FLP project assistants doing fieldwork in East Anglia's Fens

Future Leaders Programme 2025

by Will Crook on 25 March 2025

 

Do you want to gain paid work experience in environment, climate and sustainability? 

 

Are you currently studying an undergraduate degree or have you graduated from an undergraduate degree in the last year? 

 

Apply now to join our Future Leaders Programme 2025! 

Overview  

This summer, Cambridge Zero is collaborating with the Centre for Landscape Regeneration, School of Clinical Medicine, School of Biological Sciences and Future Homes Hub to offer eight paid project assistant positions to current or recent undergraduate students as part of the 2025 Future Leaders Programme. These roles present an opportunity to get involved in these organisations at a critical time for climate and environmental issues globally. 

Project assistants on the Future Leaders Programme will gain paid work experience and work on a specific project relating to climate and sustainability, from communications to research to mapping to field and lab work. They will have the opportunity to work collaboratively and build networks with key professionals in these fields. Through their project, they will gain skills and knowledge that they can use in their future studies and career experiences.   

Alongside their projects, project assistants on the Future Leaders Programme will undertake a development programme that will allow them to explore different career pathways in climate and sustainability and reflect on their own strengths and interests. As part of the Future Leaders Programme cohort, project assistants will have the opportunity to build a community with their peers and will receive coaching and support from staff at Cambridge Zero and beyond.   

Two of the roles offered this year by the Centre for Landscape Regeneration aim to improve diversity and inclusion in environmental sciences and promote environmental science as a career. These roles are funded by UKRI NERC in line with the NERC Diversity and Inclusion Living Action Plan.  

Programme dates: 14th July to 12th September 2025 

Project assistants will work for 8 weeks during this 9-week period and will be able to take 5 days of leave.  

Available Roles 

Fenland Biodiversity Project Assistant  

Fenland Plant Sciences Project Assistant  

Climate Policy Project Assistant  

Science Education for Climate & Sustainability Project Assistant 

Research Team Project Assistant  

Future Homes Hub Project Assistant  

Climate & Sustainability Education Project Assistant 

School of Clinical Medicine Project Assistant  

Recruitment Process 

In order to apply for a role on the Future Leaders Programme, you must submit an application via one of the corresponding Microsoft Forms (see links above). We have developed some application guidance to help you understand what we are looking for in your application. You can view this by clicking on the link here.  

We will be hosting an online Q&A session for prospective applicants to the Future Leaders Programme: 

These roles are paid the Cambridge Real Living Wage, a rate of £12.60 per hour, administered by the Cambridge Casual Worker System (CCWS). Project assistants will work 37 hours per week over 8 weeks and will receive holiday pay. The University reserves the right to disregard applications which, in its opinion, have been generated solely using AI technologies

Eligibility 

  • These positions are for current undergraduate students, or candidates who have graduated from their undergraduate degree in 12 months.   

  • These positions are open to all undergraduate students, not just students from the University of Cambridge.   

  • You are welcome to apply to more than one position, but you can only be accepted for one.  

  • The candidate must, by the start of their employment, have permission to work in the UK.   

  • Please note that we cannot offer sponsorship for these roles as they do not meet the minimum salary requirements to obtain a Skilled Worker Visa.   

  • All project assistants are required to be in person in Cambridge for the weeks commencing 14th July and 8th September. Some of these roles are otherwise open to hybrid/remote working, but all project assistants must be resident in the UK for the duration of the programme.  

 

Application Process

The deadline to apply for all roles is 15th April 2025 at 23:59 GMT. You must submit your application via the relevant Microsoft Form before this deadline in order to be considered.  

Shortlisted candidates for each role will be invited to interview before the end of April, with interviews taking place at the end of April into early May. Interviews will be held online via Teams. 

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. Roles with the Centre for Landscape Regeneration are funded by NERC in line with the NERC Diversity and Inclusion Living Action Plan, aiming to improve diversity and inclusion in the environmental sciences.  

The application process is intentionally designed to remove sources of unconscious bias. We remove name, gender and higher education institution from all applications before they are reviewed. All applications are reviewed by at least two members of staff. By opting for an open-text application form as opposed to a traditional CV and cover letter, we aim to allow applicants at an early career stage to demonstrate the diverse ways in which they’ve been able to develop transferable skills that are desirable for these roles.   

Read about the experiences of past Project Assistants from our 2024 and 2023 programmes. 

Contact Us 

If you have any further questions about applying for the Future Leaders Programme that cannot be answered above, please email Millie May at mm2585@cam.ac.uk