Closing Date: 9th October 2022
Interview Date: 19th October 2022
Accountable to: Tame Valley Wetlands Manager
Liaison with: Landowners, partnership organisations, local communities and contractors
Salary: Grade 2a £17,465 – £24,450
Hours: Volunteers, contractors, Full-time 35 hours per week.
Contract type: Permanent
Location: This role is contracted Hams Hall Environmental Centre, Coleshill. It follows the agile working framework, which guides all roles at the Trust (i.e. a balance of office, site & home working where appropriate to the role). It also includes regular travel across county.

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Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WWT) is embarking on an ambitious new ten-year strategy. By 2030 we want to have put wildlife into recovery by creating more space for nature with more people on nature’s side. The Tame Valley Wetlands epitomises this approach. It is a landscape partnership project led by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust with over 20 partners, including local, regional and national bodies such as the Environment Agency, Natural England, Parish, Borough and County Councils, the RSPB and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. Over the last decade it has pioneered the landscape approach to river restoration, delivering a huge range of projects that have invested millions of pounds to support project outcomes across a range of river catchments in west-Warwickshire. It is central to our ambitions for nature’s recovery in Warwickshire.

We’re looking for someone new to join that team. Are you the outstanding candidate we’re looking for to continue this exciting work? Are you passionate about nature and wanting a new challenge? The role includes hybrid working with the option of working flexibly from WWT offices, from home and outdoors with our agile working policy.

Job Purpose

This role supports the Trust’s 2030 strategic objectives of making more space for nature, with more people on nature’s side. The restoration of rivers and their catchments is critical to nature’s recovery and this post is a key member of the team that will develop and deliver pioneering and transformational projects with landowners and partners across the Tame Valley Wetlands Landscape Partnership Area.

Key Responsibilities

Project development and delivery

1. Support with the delivery of a range of river and catchment related work that enables our ambition to create a Wilder Warwickshire through river catchment scale habitat rehabilitation.
2. Liaise with project partners and stakeholders including Environment Agency, Local Authorities, Parish Councils, Severn Trent to ensure they are kept informed and engaged of planned activity.
3. Support with the provision of materials, resources and equipment required for practical projects in accordance with the agreed budgets.
   1. Support with identifying the best means to fulfil projects involving trainee, volunteers, contractors, corporate groups and other organisations as appropriate.

Surveys, monitoring and mapping

1. Support with the organisation and implementation of targeted surveys of habitats (e.g. Rivers, wetland, watercourses and ponds.)
2. Support with identifying sections of river and areas of their catchment for practical restoration and enhancement work.
3. Support with the implementation on site specialist surveys. Including restoration opportunity mapping, species surveys, water level monitoring, water quality monitoring, and to involve consultants and volunteers when appropriate.
4. Produce reports on survey work fulfilled, giving analysis of results and implications.
5. Utilise GIS to map, record and analyse survey results and project delivery. Ensure data is shared with the Biological Records Centre, LBAP and relevant regional and national initiatives.

Landowner and tenant liaison

1. Ensure clear communication with landowners and land managers regarding development and implementation of projects. This will at times require negotiation and advisory communication.
2. With the support of the Tame Valley Wetlands Manager and Senior Catchment Restoration Officer, develop further projects for future phases of work and the evidence base for funding bids.
3. Support meetings, training sessions and demonstration events for landowners.

 Management and development of volunteers

1. Recruit, involve, train and lead volunteers.
2. Help to organise and deliver a programme of volunteer practical tasks as part of project delivery.
3. Work with local communities as part of our Team Wilder approach supporting the delivery of our rivers and catchment related work.
4. Implement the Trust’s system for volunteer management and support.

Financial reporting and communication

1. Report project progress to Tame Valley Wetlands Manager, TVW team, delivery partners and funders as required.
2. Input into project budgets, obtaining quotes to assess value for money.  Record and track expenditure against project budgets with the support of the Tame Valley Wetlands Manager.
3. Support other colleagues by gathering evidence that strengthens funding applications for future project work.
4. Support with writing text and develop designs for interpretation materials including leaflets and information boards. Promote projects at open days and events.
5. Record and report outputs, outcomes and measures of the projects undertaken, to meet funding and monitoring requirements, including Catchment reporting.

General Responsibilities

1. Promote the work, mission and vision of the Trust at all times.
2. Use every opportunity commensurate with other duties to contribute to the Trust’s membership recruitment, fundraising and engagement of people.
3. Ensure a high level of customer service in all dealings with the public.
4. Ensure continuous development of skills and knowledge required for the post, undergoing training and performance review as required by the Trust.
5. Work within all the policies and procedures of the Trust, ensuring own compliance with the Trust’s health and safety policies and procedures and that of any resources for whom you are responsible.
6. Work at all times within the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy and to promote equal opportunities.
7. Comply with all legal and contractual obligations concerning the responsibilities of your post.
8. Carry out any other reasonable duties commensurate with the level of responsibility of the post, as requested by the Chief Executive.

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• Leading a range of practical restoration management techniques
• Project management
• Working with landowners and volunteers
• Working collaboratively in partnerships
• Fulfilling health and safety requirements for land management operations, survey work and volunteers

Desirable Experience

• Undertaking practical habitat surveys and condition monitoring
• Negotiation and management of contracts
• Supervision of contractors
• Writing grant applications to secure match funding

Essential Knowledge

• Relevant professional knowledge in river and catchment restoration
• Understanding of river related issues
• Understanding of the volunteer ethos and motivation

Desirable Knowledge

• Good understanding of Health and Safety issues and regulations, including site, activity and people Risk Assessments, CDM, CoSHH and PUWER Regs
• Understanding of environmental legislation relating to rivers and their catchments
• Knowledge of the county’s river and wetlands systems
• Understanding of externally funded projects

Essential Skills

• Skilled in use of analytical and decision making processes
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including delivery of presentations, interpretation and report writing
• Good organisational, planning, time management and prioritising skills
• Ability to build effective working relationships with a range of contacts
• Full clean UK driving licence/ able to travel throughout the sub region
• Surveying such as NFM opportunity mapping, river MoRPH, species surveys

Desirable Skills

• Ability to manage, track and report on budget expenditure to deadline
• First Aid at Work certificate or Emergency First Aid
• Good negotiating and contract management skills
• IT literate with good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and GIS

Essential Personal Qualities

• Innovative and enthusiastic
• Ability to work efficiently
• Ability to be proactive and organise own workload
• Flexibility and adaptable
• Mature and responsible outlook 
• Determination to succeed
• Eager to learn
• Good listener and patient

Benefits:

• Employers’ pension contribution up to 6% (with 4.5% from employee)
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Access to Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Death in service benefit equivalent to 3x salary