‘Kynsa ha Diwettha – Agan Tirwedh Bewa ha Gonis’
First and Last – Our Living Working Landscape Penwith Landscape Partnership
INFORMATION PACK
Programme Officer (Finance and Administrative Support)
for ‘First and Last – our Living Working Landscape, Penwith Landscape Partnership’
Full time (37.5 hours), 5 years
West Cornwall office base
Up to £22,500 pa
This pack contains:
· A summary of the First and Last – our Living Working Landscape, Penwith Landscape Partnership scheme
· Additional information on the projects within the scheme
· A job description and person specification for this role
Applications
Applications are only accepted on a completed application form. We do not accept CVs and covering letters. The application form can be downloaded from http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/jobs
Completed applications should be sent to
Application Deadline: 11th February 2018 (midnight)
Interview Date: 20th February in Penzance
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Summary of First and Last – Our Living Working Landscape, Penwith Landscape Partnership Scheme
1. In 2014 a partnership of community groups and organisations called ‘First and Last – Our Living Working Landscape came together as Penwith Landscape Partnership and agreed a vision for the Penwith landscape:
The cliffs, fields, downs and moors of the Penwith peninsula combine to create a wild, ancient and mysterious landscape that is valued and celebrated by locals and visitors. The area is renowned for its unique combination of historic, cultural and natural assets with numerous national and international designations reflecting the significance of the landscape and its heritage.
Shaped by humans, with Bronze Age farmed landscapes visible today, farmers continue to play a key role in the stewardship of the Penwith landscape. The ancient field systems, on thin soils and buffeted by Atlantic winds, support viable farming that is sensitive to the valued landscape, heritage and biodiversity.
Our vision is a resilient living, working Penwith landscape where farming prospers while protecting natural resources, restoring habitat connectivity and enhancing the archaeological heritage; a landscape that is loved, enjoyed and supported by local communities and visitors.
2. A Memorandum of Agreement is in place for the operation of the Board, members of which include: Cornwall Councillors representing 4 Penwith wards, Zennor and Towednack Parish Councils, farming representatives, a Penwith based business, Cornwall Archaeological Society (CAS), Cornwall Ancient Sites Protection Network (CASPN), National Trust, St Aubyn Estates, Farm Cornwall, Bolitho Estates, Penwith Access and Rights of Way (PAROW), Penwith Community Development Trust, Save Penwith Moors (SPM), Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Cornwall AONB.
Advisors to the Board include: Natural England, Cornwall Council Historic Environment Section and Cornwall Rural Community Charity.
The Patron is Colonel Edward Bolitho OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall, who is a major landowner in the project area. Cornwall Wildlife Trust is the lead partner and accountable body and as such main employer for all staff.
3. A short film about Penwith and the Board produced by a local film maker with the support of Cornwall Rural Community Council and Cornwall AONB can be viewed at: http://www.penwithlandscape.com/
4. Early in 2014, the Partnership bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund under its Landscape Partnership programme, which invests National Lottery money in the UK’s most distinctive landscapes, further information about which can be found at: http://www.hlf.org.uk/looking-funding/our-grant-programmes/landscape-partnerships. In October 2015, the Board received approval to its initial proposals and funding for an 18 months Development Phase during which detailed plans were worked up, including budgets and work programmes, for 13 interconnected projects to be delivered over 5 years. The resulting document, the Penwith Landscape Conservation Action Plan (LCAP) was submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund in August 2017 and approved by its South West Committee in December.
5. HLF has awarded the scheme a grant of £2.5m which together with financial support from Cornwall Council and additional match funding will enable the delivery of works amounting to over £3.5m.
6. The Penwith Landscape Partnership scheme seeks to better manage Penwith’s heritage (natural, historic and cultural) in an economically sustainable way and enable people to get involved through learning and volunteering. The heritage is threatened by a number of different factors which were identified through consultation, reference to published documents and input from specialists. They are grouped into three, interconnected, issues, which will be addressed through the projects. These are:
· Fragmented landscape management
· Lack of appreciation and understanding
· Loss of traditional skills
These issues influence how land is managed or if it is not managed at all. A key overarching issue is long term changes in the area’s farming economy along with a squeezed public purse.
Penwith Landscape Partnership Projects and Key Project Outputs
Theme / Project Title / Project Codes / Lead Partners(s) / Key Project OutputsPeople and Communities / Outstanding Penwith
Pennwydh an Gwella / 1.1 / AONB with PCDT / Volunteer Programme: Recruitment, support and training of 300 volunteers to support all PLP projects as required
That’s our Parish
Yth yw agan Pluw / 1.2 / AONB / Understanding our heritage: Surveys and recording of heritage features and Local Landscape Character Assessments in 11 Parishes
Access and Ancient Sites / At the End of the Land
Orth Pedn an Wlas / 2.1 / PLP / Access to Penwith: Development of PLP trails with interpretation and practical improvements to Rights of Way and Open Access land
Making Tracks
Gul Hynsi / 2.2 / PLP / Surveying, restoring and promoting the Tinners’ Way
Ancient Penwith
Pennwydh Koth / 2.3 / CASPN / Recording, monitoring and interpretation of heritage features (historic sites and monuments) in the landscape
Restoration of neglected sites
Educational visits and guided walks
Economy, Farming and Wildlife / Buildings in the Landscape
Drehevyansow y’n Tirwedh / 3.1 / PLP / Supporting owners in the use of redundant farm buildings with heritage value
Farming Futures
Bargednyow-Tir y’n Termyn a-dheu / 3.2 / Farm Cornwall / Working with farmers to support farm businesses which are sensitive to Penwith's landscape, heritage and biodiversity
Wild Penwith
Pennwydh Gwyls / 3.3 / Cornwall Wildlife Trust / Increasing biodiversity: providing Farm Surveys and Whole Farm Plans, and Small Grants and volunteer support for positive heritage and habitat management
Penwith Hedges
Keow Pennwydh / 3.4 / Cornwall Wildlife Trust / Surveying, recording and ongoing monitoring of Cornish hedges
Practical hedging supported by training of volunteer hedgers
Up with the Downs
An Gonyow Bys Vykken / 3.5 / PLP / Surveys of rough ground and improvements to rough ground management
Communication and Interpretation / Virtual Landscape Hub
Kresen a’n Tirwedh / 4.1 / PLP / Online resources, promotion and communications
Taking Names
A-dro dhe Henwyn-Tyller / 4.2 / Save Penwith Moors / Knowing and recording our past: Research into and communication of historic place and field-names
Assistance with Cornish Language interpretation and application to all projects
Seeing the Landscape
Gweles an Tirwedh / 4.3 / PLP / Promoting and encouraging arts and culture across all PLP projects
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1. IDENTIFICATION OF JOB
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JOB TITLE : Penwith Landscape Programme Officer (Finance & Administrative Support)
POST NUMBER :
FUNCTION : Conservation
RESPONSIBLE TO : Penwith Landscape Partnership Programme Manager
RESPONSIBLE FOR :
WORKING
RELATIONSHIPS : PLP Project Officers, Board and Project Group Members
TERM : Full-time (37.5), fixed term (5 years), starting March 2018 or earlier. Some evening work required to attend and minute meetings
[This post may be suitable for a secondment or other flexible working arrangements].
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2. OVERALL PURPOSE OF JOB
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To provide a comprehensive office-based administration service to the PLP scheme, supporting the Programme Manager and staff team. In particular, to provide financial administration and fund-raising and administrative support, working with the Programme Manager and staff team to report and liaise with funding partners, Board members, Project Groups and wider stakeholders in the local community. Responsible for office management and maintenance as necessary.
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3. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
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General and Scheme Administration
· Provide full administrative support to the PLP Manager and staff team through strong organisational abilities, liaising with the Board, Executive Committee and Project Group members and interfacing with Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s systems as required.
· Coordinate record-keeping to facilitate a joined-up, robust programme of work that clearly reports on delivery against the scheme Outputs and Outcomes.
· Take a supportive role in project and programme reporting, helping to provide clear and accurate reports for the Programme Manager to pass to the Board, Executive Committee, Lead Partner and Heritage Lottery Fund.
· Establish and maintain good relationships with project delivery partners and funders.
· Maintain effective internal communication between Project Officers and Programme Manager and, where necessary, Board members and community members and assist with promotion of the scheme.
· Use GIS mapping system to provide maps for the programme and for project partners.
· Maintain an overview of the work of the scheme, ensuring proper procedures are in place for procurement, contracting and safe delivery – keeping necessary paperwork on file, and chasing copies from partners where required.
· Be responsible for the smooth running of the PLP office-base including payment of bills and emission of invoices, overseeing utilities and service providers as necessary, liaising with the landlord/owners, responding to problems and resolving issues in the management and maintenance of the office.
Financial Administration
· Work with the Programme Manager, delivery partners and CWT’s Finance Manager to maintain an effective forecasting, recording and reporting system for the PLP scheme and individual projects within it.
· Take a central role in managing the programme’s finances, ensuring a seamless link to the financial management systems of the Lead Partner.
· Maintain a detailed overview of the financial aspects of all projects to enable accurate and timely financial reporting and grant claims to HLF and other funders and distribution of funds for delivery activities.
· Coordinate production of financial reports and project activity reports according to funders’ requirements.
Contract Management
· Supervise day-to-day running of contracts with external delivery partners to ensure smooth delivery of contracted services and that individual project partners fully understand their financial and reporting commitments, liaising with the Programme Manager where issues occur.
Small Grants Fund
· Manage and administer the financial aspects of the PLP small capital grants programme in liaison with the Programme Manager.
Match Funding and Bid-writing
· Work with the Programme Manager and Project Officers to identify and access additional funding to support the aims of the PLP scheme and the objectives and outcomes of individual projects in order to maximise the impact of the scheme with all stakeholders.
· Assist the Programme Manager and Project Officers with the preparation of funding applications and budgets for submission to funders.
Other Duties:
· Participate in Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s performance and management scheme and undertake training as agreed with the Programme Manager
· Carry out all duties and responsibilities with reasonable care for the health and safety of oneself and any other persons and co-operate fully with the Trust in health and safety matters.
· Assist in other work of the Trust if required to do so.
· Flexibility to work weekends/ evenings as appropriate.
Penwith Landscape Programme Officer (Finance and Administrative Support) - Person Specification
This section details the experience, skills, knowledge and personal qualities required for the post.------
Area A KNOWLEDGE and EXPERIENCE
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EXPERIENCE
Essential
· A proven track record in office management and administration in a successful business, public sector organisation, NGO or partnership programme· A proven track record in working with finances, for example book keeping, retail or similar areas of work
· Experience of establishing and maintaining financial management systems for large projects and producing financial reports in different formats for funders’ needs.
· Significant experience in working with / communicating with a broad base of partners or customers
· Experience in working with computers on word processing, spreadsheet and financial packages
· Experience in compiling and presenting written materials
· Experience of organising meetings, preparing agendas and taking minutes
Desirable
· Experience of working with a wide range of individuals, agencies and organisations from statutory, public and voluntary sectors· Experience of establishing and maintaining relationships with project funders
· Experience of managing small grants programmes
· Experience of promotion and publicity of projects with local communities
· Experience of organising community training and engagement events
KNOWLEDGE
Essential
· Very good knowledge of financial management systems such as budgeting, tracking expenditure and income, cash flow.Desirable
· Understanding of fundraising issues and knowledge of key sources of information about grants and donations· Understanding of Cornwall’s wildlife and of nature conservation activities
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Area B SKILLS
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· Educated to at least GCSE standard in English and Maths, or have substantial directly relevant work experience accumulated over a significant number of years
· Ability to apply meticulous attention to detail with regard to finances
· High level of numeracy
· Excellent written communication skills and report writing, including ability to present financial data in a variety of formats
· Highly organised, methodical and able to deal with multiple tasks and priorities
· Ability to work with a wide range of people
· Ability to work independently using own initiative and judgement, as well as in close co-operation with others
· Ability to work to tight time-scales and meet deadlines
· Computer literate – very competent at Excel spread-sheets and Microsoft Office suite; good knowledge of SAGE accounts package
· Experience in working with new media and updating and managing information on websites
· Experience in GIS, with the ability to create maps of areas within the project as required
· Hold a full driving licence.
Desirable
· Use of social media to engage volunteers and promote events and activities