Job Title: Green Transport Corridors Partnership Officer
(Grade 6 - £23263 pro rata)
Weekly Hours: 14 hours per week
Length of Contract: Until March 31st 2017
Based At: The Project Officer will be based at Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s head office at Plumgarths, near Kendal and will entail travel within the Morecambe bay NIA as well as occasional visits to Yorkshire to meet project partners.
Reports To: Senior Education and Volunteering Officer but working closely with the NEWP 32 Steering Group and reporting to Natural England.
Job Purpose: To manage and co-ordinate delivery of the NEWP 32 work programme within Morecambe Bay NIA and Humberhead Levels NIA, including a final report and potential roll out strategy.
Job Description:
The NEWP 32 Transport Green Corridors project is a 3-year programme of work being led by Natural England in partnership with the Highways Agency, Network Rail, Humberhead Levels NIA partnership and Morecambe Bay NIA partnership. The project is helping deliver commitment 32 of the Natural Environment White paper and is also contributing to the delivery of Biodiversity 2020.
This exciting and innovative project will coordinate, support and advise on the trialling of new approaches to managing the transport soft estate designed to enhance ecological connectivity and ecosystem services, whilst also enhancing the resilience and operational efficiency of the transport network. This is a pilot project which, if successful, could then be rolled out across the wider transport network. The project has secured commitment to £3-4m funding from Network Rail and Highways Agency for the trialling of new management approaches.
A key component of the project is looking ‘over the fence’, encouraging all parties to consider the land beyond their own estate in order to develop mutually beneficial relationships and landscape scale benefits. It will involve developing understanding and collaborative relationships with a wide range of partners including Network Rail and Highways Agency staff and contractors, NIA partners, local landowners and potentially mobilising volunteers. Two workshops have already been held in each NIA to discuss the project and agree its aims and objectives, with full partner support.
Each NIA has agreed with the Highways Agency and Network Rail a suite of broad land management outcomes and objectives it is seeking to deliver through the project at a number of trial locations within each NIA (informed by a previous opportunity mapping exercise). The project will work with all partners over the project period to support the delivery of these environmental and transport resilience outcomes.
The project provides an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated individual to take a leading role in a national flagship project and make a significant contribution to creating coherent and resilient ecological networks across the transport soft estate.
As the Lead and Accountable body Cumbria Wildlife Trust will appoint a Programme Manager to manage and co-ordinate delivery of the programme in liaison with the project partners.
Main Aims:
To ensure successful delivery of the NEWP 32 Programme, as outlined in the Project Specification (attached).
To coordinate the delivery of the objectives set out in the Project Specification for trialling new management approaches on the transport network’s soft estate in approximately 12 opportunity areas identified across the two NIAs, 6 of which would be in the Morecambe Bay NIA. This will involve:
Liaising with Network Rail and Highways Agency contractors to:
· agree a programme of delivery for trial management approaches in each opportunity area
· secure timely delivery of trial management in each opportunity area
· Liaising with landowners adjacent to road and rail corridors within opportunity areas to determine the scope for accessing the road or rail soft estate from their land and where appropriate using existing land management agreements (i.e. HLS, NELMS etc) to secure access.
· Liaising with NIA partners and neighbouring landowners to link soft estate management into existing local management and initiatives and maximise benefits
· Identify the potential for using volunteers to undertake new management approaches where it is agreed with the network operator that it is appropriate and safe to do so.
· Attending relevant training courses set up by Highways Agency and Network Rail in relation to safety and other issues relevant to the post.
· Working with the steering group to advise the roll-out of guidance and of the approach beyond the initial trial NIAs.
· Identify opportunities for the project to benefit from emerging opportunities including the developing NELMs scheme and other funding opportunities.
· Working with the Steering Group reporting on risks, issues and progress at all steering group meetings.
· Reporting on progress to Natural England on a quarterly basis including updating on risks and issues. Produce evidence and other procurement/claims requirements in compliance with NE guidelines.
Key Tasks
· Develop and maintain a project delivery programme in coordination with the Steering Group and local partners
· In liaison with the Chair of the NEWP 32 Steering Group, arrange Meetings and provide input to agenda and meeting notes
· Facilitate and coordinate (as appropriate) project delivery meetings between local partners.
· Ensure partner compliance, particularly with procurement rules, legal obligations and consents
· Develop a reporting and claims procedure based on the requirements within the contract between Natural England and the Lead Body, submit grants and track and monitor programme spend (including any ‘match’ spend)
· Work closely with partners to help meet agreed targets
· Support administration for the programme
· Ensure key information is disseminated via NBN, BARS and other recommended platforms
· Provide a single point of contact for requests for information about the NEWP 32 project
Other work
· Any additional duties as outlined in the Annual Work Plan;
· Any other duties that may reasonably arise from time to time;
· All tasks and responsibilities to be carried out in accordance with the Trust's policies and procedures.
Person Specification – Green Transport Corridors Partnership - Project Officer
Person Specification
1 Experience:
The post holder will be expected to have recent and relevant experience in the following areas:
Activity / Essential / Desirable1. / Project Management – complex, multi-objective and multi-partner programmes / ·
2. / Working in the environmental sector / ·
3. / Working with the transport sector. / ·
4. / Financial and budgetary management / ·
5. / Experience of working with a partners from a wide range of organisations / ·
6. / Ability to work unsupervised and as part of a team / ·
7. / Habitat creation and management / ·
8. / Running and reporting a grant funded programme / ·
9. / Working with Network Rail and or the Highways Agency or predecessor bodies / ·
2 Knowledge:
The post holder will have the following knowledge:
Activity / Essential / Desirable1. / Ecosystem services and climate change adaptation techniques / ·
Terrestrial biodiversity (habitats and species) management / ·
3. / Ecological connectivity / ·
4. / Transport operators and the constraints within which they operate / ·
5. / The principles of the Mosaic Approach to habitat management / ·
6. / Ecological survey techniques / ·
7. / Relevant key sector guidance such as the design manual for roads and bridges / ·
8. / Environmental opportunities and challenges within both NIAs / ·
9. / Knowledge of BARS / ·
3 Skills
The post holder will need to be able to:
Activity / Essential / Desirable1. / Leadership – guiding, motivating and inspiring partnerships / ·
2. / Communication and relationships – ability to enthuse, educate and communicate complicated ideas, foster support and influence outcomes through excellent written and verbal communication skills and a high degree of emotional intelligence / ·
3. / Planning and organising – ability to develop strategic and operational plans, delegate tasks, prioritise work, identify and manage risk and manage own workload and time with limited supervision / ·
4. / Judgement, analysis and problem solving – excellent judgement: able to analyse and use information, to think strategically and creatively to solve problems and make good decisions / ·
Educated to degree level in a relevant area or an equivalent professional qualification / ·
6. / IT literate – particularly MS Word, Excel, Outlook and relationship databases / ·
7. / Driving License / ·
4 Personal Qualities
The post holder should possess the following:
Activity / Essential / Desirable1. / Ability to maintain high levels of enthusiasm and self motivation / ·
2. / Ability to work well on their own initiative and co-operatively as part of a distributed team / ·
3. / Ability to be flexible and respond to changing situations / ·
4. / Tact and diplomacy / ·
5. / Ability to work effectively under pressure / ·
6. / A mature approach / ·
7. / A strong affinity with wildlife/wildlife habitats. / ·
Terms and Conditions
1. Salary £23263 - (year 1 - Grade 6)
2. Duration of post: This is a fixed term contract running until March 31st 2017.
3. Hours per week: 14 hours. Normally 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. This post is likely to involve out-of-hours and weekend work, for which time off in lieu is given.
4. Holidays: 28 days per annum, including English bank holidays (pro rata to 28 days).
5. Place of work: Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Plumgarths, Crook Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 8LX.
6. Applications: Application forms should be returned with a covering letter outlining the candidate's suitability for the post, to Claire Ladell, Personnel Officer, Cumbria Wildlife Trust at the above address or by email to . Please send a C.V. to provide information not covered in the application form if appropriate.
7. Closing date for applications is 5pm Wednesday 26th November 2014. Interviews will be held on the week commencing 8th December 2014.
8. Any further enquiries should be directed to Jamie Normington, Cumbria Wildlife Trust at the above address or ring 01539 816 300.
Jamie Normington Cumbria Wildlife Trust
NEWP 32 – Green Transport Corridors Partnership Project