JOB APPLICATION PACK Conservation Officer

1. About Cheshire Wildlife Trust JOB APPLICATION PACK Conservation Officer Cheshire Wildlife Trust is a member of The Wildlife Trusts, which comprises 47 individual independent charitable organisations and the charity through which they are uniquely affiliated, the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. What we do Formed in 1962, the Trust now manages 45 nature reserves, supported by more than 12,000 members and partners. Our nature reserves provide for wildlife and people. We also work to promote conservation in the wider countryside through Local Wildlife Sites, Conservation Grazing and our Living Landscape initiative. We engage actively with our members, local communities and wider general public through our publications, website and events programme. Nearly 300 volunteers help us deliver our objectives through such tasks as reserve management, carrying out surveys, helping in the office and running local groups. The Trust is active in all parts of Cheshire and the neighbouring boroughs of the Wirral, Warrington, Halton, and Stockport. Who we are Cheshire Wildlife Trust including its subsidiary, Cheshire Ecological Services, is a small and friendly organisation employing around 40 staff supported by a large number of volunteers, trainees and interns. Governed by a board of Trustees, the Trust staff comprises of a Chief Executive Officer managing the departments of Finance and Administration, Fundraising, People and Wildlife, and Conservation. The Trust culture and working environment The people who work for CWT are passionate about the natural environment and local wildlife conservation. We have a highly motivated and committed team who are driven to succeed and we believe that our staff thrive best in a culture of creative freedom with a strategic framework. Many staff are involved in Trust activities outside of their duties such as occasional volunteering to help with a wildlife survey or helping run a weekend/evening event. Our headquarters at Bickley Hall Farm are set in the Cheshire countryside on a working farm managed by the Trust as part of its Conservation Grazing project. The farmhouse provides our office space with fantastic views and the opportunity to walk around the farm in your free time. Our offices are in a rural location, not serviced by public transport. If you do not currently live within commuting distance of our offices you will need to be prepared to relocate to a location within reasonable travelling distance such as Chester, the Wirral, Crewe, Northwich, Wrexham or Shrewsbury. 1

JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Team: Duration: Responsible to: Responsible for: Working Base: Salary: Conservation Officer Conservation Permanent full-time Ecology and Planning Officer Volunteers Bickley Hall Farm, Bickley, Cheshire SY14 8EF 16-20k + benefits (depending on experience) OVERALL PURPOSE OF JOB Main role: To safeguard and enhance Cheshire s ecological networks by identifying and assessing wildlife sites, providing management advice and negotiating the best outcomes for wildlife as part of the planning process. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES Providing management advice (30%) Assist in developing Cheshire Wildlife Trust wildlife advisory service (including writing management plans) for community groups, local authorities and the private sector. This may include surveying Local Wildlife Sites against selection criteria (non-sla work). Provide/complete written management plans for a small number of sites as part of the Service Level Agreements for Halton and Warrington. Provide annual monitoring reports on management plan implementation where agreed in the Service Level Agreement for Halton Borough Council. Provide concise management recommendations for all Local Wildlife Site reports including those surveyed by volunteers. Provide support to Local Wildlife Site owners/managers in implementing management advice and signpost landowners to sources of external funding to secure positive management of Local Wildlife Sites. Negotiating positive outcomes for wildlife in the planning system (30%) Assist in providing clear, concise and timely advice to Local Authorities (in particular Halton Borough Council) regarding planning applications which potentially affect Local Wildlife Sites, UK BAP habitat or protected species. Ensure advice is in line with relevant wildlife legislation, local and national planning policies. Identify threats and opportunities for wildlife across the region. Advise on opportunities for mitigation and compensation as part of the development control process. Assist the Ecology and Planning Officer in developing Cheshire Wildlife Trust s responses to national and local policies affecting conservation to get positive outcomes for wildlife. Ensure requests for advice from Halton Borough Council are dealt with promptly and professionally and maintain accurate records of all consultations and responses provided. Lead on the Local Wildlife Sites survey effort and support/train volunteer surveyors (30%) Lead and motivate a team of volunteer surveyors providing mentoring, training and support. Undertake Local Wildlife Site surveys and write reports as part of Service Level Agreements (SLAs currently only for Halton and Warrington Borough Councils). Provide landowner liaison including securing site access. 2

Ensure all surveyors are provided with the documentation required to complete the surveys. Ensure all surveyors have training in health and safety issues. Assist with the prioritisation of sites for survey. Assist with the identification and assessment of potential Local Wildlife Sites (Alert Sites). Assist with arranging annual Local Wildlife Site partnership review meetings. Assess all newly surveyed sites against the selection criteria working towards an evidence base less than 10 years old. Assess all newly surveyed sites against the government s Single Data List Reference 160-00 Local Nature Conservation/Biodiversity Organise a minimum of 4 meetings per year in different areas of the region to support and train volunteers. Maintain an up to date list of volunteers and record their activity on a yearly basis. Maintain regular communication with all the volunteers providing ongoing support and information related to training opportunities both internal and external. Contribute to the effective management of the Local Wildlife Site system (10%) Work closely with the Ecology and Planning Officer, office based volunteers, Record and Local Authority contacts to ensure the efficient delivery of the Local Wildlife Site system and that Service Level Agreements with Local Authorities are delivered on time to agreed targets. Manage LWS database to include all relevant information. Collate and digitise reports and maps. Supervise office based volunteers to assist with this task. Assess all newly surveyed sites against LWS selection criteria. Present findings of surveys to the Local Wildlife Sites Review Panel meetings. Assisted by the office based volunteers contact landowners and disseminate survey data (including historic data and management advice) and citations. Provide landowner information and thank you letters. Assisted by the GIS and data analyst and office based volunteers create/maintain a GIS layer for potential/alert Local Wildlife Sites. This will help inform future survey work and contribute to the identification of ecological networks. Assist with the promotion of Local Wildlife Sites through communication activity such as writing articles for members magazines and website. The post holder will be expected to adopt a flexible approach and be willing to attend occasional meetings outside of normal working hours for which Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) will be available. Additionally the post holder will be expected to carry out any other varied duties that may be required, appropriate to the grade and nature of the post. The Trust has the right to amend the job description in consultation with the post holder to reflect changes in or to the job. 3

JOB SPECIFICATION (This section details the role requirements in terms of management, accountability, impact, independence, contacts and creativity, in addition to describing the working environment.) 1. Management and Supervision Working with other staff members across the Trust. Responsible for providing regular guidance/ management for volunteers and trainees. Working in partnership with officers from Statutory Agencies, Local Authorities and other third sector organisations. 2. Accountability and Resources Responsible for keeping up to date records. Responsible for delivering against an agreed work programme to achieve Service Level Agreement and Business Plan targets. Responsible for producing formal consultation responses and writing reports within a set framework to a high standard. Responsible for meeting deadlines agreed with your line manager 3. Job Impact Key member of the Conservation Team. Responsible for delivering work which contributes to Cheshire Wildlife Trusts s Conservation strategy. Ambassador for Cheshire Wildlife Trust whilst delivering activities, responding to consultations, attending meetings; responsible for upholding the Trust s reputation, image and level of service. In order for the organisation to work effectively, you may be required to assist other areas of work and therefore you should be prepared to undertake other duties appropriate to the post as delegated by your line manager. 4. Independence and Judgement Overall supervision is provided but you will often be working alone and sometimes in collaboration with others. Expected to work closely with the Ecology and Planning Officer and Director of Conservation and liaise widely with other staff, stakeholders, volunteers and members. Responsible for managing your own time and work load on a day-day basis. The post holder will receive support and strategic direction from the Ecology and Planning Officer and Director of Conservation as required. The post holder is responsible for transferring this direction into action required to deliver targets agreed within their work programme. The post-holder is expected to act with independent judgement to resolve day to day issues. 5. People and Contacts Regular contact with volunteers and other staff within CWT. Contact with strategic partners, particularly Local Authority Officers when required. Will work with staff at all levels within CWT including the Chief Executive and members of the board of Trustees. Day to day contact with volunteers and other staff within CWT. Contact with managers and owners of Local Wildlife Sites. 4

6. Creativity and Innovation A need to be versatile and flexible, able to adapt to a variety of daily challenges and sometimes last minutes changes to planned work. Confident and able to challenge current thinking to improve ways of working. 7. Working Conditions Salary: 16-20k depending upon experience This is permanent position, subject to completion of a satisfactory probation period of 6 months. This is a full-time (35 hours) post. Time off in lieu can be accrued for hours worked over and above 35 hrs per week. Holiday entitlement will be 31 days per year pro rata (including 8 public and privilege days). All staff are currently based at CWT headquarters at Bickley Hall Farm. However you will be required to travel throughout Cheshire. CWT operates an employee pension scheme which the post holder will be eligible to join. The post-holder will need to be able to drive and have access to their own transport, for which a mileage allowance will be paid. The post-holder will need to have a reasonable level of fitness and mobility and be able to spend some time outside, sometimes on difficult terrain. 5

PERSON SPECIFICATION JOB TITLE - Conservation Officer TEAM - Conservation Conservation Officer Knowledge Essential Desirable A conservation related degree or working towards equivalent qualification An understanding of habitat management issues An understanding of UK BAP habitats and species A broad understanding of farming and environmental stewardship An understanding of the planning system and legislation pertaining to wildlife (gained through environmental consultancy work or similar) Good botanical identification skills Good general species identification skills (particularly birds and invertebrates) Experience Experience of working with landowners Experience of training, mentoring and coordinating volunteers Experience of habitat management work or provision of habitat management advice for wildlife conservation purposes. Experience of writing habitat management plans Experience at using word, excel Experience of using GIS systems Phase 1 habitat survey experience Extended phase 1 (ecological appraisal ) experience NVC survey experience Protected species survey including report writing (ideally gained through environmental consultancy work or similar) Skills Excellent skills to motivate, support and coordinate volunteers Good organisational skills Time management skills and an ability to prioritise work to meet deadlines Ability to work independently and adopt a flexible approach Ability to deal with difficult situations with tact and diplomacy Excellent communication skills both written and oral Able to negotiate positive outcomes for wildlife with tact and diplomacy Personal Ability to work as part of a small team High level of self-motivation and enthusiasm Ability to work independently and through own initiative A clean driving licence and own vehicle available for business use 6