Pennine PeatLIFE Project Officer

Context

Pennine PeatLIFE

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT), the North Pennines AONB (NPAONB) partnership and the Forest of Bowland AONB (FoBAONB) partnership have come together to successfully bid for EU LIFE funding for a major new peatland restoration programme across the northern Pennines and Forest of Bowland.

The €6.6million project is funded by the 3 partners above together with the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, United Utilities and Northumbrian Water will run from July 2017 to December 2021 (4 years and 9 months). The project will be managed by a Programme Manager at the North Pennines AONB overseeing staff based with them together with 4 staff (3 fte) based with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust under the management of the Yorkshire Peat Partnership (YPP) Programme Manager (see below).

The aim of the Pennine PeatLIFE project is to demonstrate and evaluate geographically appropriate Blanket Bog restoration techniques suited to the harsher climatic environment of northern England and the development and showcasing of a financial payment for ecosystem services (PES) mechanism based on the UK Peatland Code. The Pennine PeatLIFE project will directly target the restoration of 1353ha of badly eroded Blanket Bog both within Natura 2000 Sites and in undesignated upland sites. In addition it will demonstrate and evaluate Sphagnum based methods to determine which provide the most cost-effective and widely applicable solution to blanket bog restoration that can be used as the basis for a viable payment for ecosystem services instrument. The results of the Pennine PeatLIFE project will be transferable and replicable across all regions of the EU with peatland areas.

The project project’s main activities will be:

·  Demonstrating financially viable region-specific and sustainable Sphagnum based restoration techniques for re-activating peat-forming blanket bog in the wetter, colder and higher altitude eroded bog systems of northern England.

·  Demonstrating through ‘Concept to Contract’ trials, the UK Peatland Code, as a viable payment for ecosystem services for upland peatlands.

·  Demonstrating new approaches using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to assess vegetation change as a proxy measure for monitoring the trajectory of change in ecosystem services benefits of blanket bog undergoing restoration and as a validation tool for the UK Peatland Code financial instrument.

·  Disseminating the demonstration activities to policy makers, landowners and managers, government agencies, NGOs, and other key stakeholders in the UK and across the EU.

In this role you will be one of two YWT Project Officers (complementing two NPAONB Project Officers) who will be the “frontline” of the project in Yorkshire and the Forest of Bowland carrying out site surveys, drawing up Site Management Plans and agreements and overseeing restoration works. You will also carry out all ground-based monitoring and implement all dissemination and raising awareness actions. A key part of the role will be to support the GIS & Remote Sensing Officer to fly surveys using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). You will be based in YWT’s Skipton Office which is the new headquarters of the Yorkshire Peat Partnership (YPP – see below).

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

The Trust operates throughout the traditional county of Yorkshire (i.e. all of the Yorkshire and Humber region except North Lincolnshire) from the Humber to the Pennines and from the Dales and Moors to the urban conurbations of the south. It is the second oldest of the 47 Wildlife Trusts which work in partnership together covering the whole of the UK. Our purpose is to lead the way in achieving our vision of a Yorkshire rich in wildlife for everyone through pursuing our mission of creating Living Landscapes and securing Living Seas in Yorkshire. We will do this by being passionate leaders and natural partners whose objectives are to:

·  demonstrate how nature works

·  inspire people and communities to value and take action for wildlife

·  champion wildlife and our work

and to enable this by:

·  growing our resources through inspiring people to value our work

·  knowledge sharing, cooperation, flexibility and effectiveness and

·  ensuring excellent governance.

The Trust seeks to realise this vision through the objectives identified in the Development Plan and Business Plan. Activities that the Trust undertakes to achieve the plans are nature reserve management of over 100 reserves covering 3,000 hectares scattered across the region, specialist projects in river and wetland management, community development and environmental education activities, publicity and promotion and campaigning and policy work.

The Trust employs more than 120 staff (equivalent of 96 F/T staff) and, crucially, enjoys the support of 40,000 members. The staff work through four teams: support services; development; and two conservation delivery teams – north & east and south & west. Each team has a director who reports to the Chief Executive who is responsible for the operations of the Trust and, in turn, reports to the Board of Trustees who govern the organisation.

The conservation delivery teams are then divided into regional teams which are led by a Regional Manager who reports to the Director of the delivery team.

The Trust engages more than 600 dedicated volunteers and voluntary trainees in its work. They make a huge contribution by giving time, skills, knowledge, enthusiasm and local ownership to our vision. All employees are expected to encourage, develop and support volunteer involvement wherever possible.

Yorkshire Peat Partnership

The Yorkshire Peat Partnership, YPP, is a landscape scale peatland restoration partnership which delivers practical peatland restoration throughout Yorkshire. The project region encompasses the uplands of the Yorkshire Dales, Nidderdale, North York Moors and areas of the South Pennines. YPP is an umbrella organisation comprising Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, North York Moors NPA, Yorkshire Dales NPA, Environment Agency and Natural England with support from the National Trust, National Farmers Union, Nidderdale AONB, Pennine Prospects, Yorkshire Water, Moorland Association and the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust. The administration is led by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

The Yorkshire Peat Partnership’s key objective is to deliver high quality peatland restoration in order to enhance and improve peatlands with the overall aim to restoring to functioning carbon sequestering peat bogs. Other key objectives are high quality monitoring, targeted research, education and raising awareness of the multitude of benefits that restoring our peatlands confers.

In addition to the Pennine PeatLIFE project the Yorkshire Peat Partnership has recently secured new funding to deliver peatland restoration, monitoring and research programmes for Yorkshire Water and through Natural England’s Higher Level and Countryside Stewardship schemes until March 2019. YWT is currently building an expanded team of 7 staff (6 fulltime equivalents) to implement these programmes. This team and YWT’s Pennine PeatLIFE staff will be managed by the YPP Programme Manager from YPP’s new headquarters in Skipton.


Pennine PeatLIFE Project Officer

Job Description

Outline

Responsible to: YPP Programme Manager & Pennine PeatLIFE Programme Manager

Responsible for: volunteers and contractors

Based at: YWT regional office in Skipton

Brief

The Pennine PeatLIFE Project Officer is a key part of the Pennine PeatLIFE team. The Officer will be part of a team surveying damaged peatlands, drawing up Site Management Plans, liaising with landowners and managers, developing tenders and coordinating and overseeing contracts, managing budgets and claims and writing reports. They will also carry out all ground-based monitoring and support the GIS & Remote Sensing Officer to fly surveys using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). They will also be work with other members of the team to implement all dissemination and raising awareness actions.

Main objectives

Peatland Restoration

·  Carry out detailed remote sensing and ground-truthing surveys to identify and quantify restoration works required and draw up Site Management Plans based on these surveys.

·  Liaise with landowners & managers to draw up Site Management Agreements.

·  Draw up contractor specifications and oversee the contract tender process including all statutory permissions and Health and Safety requirements including CDM.

·  Working with the Peatland Restoration team and the YPP Programme Manager, manage and monitor the implementation of the restoration contracts and plans which Includes managing site budgets, submitting grant claims and writing reports to funders.

·  Work with landowners and managers to implement Peatland Code protocols including Project Design Documents, carbon statements and monitoring reports.

Restoration Monitoring

Working with other members of the Pennine PeatLIFE team:

·  Implement a programme of restoration works monitoring.

·  Implement a programme of monitoring to assess the impact of Sphagnum harvesting on donor sites.

·  Implement a programme of monitoring to evaluate the success of a range of Sphagnum inoculation techniques.

·  Implement a programme of monitoring under the Peatland Code to determine the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) balance of sites undergoing restoration.

·  Support the GIS & Remote Sensing Officer in using UAV technology to monitor restoration sites and develop proxy measures of GHG fluxes.

·  Implement a programme of monitoring to assess the impacts of restoration on other ecosystem services.

Sharing Best Practice

Working with other members of the Pennine PeatLIFE team:

·  Regularly review techniques being used and keep up to date with new techniques and work with other members of the peat team to adapt specifications where necessary.

·  Organise a programme of local, national and international conferences, workshops, demonstration events and field visits.

·  Develop and maintain a range of dissemination platforms including a website, social media, e-newsletters, press releases, noticeboards and publications.

Other

·  Attend project, steering and stakeholder group meetings as required.

·  Promote YWT, Pennine PeatLIFE and partner organisations whenever possible.

·  Abide by all YWT policies.

·  Undertake other duties as requested by your line manager and in line with the post.


Pennine PeatLIFE Project Officer

Person Specification

Experience

Practical application of GIS software including MapInfo / Essential
Experience of land management for nature conservation / Essential
Experience of ecological field survey work / Essential
Contract Management experience / Essential

Knowledge and Understanding

A strong understanding of ecology and environmental processes / Desirable
A good understanding of peatland ecology and management / Essential
A good understanding of health and safety in relation to large capital programmes (e.g. risk management and CDM regulations) / Essential

Skills and Qualifications

Excellent written and verbal communication skills / Essential
IT literate / Essential
Knowledge of GIS and computer mapping systems / Essential
A full driving licence / Essential
Qualifications relating to practical land management for nature conservation / Desirable
Personal Qualities
Capable of working in a busy, evolving environment / Essential
Ability to communicate with enthusiasm, tact, diplomacy and confidence to a number of different audiences / Essential
Willingness to be flexible, respond to changing circumstances and to assist with a number of tasks at short notice / Essential
Willingness to work outside normal office hours including some stays away from home during the survey season / Essential


Pennine PeatLIFE Project Officer

Details

Terms and Conditions

Salary: / £26500 p.a.
Hours: / 35 working hours per week, Monday to Friday. The nature of the post’s duties may from time-to-time require evening and weekend work. Paid overtime is not available, but time off in lieu will be given.
Flexibility: / Subject to ensuring that the needs of the business and the role are met, the Trust, where possible, endeavours to meet the flexible working needs of its employees.
Holidays: / 25 working days per annum in addition to normal public holidays.
Pensions: / You will be eligible to be auto enrolled into the Trust’s Group Flexible Retirement plan. The Trust will contribute to this plan on your behalf at a rate set by the Trust’s Council. The rate is currently 3% of your basic salary. However, if you choose to make an employee contribution the Trust will make an employer contribution of up to 9% depending on the amount you choose to contribute as an employee. Written terms of the scheme are available on request from finance.
Contract: / This is a permanent contract.
Childcare Vouchers: / The Trust operates a Childcare Voucher Scheme. Details of which are available on request.
Employee Assistance Programme: / The Trust provides paid staff with access to an Employee Assistance Programme. This is a confidential service which aims to provide staff with support for a range of issues. Further details are available from the HR and Training Manager.
Equal Opportunities: / Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is committed to equal opportunities and appoints on merit. We welcome applicants from all sections of society regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, marital status, age and religion, perceived community background or political beliefs.
Notice Period: / Generally 4 weeks following satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period.
Place of Work: / The post will be based at the Trust’s headquarters at York.
Travel: / Public transport is encouraged although pool vehicles are available. In exceptional circumstances the use of the officer’s own vehicle may be necessary for business use for which a mileage rate of 27.5p per mile will be paid.
Training: / The Trust is fully committed to personal development and training.
Closing date: / 9 am on Monday 28 July 2017.
Interview dates: / Thursday 9 August 2017.

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