Charnwood Forest Landscape Partnership Appointment of Charnwood Forest Development Manager
Charnwood Forest is England s unexpected uplands. Having been created in a volcanic eruption 600 million years ago in the oceans near the South Pole, Charnwood has developed rich layers of heritage. Its landscape is defined by granite-topped hills, wooded valleys, heathlands and grasslands. Its shaded lanes reveal Arts and Craft cottages, ancient monasteries and drystone walls. It is a surprising outpost of upland England in lowland Leicestershire. But, despite being on the doorstep of cities, towns and villages, its value and beauty are hidden from most communities and have been overlooked for protected status. This puts it at risk: if people are not passionate about Charnwood Forest, they will not understand its importance and, ultimately, the features that make it special risk being forgotten and lost. So the story of Charnwood needs to be told: celebrating its internationally important geology, connecting people to its history and securing its sustainable future.
Landscape Partnership Scheme To bring about a major change in how we protect, manage and celebrate the heritage of Charnwood Forest, the partners in the Charnwood Forest Regional Park submitted a bid to Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a Landscape Partnership Scheme. The Charnwood Forest Landscape Partnership Scheme will celebrate the area s internationally important volcanic legacy. It will enable and encourage people to explore its rich landscape and diverse heritage. It will provide deeper engagement for residents and visitors, while contributing to the local economy. It will co-ordinate management at a landscape-scale to make Charnwood s heritage more resilient to growing pressures. Most importantly, it will create a greater sense of local pride, inspiring communities to restore the character of this special place. For more information on the Landscape Partnership Scheme, refer to the project summary included in the recruitment pack. Bidding for a Landscape Partnership Scheme is a two-stage process. We submitted our Round 1 application in May 2017 and were delighted to receive a first round pass from HLF in October. We are now in a two-year Development Phase, during which we will undertake studies to provide key information and to work up the detail of how our projects will be delivered. All of this will contribute to the production of a Landscape Conservation Action Plan (LCAP), which will form the core of a Round 2 application. To do this, we need a dynamic Project Development Team to co-ordinate and drive the process. The team will consist of: z Charnwood Forest Development Manager (full-time) z Finance & Admin Officer (2 days per week)
Charnwood Forest Regional Park The Charnwood Forest Regional Park was established in 2012 to co-ordinate the protection and management of this important landscape. It has a wide range of stakeholders from local communities, businesses and landowners together with representatives of heritage groups, local authorities, arts groups, charities and government bodies. The partnership is led by the Charnwood Forest Regional Park Board, which is currently chaired by Charnwood Borough Council. The co-ordination of the Landscape Partnership Scheme (LPS) is being led by the National Forest Company, which will be hosting the new Development Team. Development of the LPS is being undertaken with financial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Leicestershire County Council, Charnwood Borough Council, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, North West Leicestershire District Council and Natural England. The work of the Development Team will be overseen by a Steering Group comprising delivery partners and stakeholders in the scheme, with contributions from a wide range of landowners, communities and organisations.
About the National Forest Company The Charnwood Forest Development Team will be hosted by the National Forest Company (NFC). Established by Government in April 1995, the NFC drives forward the creation of the National Forest initiative. It is a small, successful organisation that has recently secured charitable status, whilst also being an Arms Length Body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). With around 20 full time equivalent staff, a Chair and an eight-strong Board of Trustees, together with a wide range of delivery partners, the NFC is well placed to shape the next stage of the National Forest s development. Our approach is based on collaboration; to support and enable our partners to deliver the Forest, including landowners, businesses, public, private and voluntary organisations, as well as local communities. The Company has an annual budget of around 3 million and a dynamic, multifunctional team to drive forward the Forest s environmental, social and economic aims. The National Forest Company operates by: z Leading and championing a shared vision for the Forest with all our partners z Enabling others through advice, facilitation, demonstration and sharing of practice z Investing directly through grant giving, income generation and levering other support z Demonstrating new ways of working through policy, evidence, research and innovation z Promoting success through marketing, advocacy and communications For more information please visit: www.nationalforest.org/about_us
Job Description IDENTIFICATION OF JOB Job title: Charnwood Forest Development Manager Function: Operations Team Responsible to: Head of Landscape, Biodiversity & Recreation Responsible for: Charnwood Forest Finance & Admin Officer Volunteers OVERALL PURPOSE OF JOB To manage the development of a Round 2 Landscape Partnership Scheme submission to Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) on behalf of the Charnwood Forest Regional Park. The post-holder will build on previous work, in particular work leading up to the Round 1 submission, to develop a high quality, well-supported Landscape Partnership Delivery Phase application to HLF. The post-holder will work with specialist and technical staff across the National Forest Company and other partner organisations. The role will include close liaison with local community groups and specialist interest groups operating within the Scheme area.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES Coordination of partners a) To co-ordinate and provide secretariat functions to the Charnwood Forest Regional Park s Landscape Partnership Steering Group. b) To liaise with and report to the Charnwood Forest Regional Park Board, as required. c) To engage with the Regional Park s three Working Groups and establish any new working groups as required to ensure engagement with the application process. d) To work with the relevant organisations and groups to confirm the partnership agreement and governance for the delivery phase of the Landscape Partnership Scheme and its legacy. e) To engage with stakeholders and grow the list of interested parties engaged with the Landscape Partnership Scheme. f) Work with NFC Team and partners to ensure the Landscape Partnership Scheme is widely publicised and meets the requirements of the NFC, Regional Park partners and the HLF. Development of the Round 2 application g) To lead on the production of a Landscape Conservation Action Plan (LCAP) as the principle document for the Round 2 submission. h) To work with partners to develop fully detailed, action planned and costed projects. i) To project manage the Development Phase including monitoring of progress, reporting and risk.
j) To manage the budget for the Development Phase and produce a detailed budget for the Delivery Phase of the Landscape Partnership Scheme. k) To identify and confirm potential sources of match funding, in-kind and other support for the Round 2 application. l) To work with the Finance & Admin Officer (and other NFC colleagues) to ensure all HLF claims are submitted accurately and on time, with additional documentation and evidence provided as required. m) To liaise with HLF to facilitate advice, feedback and support for the application. Staff and Contract management n) To line manage the Finance & Admin Officer and co-ordinate their work alongside that of external consultants to ensure resources are used efficiently and effectively. o) To review and let a series of contracts, and co-ordinate and supervise contractors to ensure delivery of their objectives required to input into the LCAP and Round 2 application. p) To ensure services are procured appropriately and in accordance with NFC and HLF guidelines. q) To help to recruit, support and manage a small number of volunteers to assist with appropriate work required for the Development Phase as required.
PERSON SPECIFICATION The following person specification should be used as a guide when applying for the post. This will be used to help shortlist applicants and assess candidates at interview, supporting us to find the person who is the best fit for the post. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE z A relevant professional qualification. Desirable z Or equivalent experiences gained within an environmental, heritage, funding or similar role. Essential z Track record of developing and securing funding, with specific experience of the Heritage Lottery Fund. Desirable z Experience of developing and co-ordinating partnership projects. Essential z Experience of project planning and management, including budgets. Essential z Experience of liaison with a wide range of partners including community groups. Essential z Experience of contract management. Essential KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS z Knowledge of environment and heritage issues. Desirable z A good understanding of fundraising issues and in particular of requirements for the Heritage Lottery Fund. Essential z Word processing, spreadsheets, project management and other IT applications. Essential z Excellent inter-personal and oral communication skills. Essential z Excellent written communication skills, especially as it relates to bid writing and the presentation of clear and compelling arguments for partnerships, projects and funding. Essential z Ability to relate to and liaise effectively with a wide range of people. Essential z Efficient administration and project management skills, including ability to prioritise workloads and meet tight deadlines. Essential z Research and analytical skills for bid development. Desirable z Team working skills. Essential z Negotiation skills. Desirable BEHAVIOURS z High level of enthusiasm, self-motivation and initiative. Essential z Flexible and positive outlook. Desirable z Ability to work individually and as part of a team. Desirable z Commitment to environmental issues. Desirable z Commitment to equal opportunities. Essential
JOB SPECIFICATION Hours This is a full-time post, 5 days per week for a fixed term from April 2018 to 30 September 2019. The contracted hours are 37 hours per week (excluding lunch breaks). The normal office hours are 9.00 to 5.30 Monday to Thursday and 9.00 to 5.00 on Friday with an hour for lunch. The post-holder will be required to work occasional evenings and weekends for which time off in lieu will be given. Although this contract is for a fixed term, a comparable post of Project Manager will be created as part of the Delivery Phase of the Landscape Partnership Scheme. It is hoped that recruitment for this post will begin in late 2019/early 2020. Remuneration The salary for this post is based on the company s Senior Executive Officer Grade which has a full-time salary range of 34,840 to 40,200. A retention payment of 1,000 will be made for completion of the full length of the contract. Annual leave Full time employees are entitled to 30 days paid leave, together with the usual Bank Holidays plus a further 2½ days privilege leave. Travel It will be necessary to travel to various rural locations throughout the Forest to fulfil this role. Due to the limitations of public transport, the postholder will need to have access to a car for work purposes. The NFC will reimburse mileage, currently at the rate of 45p per mile.
Policies and procedures All staff are required to abide by organisational policies and procedures and to contribute to the smooth administration of the National Forest Company. This includes promoting and acting as an ambassador for the National Forest. The Appointment The appointment will be subject to the satisfactory completion of a probationary period of at least two months. Terms and Conditions z Benefits include access to a public sector pension scheme. z You should be a British or Commonwealth citizen (as defined in the British Nationality Act 1981), a national of a state within a European Economic Area or a British protected person. There must be no employment restriction, nor any time limit on your permitted stay in the United Kingdom. Place of work The principal place of work for the post will be at the NFC Offices, Enterprise Glade, Bath Yard, Moira DE12 6BA
How to Apply If you are interested in being considered for the role, please download and complete the application form which is available on our website: www.nationalforest.org/about_us/employ/ Please also ensure you have completed and submitted the equal opportunities monitoring form. The information on the form will be treated as confidential, and used for statistical purposes only. The form will not be treated as part of your application. The closing date for applications is noon on Friday 16 February 2018. Applications should be sent to: Angela Beech National Forest Company Bath Yard Moira Swadlincote Derbyshire DE12 6BA Envelopes should be marked CONFIDENTIAL CFDM 01/18. Alternatively, you may email your application to abeech@nationalforest.org. Please use the subject header CONFIDENTIAL CFDM 01/18. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview at the NFC offices in the week commencing Monday 26 February 2018. Equal Opportunities The NFC is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. Produced on behalf of the Charnwood Forest Regional Park partnership by: National Forest Company Bath Yard Moira Swadlincote Derbyshire DE12 6BA 01283 551211 enquiries@nationalforest.org nationalforest.org The National Forest Company is a company limited by guarantee (registered no. 2991970) and a registered charity (registered no. 1166563).