Job Description
Job Title: / Natural Environment OfficerTeam/Service: / Natural Environment Services / Community and Customer Services
Business Unit: / Community and Customer Services
Commissioning Area / Environment
Responsible To: (day to day issues) / Senior Natural Environment Officer
Accountable To: (line manager) / Senior Natural Environment Officer
Salary Grade: (Spinal column points only)
1. Key Purpose of Job
To assist the Senior Natural Environment Officer in the contract management, systems development, asset management with regard to the Service,
To be accountable to the Senior Natural Environment Officer for the management and delivery of the Natural Environment Service, in relation to Social Media Sponsorship and marketing
2. Anticipated Outcomes of Post
2.1. Develop and improve Social Media Communications. Increased Communication
2.2. Play a key role in Natural Environment Services with regard to all functions and facilities provided, And ensure works and communication are delivered in a timely manner and are in line with Torbay Council’s and Natural Environments policies.
2.3. To support the Senior Natural Environment Officer in the provision of Public Rights of Way, Play, Grounds maintenance and Parks functions meeting the legal duties of the Council.
2.4. To carry out asset capture, data collection, surveying, monitoring and reporting of activities within the Natural Environment Service.
2.5. To provide cover and assistance to the Senior Natural Environment Officer .
3. List Key Duties and accountabilities of the post
3.1. To respond to service enquiries for Natural Environment Services and to ensure all communication is responded to or passed to the correct officer within the department in a timely manner, And make sure any health and safety, repair and maintenance issues are resolved.
3.2. Respond and support for service enquiries, complaints, customer standards and freedom of information requests relating to the service area.
3.3. Keeping abreast of current legislation and specification standards for the service areas such as Playgrounds and Highways.
3.4. To be the main point of contact with an external contractor in relation with sponsorship and marketing in public open spaces.
3.5. To liases with internal/external service providers including Grounds Maintenance, Play Providers, Tree Contractors to ensure all works are satisfactory and complete
3.6. To assist in providing a well maintained Rights of Way network through inspection, and providing improved public information And update the definitive statements and maps for Public Rights of Way in accordance with legal requirements.
3.7. Utilise the system and record information on all the management and maintenance of all public open spaces, playground, sports facilities and leased facilities within the service area.
3.8. To support in the production and continued development of relevant maintenance plans for assets under the management of the service for example public conveniences, pavilions, shelters and changing rooms.
3.9. To support the collation of performance data and updating the Council’s Electronic Databases i.e. PSS, EzyTreev.
3.10. To maintain and update the appropriate GIS and mapping systems relating to Natural Environment Services.
3.11. Respond to any hazard or calculate the risk on any public spaces and highway and decide the best course of action and raise any orders associated, instruct any work and sign off any expenditure.
3.12. The post holder will be qualified to at least a level 2 RPII play inspector. Respond to any hazard or calculate the risk on any play facilities and decide the best course of action and raise any orders associated, instruct any work and sign off any expenditure.
3.13. Produce documents and supporting information in relation to community initiatives in public open spaces.
3.14. To be the main contact and liaise with leaseholders and contractors in relation to allotment sites across Torbay
3.15. Respond to complaints and service enquires within the Natural Environment Services.
4. Give examples of the typical types of problems and decisions the post will be required to make
4.1. Deciding on actions to respond to customer enquiries/complaints.
4.2. Deciding if physical issues on site present an immediate danger to the public which require action.
4.3. Deciding on the best course of action to respond to a hazard in a public open space.
4.4. Schedule any media releases relating to Natural Environment Services and respond to any social media enquires.
4.5. Issuing of works orders and the checking and payment of accounts.
5. Budgetary / Financial Responsibilities of the post
5.1. Using the Council’s financial system to order goods and services that are requested.
5.2. Undertake the raising and payment of invoices in accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations.
5.3. The post holder will be responsible for of the following budgets and will be able to authorise any expenditure in the regard to the management of:
· Playgrounds
· Parks Maintenance
· Highways ground maintenance
· Arboricultural
· Parks and Arboriculture Management
· PROW
· Leisure Management
· Income base Section 106 through planning gains.
· Highway Hedge
· Allotments
6. Supervision / Line Management Responsibilities of the post ( Please show / provide organisation structure as an appendices, showing official reporting lines
· Supervision of internal or external contractors employed by the Authority including direction of works, ensuring compliance with specification and ensuring compliance with Health and Safety requirements.
· Supervision of Modern Apprentice Community Engagement.
7. Working Environment & Conditions of the post
7.1. The post holder will be expected to visit sites or carry out inspections as part of their day to day duties or make site visits at short notice. Some office based tasks will be required.
8. Physical Demands of the post
8.1. The majority of demands will relate to the use of work stations.
8.2. The post holder will carry out inspections as part of their duties which could include walking up to 10km and potentially on uneven ground.
9. Specific Resources used by the post
9.1. Office equipment associated with a work station and inspection equipment i.e. Ipad, mobile phone, PDA, digital camera, measuring wheel.
9.2. Vehicle use
10. Key Contacts and Relationships
10.1. External
· External contractors, sub contractors and external parties such as the Coast and Countryside Trust in order to manage contracts or SLA’s.
· Attend meetings with Councillors, Residents and other Associations in connection with the service (including regular meetings of the Local Access Forum and Community/Friends Groups).
· Attend out of hours public/private group meetings as the service representative.
· Leaseholders
· Contract managers
10.2. Internal – Liaising with various services such as Legal, Planning and Highways.
11. Other Duties
To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
Other Information
a) All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
b) The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.c) The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
d) The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
e) This post is based at Torquay Town Hall but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
f) You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
Person Specification
Note for CandidateAll Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.Page 2
Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
Person Specification
Job Title: / Natural Environment Officer / Business Unit: / Community and Customer Services / Team/Service: / Natural Environment Services
Essential Skills and Effectiveness: / Desirable Skills and Effectiveness:
1. Ability to deal tactfully, courteously and effectively with members of the public and all users of the service. Some callers may be challenging demonstrable.
2. Ability to achieve and maintain effective work performance and to meet tight deadlines.
3. Ability to work as part of a team and to contribute effectively to the achievement of wider service performance objectives.
4. Ability to work within corporate policies and an awareness of equal opportunities.
5. Ability and willingness to attend meetings and conferences both inside and outside the Authority as required.
6. Demonstrable skills in using PC based applications.
7. Be able to effectively use social media in a business format.
8. Clear numerical and analytical skills.
9. Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with elected members, members of the public, landowners, development interest and other agencies on issues related to the work of the Authority.
10. Demonstrable skills using PC based applications and systems. / 1. Ability to work flexibly in order to meet the needs of the team.
2. Experience in the use of computer aided design or GIS packages.
3. Ability to assess priorities with a personal workload and self-manage time in order that targets are met.
4. Ability to carry out site inspections and other related on site assessments.
Essential Knowledge: / Desirable Knowledge:
1. IT Literacy, including knowledge of all Microsoft products (in particular Word and Outlook).
2. Knowledge of the statutory duties of the department / 1. Knowledge of safety inspections or risk assessment processes. Some experience in managing maintenance assets.
2. Some knowledge with regard to facilities or land management Understanding of contracts and their development.
3. Knowledge of Highways Act 1980 in relation to Public Rights of Way.
4. Knowledge of Survey recording skills.
5. Knowledge of the relevant Acts of Parliament in relation to Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, town and Country Planning Act 1990, Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Environmental Protection act 1990, Road Traffic Regulations Act 1989.
Essential Experience/Achievements: / Desirable Experience/Achievements:
1. Demonstrable experience of working to conflicting deadlines in a busy office environment.
2. Understanding/Experience of the working in Local Government.
/ 1. Understanding/Experience of the workings of Local Government and in particular the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act and Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
Essential Qualifications/Professional Memberships: / Desirable Qualifications/Professional Memberships:
1. Educated to GCSE Standard (or equivalent)
2. European Computer Driving License (level 1 qualification, ECDL Essentials) or RSA Level 2 in Word Processing (or equivalent)
3. National Vocational Qualification in Environmental Conservation (or equivalent)
4. Educated to a RPII Level 2 or higher in Play Inspector or willing to undergo training / 1. 4 GCSE’s at Grade C or above (or equivalent). Should include Mathematics and English.
2. First Aid at Work Qualification
Essential – Other requirements of the job role
· Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role (i.e. manual handling)· Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK
· Ability to accommodate unsociable hours
· Ability to accommodate on-call working
· Ability to accommodate occasional home-working
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009