are fundamental to addressing both Ireland’s declining biodiversity and the unfolding climate challenge.

Our current fundraising comes from partnerships, people and businesses who share and wish to support Hometree’s goals and those who are curious to educate themselves and connect to their sense of stewardship for the natural world. We’ve worked with over 50 businesses, from small startups to multinational organisations like Medtronic, the global leader in medical technology.

Careers

Ecologist - Restoration

Hometree is a nature restoration charity, based in the west of Ireland. We work to establish and restore resilient habitats, focusing on native temperate rainforests. Our approach integrates community, culture, science and natural systems. Through afforestation, conservation, restoration and education we hope to nourish the landscape and create new ways for communities to relate to nature.

Duties & Responsibilities

As a member of the Ecology team, you will support the development and delivery of Hometree's ecological restoration projects, with a particular focus on peatland restoration. 

You will play a key role in ensuring that projects are delivered to a high ecological standard and that restoration measures are implemented with strong ecological integrity. You will be involved in ecological surveys, habitat assessments, restoration planning, project implementation design, monitoring, and technical report writing across a range of terrestrial habitats and restoration initiatives. You will coordinate ecological projects from early development through to implementation delivery. 

• Undertake ecological surveys, habitat mapping, condition assessments, and monitoring across a range of habitats, with a particular focus on peatlands.

• Support the delivery of ecological restoration projects from planning through to implementation and monitoring.

• Use QGIS and other spatial tools to manage, analyse, and present ecological and restoration data.

• Prepare high-quality technical reports, restoration plans, monitoring reports, and supporting documentation.

• Maintain accurate project records, including survey data, maps, reports, partner agreements, and compliance documentation.

• Support the coordination and oversight of restoration works on the ground, ensuring effective planning, implementation, and communication between teams.

• Identify risks, challenges, and opportunities within projects, and work closely with the Lead Ecologist to address them. 

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of ecological monitoring, restoration methodologies, and project delivery processes within the restoration department.

Essential Requirements

• A degree, or equivalent  in Ecology, Environmental Science, Conservation, or a related discipline. Candidates without a relevant qualification should be able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and competency through substantial professional experience. 

• 4 years' professional experience in ecology or a related field.

• Demonstrable experience undertaking habitat surveys and assessments using the Fossitt Classification System.

• Experience undertaking terrestrial mammal surveys.

• Strong interest in peatland ecology and restoration. 

• Proven track record of delivering ecological projects with a high degree of independence.

• Proficiency in QGIS and QField (or equivalent) and management of ecological spatial data.

• Experience preparing technical reports, ecological assessments, and project documentation.

• Strong organisational skills, excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.

• Full clean driving licence

• Willingness and availability to undertake regular fieldwork in remote areas of the west of Ireland

Desirable Skills

• Experience in peatland restoration planning, implementation, and monitoring.

• Experience of Passive Acoustic Monitoring and analysis

• Experience working on large-scale habitat restoration projects.

• Familiarity with NPWS habitat monitoring methodologies

• Experience developing or contributing to funding proposals and grant applications.

• Experience managing contractors and overseeing restoration works on site.

What We Offer:

Salary: €35,000 - €40,000 (commensurate on experience)
Working hours: Monday - Thursday (9:00 - 17:30)  Four day working week. In survey season overnights and travel will be frequently required
Location: Hometree HQ, Ennistymon. The applicant should live or be willing to relocate along the west coast of Ireland. 
Annual Leave: 24 days annual leave in addition to public holidays
Contract: 1 year fixed term contract, with an intention for this to become a permanent role subject to funding. 

Application deadline: 3rd August
Opportunity to work in a fast-paced and ambitious nature restoration charity.

To apply, please complete this FORM by 3rd August 2026. If you have any questions, please reach out to Hannah Cousins at hannah@hometree.ie

Senior Project Ecologist - Nature Finance Project

Hometree is a nature restoration charity, based in the west of Ireland. We work to establish and restore resilient habitats, focusing on native temperate rainforests. Our approach integrates community, culture, science and natural systems. Through afforestation, conservation, restoration and education we hope to nourish the landscape and create new ways for communities to relate to nature.

About the role

Hometree's Nature Finance Project is now in its second year of a three-year programme to build a scalable, financeable model for nature restoration in Ireland. Having developed the core tools and frameworks in Year 1 - including a site assessment methodology, financial model, and consenting framework - Year 2 is focused on moving to pilot: taking one or more sites through the full process from site selection and restoration planning, through landowner contracting and consenting, to implementation and monitoring.

We are looking for a Senior Ecologist to embed ecological rigour at every stage of that process, from assessing candidate sites and designing restoration plans, to supporting the consenting pathway and ensuring our pilot is set up to deliver measurable, credible outcomes for nature.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead the ecological consenting process across pilot sites, navigating AA screenings, EIA’s, NIS submissions and ARCs.

• Secure planning permissions and environmental consents for up to three pilot sites, managing environmental risk and stakeholder engagement. 

• Work with the wider Nature Finance and Ecology teams to develop and implement Hometree’s MRV strategy to align with emerging industry standards and best practice. 

• Support the development of monitoring frameworks and reporting systems to measure biodiversity recovery, habitat condition and ecological uplift across organisational and project sites. 

• Provide expert ecological oversight across site assessment, baseline surveying and restoration management planning, ensuring projects are scientifically robust and deliver meaningful conservation outcomes.  

Essential Requirements

• Proven experience managing and delivering large-scale ecological projects, balancing technical excellence, stakeholder needs, and project timelines to achieve successful outcomes.

• Strong  understanding of the legal and regulatory framework governing ecological restoration in Ireland and the EU, with demonstrated experience navigating designated site consents, licensing, and compliance requirements.

•  Strong field experience in habitat assessment and classification, particularly native woodland, uplands and riparian systems.

•  Familiarity with ecological metrics, biodiversity measurement frameworks and monitoring programme design. 

• Proficiency in GIS and spatial data analysis.

• Knowledge of MRV standards and approaches from the UK, Ireland or internationally.

• Ability to communicate complex ecological findings clearly to non-specialist audiences including funders, landowners, and legal partners.

Desirable Experience:

•  Knowledge of Irish agricultural policy and agri-environment schemes. 

• Prior involvement in nature-based finance, payment for ecosystem services or biodiversity credit markets.

• Understanding of carbon and biodiversity credit methodologies and verification standards.

What We Offer:

Salary: Commensurate on experience
Working hours: Monday - Thursday (9:00 - 17:30)  Four day working week. Additional flexibility could be negotiated for the right candidate. 
Location: Flexible
Annual Leave: 24 days annual leave in addition to public holidays
Contract: 1 year fixed term contract

To apply, please complete this FORM. If you have any questions, please reach out to Liam at liam@hometree.ie

Our Values 
Pioneering - We work at the forefront of nature restoration, prioritising new methods for restoring and protecting natural habitats. We are adaptable. In an ever changing landscape we are ready to adjust strategies to address emerging challenges and opportunities for people and nature.

Nurturing - We are inclusive and empathic. We recognise the interconnectedness between people and the nature and the need for holistic solutions. We foster a sense of stewardship, nurturing healthy ecosystems and communities alike.

Pragmatic - We are practical, science-led, open to others and to collaboration. We recognise the complex nature of the issues we are addressing. We aim to achieve positive impact for people and nature through integrated, cost- effective and workable solutions.

Hometree Board Member Position: Financial Expertise (Trustee Role)

Hometree is seeking to appoint a new Board Member (Trustee) with strong financial expertise to support the organisation at a critical stage of growth.

As Hometree continues to scale its impact in nature restoration, we are strengthening governance and financial oversight at Board level. This role will play an important part in guiding financial strategy, ensuring robust oversight, and supporting the organisation to operate effectively at increased scale.

We are particularly interested in individuals with experience in:

• Financial management, accounting, or audit

• Relevant financial qualification required

• Charity or non-profit finance (desirable)

• Strategic financial planning and risk management

• Supporting organisations through growth or systems change

Board members contribute at a strategic level, working closely with the CEO, Senior Finance Team and Financial Sub-committee. This is an opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven organisation working to restore Ireland’s native woodlands and connect people with nature.

To submit your application please use this link:

LINK TO APPLY

Any questions please email sarah.oconnor@hometree.ie

Research Opportunities

Research Collaboration with final year Undergraduates, Master students, and Post-Docs.

Hometree welcomes collaboration with Undergraduates, Research Master’s students and Post-Docs interested in carrying out functional, applied ecological research within active restoration landscapes. Our sites provide opportunities to investigate how management interventions influence habitat condition, species composition, and ecosystem processes, with findings directly informing practical restoration and long-term conservation management.

We are particularly interested in projects that examine how restoration and land-management actions influence habitat condition, species composition, and ecosystem function. Priority research themes include:

• Grassland management, grazing regimes, and early habitat recovery

• Woodland restoration and native tree establishment in upland and lowland settings

• Herbivore impacts and the effectiveness of exclusion and protection measures

• Woodland expansion, habitat connectivity, and landscape-scale restoration potential

• Habitat structure, microhabitats, and their role in supporting fauna

• Ecosystem processes associated with deadwood, soils, and hydrology

• Vegetation recovery following peatland and wetland restoration interventions

All projects must have the support of the student’s academic supervisor, and a letter of support will be required in advance of any project proceeding. This collaboration is not an internship or a stipend position. However, a small project budget may be available to contribute towards essential field equipment, subject to project scope and available funding.

Students will be expected to take primary responsibility for project design, data collection, and analysis. Hometree will provide site access, relevant background information where available, and coordination with land managers.

Please note, due to the small nature of our team, we will reply to you within 6 weeks of an application.