Overview

About us

The Biodiversity Team manages over 25 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation within the London Borough of Sutton, including chalk downland, woodland, wetlands and neutral meadows, from the green belt of the North Downs to the urban landscape. We utilise significant support from Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers, operating 2-3 task days per week.

The Biodiversity Team also deal with all biodiversity issues relating to planning, including the delivery of London’s first No Net Loss and Net Gain policy.

About the role

This role is a unique long-term opportunity to shape and manage extensive habitat creation and restoration at Beddington Farmlands, working collaboratively for the London Borough of Sutton with the site leaseholders, Viridor. Funded for 25 years, the Warden will work with Viridor staff and contractors to deliver site management and enhancement, to achieve the aims of the Conservation Management Scheme and the Restoration Management Plan.

The Warden will undertake practical habitat management with hand tools and machinery, organising and leading volunteers in undertaking habitat management works, assist with undertaking species surveys, creating and updating management plans, engaging members of the community through guided walks and talks and provide regular information to the management groups (Conservation Science Group and the Conservation and Access Management Committee).

The position comes with an office at Beddington Farmlands; it is expected that around 4 days per week will be based on site, with one day per week at the LBS offices.

About you

To succeed in this role, you will be a driven and passionate conservationist / ecologist, with at least 3 years’ practical experience of habitat creation and management (wetlands would be especially useful); delivering ecological conservation within an urban environment; identification and surveying skills (botany and ornithology) and the ability to work in partnership with different organisations.

An understanding of protected species and habitat legislation and the planning system is highly useful.

You will have excellent communication skills and have demonstrable experience of communicating with members of the public, dealing with management groups and colleagues in the Council, interpreting complex technical biological / ecological or planning information. The position requires significant amounts of working without direct supervision, so you need to be highly motivated, independent and organised to work efficiently.

Our offer

We can offer you a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged here in Sutton and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

We offer a modern and flexible working environment for our staff, allowing you to work flexibly from our offices in Carshalton, your office at Beddington Farmlands, whilst on the move and at home using Google Chromebooks, Apps and technology, which have acted as a key enabler for collaborative and streamlined working.

We also offer a huge variety of staff benefits including:

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Flexi-time & remote working
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Comprehensive learning and development programme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Local and national discounts for shopping, eating out and leisure activities
• Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme
• Childcare vouchers
• Subsidised gym membership

Grade 7 – £29,766 – £35,724 per annum (£37,842 unconsolidated maximum, achievable through performance-related progression)
Hours – Full-time, 36 hours per week
Fixed term contract – 25 years (terminating in 2044)
Location – Beddington Farmlands and London Borough of Sutton Offices, Carshalton

Interested?

Please apply online by completing our application form, ensuring you include a supporting statement outlining why you would be a great fit for this role, and what skills, experience knowledge you can bring. Please ensure you refer to the Role Profile when completing your supporting statement.

For an informal discussion on the position, please contact Senior Biodiversity Officer David Warburton on 020 8770 4203 or email david.warburton@sutton.gov.uk

Closing date for applications – 09/09/2019