The Solway Wetlands Landscape Partnership Scheme
Wetlands Officer, Full time
1. JOB DETAILSJob title: Wetlands Officer for the Solway Wetlands Landscape Partnership Scheme (LPS)
Accountable to: Project Manager
Location: Solway Coast AONB Unit
2. ROLE PURPOSE
· Develop new wetlands and improve others through Higher Level Stewardship agreements and other channels and provide wetland management advice in the overall implementation of the Landscape Conservation Action Plan (LCAP).
· Assist the Project Manager in monitoring and implementing the LCAP
· Assist the Project Manager with evaluation and updates, working with other members of the project team
3. ROLE OF DEPARTMENT
The host is the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty unit whose role is to safeguard the protected landscape of the Solway Coast.
The Wetlands Officer will be working for the Solway Wetlands Landscape Partnership Scheme. The purpose of this project is to protect and conserve the built and natural environment, increase community participation, enable better access and learning opportunities and provide training and skills on the Solway Plain. The Heritage Lottery Fund is the main funding body.
See www.solwaywetlands.org.uk for more information about the Landscape Partnership.
4. ORGANISATIONAL CHART
(Including in diagrammatic form to whom the post is responsible to and any posts which are responsible to the post holder)
5. KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder will be dealing with the below people and organisations on a regular basis:
· The AONB team
· The Scheme project team
· The Scheme’s steering group and partners, including Natural England, RSPB, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency, West Cumbria Tourism, Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery and The Solway Coast AONB
· The Patchwork etlands sub group
· Landowners and farmers
· Consultants
· Contractors
· Local communities
· Local schools
6. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES OF THE POST
· Work with landowners and farmers to improve wetland habitat across the Solway Plain, assisting with their Higher Level Stewardship agreements and helping with scheme applications Work with partners to carry out habitat restoration works with a particular focus on lowland raised mire and wet grassland.
· Write Farm Environment Plans (FEPs)
· Assist with Water Level Management Plans (WLMPs)
· Liaise with the Rural Land Registry and Rural Payments Agency
· Work through Environment Agency and Planning consents
· Design sluices
· Supervise and train surveyors
· Look after sites in HLS to ensure the landowners meet the standards
· Coordinate the monitoring of waders on HLS wetting up schemes
· Provide advice for other areas of the project such as community wetlands coming from the ‘Community Fund’
· Run specific wildlife and wetland events for the public
· Run conservation volunteer days when required
· Work with and supervise the Scheme’s apprentices when required
· Work with partners
· Undertake such other duties and responsibilities as may reasonably be required, including evening and weekend work whenever necessary.
7. WORK SETTING AND REVIEW
(Who is responsible for setting and reviewing the work, the extent to which the post holder works unsupervised, and the extent to which they are free to act without direct reference to a more senior person)
The Project manager and the post holder are responsible for setting and reviewing the work and the post holder is required to work unsupervised and to their own initiative.
8. INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The post holder is expected to
· adhere to Council policies and procedures and relevant legislation including the requirements of the any professional bodies
· attend mandatory training as identified by the Council
· To travel between different locations from time to time
9. CONFIDENTIALITY
The post holder must maintain the confidentiality of information about council business in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Council Constitution.10. HEALTH AND SAFETY
All employees are required:-
· To acquaint themselves with the Council’s Health and Safety Policy to ensure that it is practiced at all times.
· To use any equipment, device or clothing provided by the Council intended to safeguard employees against risk of injury or ill health and in such a manner as to ensure its effectiveness.
· To report ALL accidents, dangerous occurrences and near misses to the person who is immediately senior to them or to the person whom they normally report.
· To co-operate with the Council in meeting it’s statutory obligations with regard to Health and Safety at Work Legislation
11. RISK MANAGEMENT
To comply with the Council’s Risk Management Policy, and co-operate with risk assessments activity, and take actions to reduce associated risks.
12. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
The Council is an Equal Opportunities Employer and has equal opportunities policies with which you are expected to comply at all times. The Council condemns all forms of harassment and is actively seeking to promote a workplace where employees are treated with dignity, respect and without bias. Service Heads have a particular responsibility for ensuring that the principles on which Human Rights, Diversity and Equal Opportunities are based are applied to Council services.
13. COMMUNITY SAFETY
Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act requires local authorities to consider the community safety implications of all their activities. Officers of the Council should have an awareness of community safety and consider any community safety implications within their own area of responsibility.
14. DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT 1995
Where appropriate the duties may be reviewed where an applicant is a disabled person, or an existing employee becomes unable to carry out the full range of duties due to a disability.
15. ABSENCE
Allerdale Borough Council has a Management of Absence Policy and there is an expectation that employees attend work on a regular basis or with reasonable adjustments where applicable.
16. DATA QUALITY
In order to achieve a high standard of data quality throughout the Council we need to ensure that the following standards are applied:
· Awareness – everyone recognises the need for good data quality and how they can contribute.
· Definitions – everyone knows which performance indicators (PIs) are produced form the performance information they provide and how those PI’s are defined.
· Data entry - there are controls over data recording systems, especially that the information is put into the database on an ongoing timely basis rather than be stored up to be inputted later.
· Verification – there are verification procedures in place as close to the point of input as possible.
· Systems – are fit for purpose and staff have the expertise to geet the best out of them.
· Reporting – performance indicators are extracted regularly and efficiently and communicated quickly.
· Presentation – annual performance indicators are presented, with conclusive evidence, in such a way as to give an easily understood and accurate picture of our performance to officers, members, external inspectorates and the public.
17. GENERAL STATEMENT
The information contained in this job description is furnished to assist employees joining the council to understand and appreciate the work content of their post and the role they play in the organisation. However, the following points should be noted:
· To provide assistance to the council in the event of a civil emergency in any role that may be required in accordance with skills, knowledge and ability
· Whilst every endeavour has been made to outline all the duties and responsibilities of the post, a document such as this does not permit every item to be specified in detail. Broad headings, therefore, may have been used, in which case all the usual associated routines are naturally included in the job description.
· Officers should not refuse to undertake work which is not specified on this form but they should record any additional duties they are required to perform and these will be taken into account when salaries are reviewed.
· To adhere to the Council’s employment policies in particular on disciplinary, equal opportunities, and Dignity at Work Policies.
· To maintain continued professional development to reflect managerial and professional responsibilities as appropriate.
· To co-operate with and support corporate procedures and initiatives, including appraisal and staff training and development.
· To contribute throughout your work to the promotion of the Authority and to the furtherance of the Sections Aims and Objectives.
· To, at all times treat your Section’s customers and your colleagues with politeness, respect and consideration and promote customer care throughout the Authority.
· To be an advocate of the Council both within and outside of the workplace, supporting the Council’s “Values” and ensuring the Allerdale is a great place to live work and visit.
13. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
Post holder’s signature ………………………………………..
Date ………………………………………..
Line Manager’s signature ………………………………………..
Date ………………………………………..
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Requirements / Emphasis / AssessedEducation, Qualifications and Specialist Training
Degree in a relevant subject, such as Biology, Zoology, Ecology, Geography, Land Management, Environmental Conservation, Hydrology etc. or at least 2 years equivalent experience
A postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject / Essential/Desirable
Essential
Desirable / Application / Interview
Application, Interview and education certificates
Job Related Skills / Experience
Experience of liaison with local government and/or public agencies and/or the private sector and / or voluntary sector
Experience of working with landowners and farmers
Organising and running meetings and events
Experience in managing project budgets
Experience of community-based work or voluntary work.
Experience of working with volunteers
Experience in working with environmental stewardship agreements / Essential
Essential
Essential
Desirable
Desirable
Essential
Essential / Application and Interview
Personal Competencies
Proven organisational skills.
Good communication skills, written and spoken
Ability to influence and negotiate
Confident at preparing written materials for reports, newsletters, information leaflets and the internet.
Well-motivated, able to work on own initiative, and also as part of a team.
Imaginative and creative approach to working and willing to try new ideas / Essential
Essential
Essential
Essential
Essential
Essential / Application and Interview
References
Interest and motivation
Strong interest in wetlands, in particular peat bogs and wet grassland and
Interested in environmental and community issues
Knowledge of statutory designations and protected landscapes
Good knowledge of natural history / Essential
Desirable
Desirable
Essential / Application and Interview
Experience
Experience of working with farmers and rural communities
Experience of writing HLS agreements and / or WLMP and / or FEPs in relation to wetland habitats
Understanding of Landscape Partnership Schemes and their role / Essential
Essential
Essential / Application and Interview
Commitment
Able to travel freely
Ability to undertake some weekend and evening work / Essential
Essential / Application and Interview
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