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Dear Applicant
Community Heritage Officer
Permanent
37 hours per week
Thank you for your enquiry in regard to the above position.
Enclosed is a recruitment and information pack which includes the following:
- A job description and person specification
- Background Information and Terms and Conditions of Employment
Further information including our Corporate Plan is available on the Authority’s web site,
The closing date for receipt of completed application forms is 12noon on Monday 24 October 2016.
Anticipated Interview: week commencing Monday 7 November 2016.
It is not our practice to acknowledge applications or to inform applicants that they have been unsuccessful. If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks after the closing date of the advertisement, you may assume that your application has been unsuccessful.
I look forward to receiving your application and thank you for the interest you have shown in the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.
Yours faithfully
The HR Team
Enc.
YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE:Community Heritage Officer
GRADE:Band E
RESPONSIBLE TO:Senior Historic Environment Officer
RESPONSIBLE FOR:No line management responsibility
OBJECTIVES OF THE POST:
To engage local people and volunteers in helping to use, maintain, research, record and enhance the special historic environment of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and help maintain the Historic Environment Record for the National Park.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- To liaise with, support and initiate community-based heritage projects and groups that develop wider understanding of the historic environment of the National Park, enhance the historic environment of the National Park, and generate funding to support the achievement of the objectives in the National Park Management Plan.
- To help organise heritage events and local heritage fora – e.g. the annual archaeology day school, Yorkshire Dales Historic Environment Group — and engagement with the wider public through associated NPA social media and the Authority’s website.
- To assist with monitoring programmes that provide condition information on designated heritage assets e.g. Buildings at Risk/Monuments at Risk.
- To support data collection for, and actively enhance, the Historic Environment Record for the National Park.
- To prepare maps and plans to accompany committee reports, conservation agreements, project proposals and other documents.
- To maintain files, photographs, technical papers and other sources of information in support of the Authority’s historic environment activities.
- To support and assist in responding to external and internal consultations (e.g. planning applications affecting built and archaeological heritage, agri-environment scheme applications etc), and deal with enquiries on the historic environment from the general public, academic and professional bodies.
- Adhere to the Authority's Health and Safety Policy and Codes of Safe Working Practice
- Undertake any other duties commensurate with the objectives and grade of the post as directed by the Chief Executive
PERSON SPECIFICATION
COMMUNITY HERITAGE OFFICER
ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLEQUALIFICATIONS
Hold a degree in archaeology, building conservation or related discipline. /
Membership of IfA, IHBC or related professional body /
EXPERIENCE
At least two years’ experience of working with Historic Environment Record data including creating, updating and correcting digital records. /
Experience of handling and analysing survey data, archive sources and excavation reports. /
Project management, contract and admin experience. /
Direct experience of dealing with local communities, volunteers, and/or the wider public /
Experience of developing funding bids /
SKILLS
Fully conversant with HBSMR and Mapinfo /
Proven ability to deliver projects to deadlines /
Good communicator with good command of written and spoken English. /
Good knowledge of Yorkshire Dales’ history and heritage /
Strong inter-personal skills and proven ability to engage with local communities and/or the general public. /
Very good IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office /
Full driving licence. /
Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines. /
General administrative skills, including data collection and management with good attention to detail /
PERSONAL QUALITIES
Self-motivated, enthusiastic and committed /
Diplomacy and political sensitivity /
An organised and disciplined approach to work /
An ability to work independently and flexibly /
Determination to find creative solutions. /
Good team worker who enjoys the interaction of collaborative working. /
Community Heritage Officer
Based at: Bainbridge, Wensleydale,
Background
The Yorkshire Dales National Park was designated in 1954 in recognition of its extraordinary natural beauty, the diversity of its wildlife habitats, its rich cultural heritage and its fantastic opportunities for outdoor recreation. It is a dramatic upland dissected by numerous long glaciated valleys or dales with a resident population of 23,637 people. The area is a working landscape, with agriculture, quarrying and tourism, offering the main employment opportunities. Indeed, it is the long history of people settling in and working this harsh environment that has created a cultural landscape recognised today as one of the most distinctive in Western Europe.
The Park is looked after by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and it’s the Authority’s job to care for this very special place and its communities and to help people understand and share in it.
The National Park was extended to the north and west on 1 August 2016, it now covers an area of 2,179 square kilometres (841 square miles).
It is one of a family of 15 National Parks in the UK, protected for future generations to enjoy. Truly Britain’s breathing spaces.
From 1974 the whole of the Yorkshire Dales National Park was administered by a Committee of North Yorkshire County Council but, as a result of the Environment Act 1995, the new National Park Authority was established on 1st April 1997. The Authority remains within the framework of local government but is independent of the counties and districts. The Authority now consists of both county council and district council representatives as well as parish representatives and members appointed by the Secretary of State.
The 1995 Environment Act revised and updated the purposes of national parks which are:-
“conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the areas, and promoting opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of those areas by the public”.
In pursuing these purposes the Authority
“shall seek to foster the economic and social wellbeing of communities within the National Park.”
The National Park Authority is advised by the Chief Executive (National Park Officer), who is supported by approximately 130 staff.
Terms and Conditions of Service
Pay
Band E
Salary: £15,507 to £17,547 per annum (with possible progression to £20,456).
The starting salary is normally at the bottom of the band.
Work Base
This post is based at our Yoredale office in Bainbridge, Wensleydale, however, there may be travel elsewhere in the Park.
Pension
All staff are automatically brought into the Local Government Pension Scheme, unless they elect otherwise. Membership of the LGPS provides access to high quality pension benefits based on final pay.
Hours of Work
The hours of work are 37 per week.
A flexitime scheme is in operation. This allows you to vary your start and finish times within set parameters to help your work fit in with your social and domestic responsibilities. If you have accrued sufficient time, the scheme allows you to take up to 12 days extra leave during the year.
Holidays
The holiday entitlement is based on length of service within Local Government or related employment.
On commencement of employment: 25 days.
After 1 year continuous service: 26 days.
After 2 years continuous service: 27 days.
After 3 years continuous service: 28 days.
After 4 years continuous service: 29 days.
After 5 years continuous service: 30 days.
Plus Bank Holidays.
Special Leave
Working for a public sector employer, you will find that we offer favourable entitlements compared with many other employers in regard to time off for such reasons as maternity, maternity support leave, adoption and special leave for various other reasons.
We also support employment initiatives aimed at achieving work/life balance such as parental leave and time off for family emergencies.
Training and Development
The National Park Authority is committed to the professional and personal training and development of its staff. To support this, the Authority has achieved the national Investors in People (IIP) Standard. An appraisal scheme is in place for all staff and opportunities to undertake in-house and external training programmes are available.
Recruitment Clearance
The offer of appointment is subject to medical clearance by Occupational Health and receipt of satisfactory references.
Miscellaneous
New entrants to local government are subject to a probationary period of six months.
The notice period applicable to this post is 1 month.
The Authority operates a non-smoking policy in its offices.
Completed application forms to be returned to the HR Office, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Yoredale, Bainbridge, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 3EL, by 12noon on Monday 24 October 2016.
Anticipated Interview Date: Week commencing Monday 7 November 2016.
If you have not been contacted for interview within three weeks of the closing date, you may assume that your application has not been successful.