DEVON WILDLIFE TRUST
APPOINTMENT OF DEVON GREATER
HORSESHOE BAT PROJECT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
OFFICER (Temporary)
INTRODUCTION
The Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project (DGHBP) has drawn together a wide partnership of organisations that have an interest in the conservation of Greater horseshoe bats and their landscapes. The project is directly overseen by a Steering Group constituted through Memoranda of Agreements. We agree that by working in collaborative partnerships greater benefit can be secured for this flagship species within Devon.
The partnership has successfully applied for development phase funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). All project partners have also provided substantial contributions in terms of both time and money. This HLF funding now enables the partnership to develop a Stage 2 application to the HLF for May 2015, which if successful will secure funding for a five year delivery phase from 2015-2020.
The project will deliver a holistic ecosystems approach to secure the long term persistence of the species through widespread community engagement and practical land management interventions.
The project will re-connect a diverse range of communities with nature and the weird and wonderful world of the Greater horseshoe bat. The community engagement programme is designed to support individuals and communities on a journey from increasing awareness and understanding of bats and their local landscape, through to active participation in the long term stewardship and championing of this exceptional species. A vast range of activities will be delivered in support of this programme, including: fun and inspiring celebrations; multi-media explorations; citizen science programmes; and practical volunteering opportunities. Schools and community groups will also benefit from targeted education activities.
This new post will be responsible for the detailed development and early stage delivery of the Community Engagement Plan and associated Learning and Participation Plan. This plan is a key document, providing both a strategic framework and detailed operational guide for the delivery of broad and extensive community activities. Securing active community engagement in this detailed development will be critical.
In addition to reporting directly to the DGHB Project Manager, the post holder will report to, and be guided and supported by the DGHB Steering Group, Research and Monitoring Forum and partnership. It provides an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated individual to take a pivotal role in a national flagship project and to make a significant contribution to the delivery of a fully integrated landscape scale nature conservation and community engagement programme.
THE ORGANISATION
Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) is a charity that exists to protect and enhance Devon’s wildlife and natural environment. It has 33,000 members, 48 nature reserves and 2,000 volunteers. It has four offices including its headquarters at Cricklepit Mill.
DWT is one of 47 Trusts which together make up The Wildlife Trusts, a national partnership of independent local Trusts active in all aspects of wildlife conservation. DWT is one of the larger Trusts.
Essentially, all the partners manage high wildlife value sites, collect species and habitat data, give advice to owners and managers of sites of high conservation value, make the case for conservation when key decisions are being taken and, where possible, encourage people to experience and value wildlife. To help unify the partnership, all this work is carried out under the banner of Living Landscapes and Living Seas.
What is new about Living Landscapes and Living Seas is the scale of the thinking. Past approaches were fragmentary and diffuse. The new approach works on a larger (‘landscape’) scale bringing to bear all the essential skills listed above in one co-ordinated endeavour.
DWT’s work is divided into four directorates.
The Programmes Directorate oversees the Land Management team and the delivery of large-scale projects including Working Wetlands and the Northern Devon Nature Improvement Area Project.
The Land Management team works to secure the management of Devon’s key wildlife sites for optimum biodiversity, covering the conservation land management and advice component of the Living Landscapes work. It has a core staffing primarily dedicated to working on DWT’s nature reserves but also includes an expert in Advisory work.
The Programmes Directorate also maintains oversight of the Devon Biodiversity Records Centre, a partnership venture whose purpose it to achieve and maintain comprehensive, up to date and rigorous information on the state of Devon’s natural environment, particularly wildlife habitats and species.
The Development & Policy directorate comprises the Conservation Advocacy team. This team promotes and supports the sustainable use of Devon’s natural resources, covering the advocacy and strategy component of the Living Landscapes and Living Seas work. It has a core staffing essentially dedicated to engaging with the county conservation networks, influencing new development and keeping up with the thinking behind and approaches to nature conservation. Most of the Living Seas resources are based in this team.
The Fundraising and Communications directorate includes the Fundraising, Communications and Business Development teams.
The Fundraising team is responsible for securing financial (and sometimes material) resources and managing DWT’s relationship with funders. This includes membership, grants from funding bodies and corporate sponsorship. Supporter care is also part of the Fundraising team.
The Communications team is responsible for promoting DWT and its work;securing contact, in effect. It covers publications, media, interpretation, the web and events.
The function of the Business Development team is a new and growing area of DWT’s work. Its goal is to generate non-fundraised income and project manage significant internal development initiatives.
DWT’s fourth directorate is Corporate and Commercial Services. It is divided into three teams; HR and Central Services, Property and IT and Finance. It also incorporates DWT’s commercial arm, Devon Wildlife Enterprises (DWE). DWE’s work focuses mainly on providing wildlife consultancy services, but it has also taken on work in other areas such as interpretation.
DWT strives always to build and maintain a high profile in the County. It raises and manages well over two million pounds a year and engages with a range of external organisations. It has a membership of around 33,000 and works extensively with volunteers, some of whom are organised into Local Groups around the County.
DWT has its headquarters at Cricklepit Mill Visitor Centre in Exeter. It owns Woodah Farm in the Teign valley, where it bases its nature reserves operations and stages events. It also owns a property at Cookworthy near Holsworthy which provides office and storage space for its activities in the northern part of the County and another small office facility at Marsland in the extreme north west.
DWT achieved Investor in People standard in 2000 and continues to maintain it, the most recent review having taken place in 2013. DWT has also recently achieved the Investor in Volunteers standard.
DWT strives to be an equal opportunities employer.
THE JOB
1. Job Purpose
To develop and deliver the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project community engagement programme.
2. Dimensions
· This post is part-time (22.5 hours per week) temporary role based at Cricklepit Mill, with regular travel throughout Devon.
· This post is a fixed term contract until the end of May 2015 initially.
· Funded by Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF); part of development phase.
· Member of the Conservation Advocacy team which is part of the Development and Policy Directorate and will be line managed by the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project Manager.
· Responsibility for the management of volunteers.
· Responsibility for the management of small discrete projects in the region of £1,000 – £2,000.
3. Principal Accountabilities
The most important tasks that the postholder will be expected to undertake in his/her day to day work are: -
· Support and work in partnership with community groups, organisations and individuals to undertake the detailed development and early stage delivery of the Community Engagement Plan and associated Learning and Participation Plan;
· Recruit and manage project volunteers from local communities;
· Work with the Project Manager and community groups to establish a pilot bat beacon site (bat exploration hub) within a local community;
· Work alongside the Research and Monitoring Forum and Project Partnership to deliver the pilot citizen science programme and make recommendations for wider roll-out;
· Develop and maximize the awareness and impact of the project, contributing to the development and delivery of the DGHBP communications strategy, and in particular raising awareness of the project amongst local people and communities.
In delivering the above, the post-holder should be aware of the need to:
· Be an ambassador for the DGHBP and DWT.
· Be aware of and sensitive to the expectations and ambitions of a wide variety of project funders, partners and wider community stakeholders within the project area.
· Be willing to undertake any other tasks as can be reasonably required as part of this post.
4. Person Specification
Essential / DesirableSkills & attributes / Excellent communicator with proven track record in developing strong working relationships with a wide range of individuals, communities and special interest groups / Public speaking to a variety of audiences
Ability to provide clear, concise written material in a variety of formats for a variety of audiences / Ability to think creatively and flexibly to gain the interest and enthusiasm of a wide range of audiences
Good time management and the ability to prioritise a varied workload
Good at diplomacy and negotiation
An ability to work under remote management and to be self- motivated
Friendly and enthusiastic with an ability to build trust and generate enthusiasm from a wide range of people, from professional stakeholders to the general ‘person in the street’
Highly motivated and professional with high standards of work
Committed to the work of the DWT and the aims of the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project
Computer literate in all basic packages with experience in using social media to support and encourage community engagement in local projects
Knowledge & qualifications / Degree or equivalent qualification in the field of environmental education/community and youth work / Knowledge of bat natural history and threats to populations
Full driving licence and access to own vehicle
Experience / Experience in managing and supporting volunteers
Experience of working with schools, youth groups and within other learning environments to deliver environment-related learning / Experience of developing education resources at primary and secondary level linked to the National Curriculum in England
Demonstrable experience in delivering environment related community projects, that involve a wide range of partners and the harnessing and maintenance of community volunteering / Experience in developing interpretation resources for a variety of audiences
Demonstrable experience in delivering public awareness raising and outreach events to a variety of audiences
Experience of identifying and developing funding proposals to augment existing and implement new work
Media experience – producing press releases and dealing with journalistic enquiries
5. Reporting Structure
Within DWT the post holder will report to the DGHB Project Manager. The post holder will also be guided by the Director of Development & Policy, Conservation Manager, Steering Group members and the wider partnership. The postholder will be responsible for the management of volunteers, both long and short-term.
6. Working Relationships
The Community Engagement Officer will work closely with partner organisations that have a community engagement role. Synergies will be identified that can be exploited.
Within DWT the post holder will need to develop close working relationships with a variety of individuals and teams, in particular: the Education Officer, Terrestrial Conservation Officer, Communications team and also the Fundraising team.
Externally the post holder will need to build strong relationships with the communities and groups active in priority areas. Examples include: Parish Councils; District and Town Councils; University of the Third Age; Scouts and Guides; Young Farmers; adventure groups; climbers and cavers; local interest groups including Ramblers/walking groups; and community groups and associations.
7. Key Challenges
The most significant outcomes that DWT and the DGHBP are looking to achieve are:
· Provide required evidence in relation to community engagement, learning and participation, in support of the Stage 2 HLF application for the delivery phase of the DGHBP.
· Ensuring that the early stages of the community engagement component of the DGHBP are successfully implemented and delivers all key outputs in line with the project business plan and budget.
· Securing good working relations with project partners and wider stakeholders and ensuring that the DGHBP adds significant value to existing relevant initiatives and activities within the project areas.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
DWT is committed to providing the best terms and conditions of employment that it can and arrangements which promote an appropriate work/life balance for its staff. It has adopted some arrangements which can help staff to achieve their preferred balance such as part-time working, flexibility in working hours, a time off in lieu system and flexible leave arrangements.
· Length of contract: the post is a fixed term contract until the end of May 2015.
· Location: the post is based at Devon Wildlife Trust, Cricklepit Mill, Commercial Road, Exeter EX2 4AB
· Salary is £20,189 pro rata
· Working hours are 22.5 hours a week, flexitime, the parameters of which are Monday – Friday flexible bands 0800-1000 and 1500-1900, core time 1000-1200 and 1400-1500, a minimum of 30 minutes lunch break.
Attendance will be required at weekends and occasionally at evening meetings; no overtime will be payable but time off may be taken in lieu under DWT’s authorised overtime system.
· Holidays: 25 days a year of paid leave including 3-4 days to be taken between Christmas and New Year so that DWT’s office remains closed throughout, which will be calculated pro rata for the duration of the contract.
· Travel: all reasonable travel costs incurred as part of the job will be reimbursed within DWT's approved rates.
· Benefits: DWT contributes 5% of salary to a personal pension scheme (following successful completion of the probationary period and six months service).
· Probationary period: the appointment will be subject to a three-month probationary period.
· Notice period: during the probationary period, notice will be one week by either party. On satisfactory completion of the probationary period this will increase to one month by either party.