Application Pack

Making a Buzz for the Coast

Project Manager

Advertised July 2017

Contents

  • Job Advert
  • About Bumblebee Conservation Trust
  • Making a Buzz for the Coast Project Information
  • Job description
  • Person specification
  • Summary of terms and conditions of employment
  • Recruitment and selection process
  • How to Apply
  • Application Form
  • Equal Opportunities Form

Job Advert

A unique opportunity to join a successful and growing conservation charity!
Making a Buzz for the Coast,
Project Manager
Salary £30,000per annum
35hours a week, 3 year fixed term
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT) is looking for a highly experienced project manager to lead this ambitious three-year projectto secure a future for the Kent coast’s wild bees.
With strong conservation and public engagement elements this position is an exciting and challenging role that would suit an individual with experience of managing complex partnership projects. The successful candidate will have strong teamwork and leadership skills, demonstrating an ability to motivate others.
As Project Manager you will be responsible for managing the £1.3million project budget, therefore a strong background in project finance and budgeting will be essential.
You will be self-motivated and enthusiastic, with excellent project management skills, the ability to think innovatively and work under pressure to meet deadlines. You will have strong communication skills and be able to engage a wide range of people including farmers, landowners, partner organisations and volunteers.
This position will be based from a new office which is currently being sourced in North Kent.
Please refer to the job description and person specification for more details of the role.
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For an application pack please visit our website:
bumblebeeconservation.org/vacancies/

Bumblebee Conservation Trust

Beta CentreStirling University Innovation ParkStirlingFK9 4NF

Tel: 01786 594133

Charity numbers: 1115634; SC042830
To discuss the post informally, please contact:
Sam Page, Conservation Manager
Tel. 07780 931114

Closing Date:

5pm, Sunday 20 August 2017
Interview date:
Thursday 7 September, North Kent
If possible the successful candidate for this role may be invited to participate in the interviews for the remaining project team members. These interviews are likely to take place during the weeks commencing 18th and 25th September.

About Bumblebee Conservation Trust

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is a UK-based national charity (England & Wales 1115634, Scotland SC042830) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (No. 05618710). The Trust was established in May 2006 in response to ongoing declines in many bumblebee species, due primarily to habitat loss through agricultural intensification. In the last 70 years two species have become nationally extinct whilst populations of several others have crashed dramatically. Over one third of social bumblebee species are now regarded as species of principal importance under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework. Bumblebees are ‘keystone’ pollinators, integral to our natural environment, and providing significant economic benefits through pollination of crops. We aim to help bumblebees and the habitats that they depend on through conservation and education. For more information about our work, visit our website

Making a Buzz for the Coast

Project Information

Making a Buzz for the Coast is an exciting and ambitious new project that will span 135 miles of Kent’s coastline from Dartford to Deal, and focus on restoring and creating habitat for Kent’s wild bees, especially the Shrill carder bee. Thanks to the generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, which has committed to funding 70% of the £1.3million project budget, and the support of a variety of other Charitable Trusts and supporters who are providing the match funding, this three-year project is now ready to start.

The project is divided into three themes:

1)Providing habitat - Provide habitat for Kent’s wild bees, with particular focus on priority species including the Shrill carder bee – the UK’s rarest and most threatened bumblebee species.

2)Understanding populations - Monitor bumblebee populations in order to guide our conservation work.

3)Engaging communities - Raise awareness about bumblebees and other pollinators, the benefits they provide and what can be done to help them, inspiring individual action.

Each of the three themes is then divided into seven interlinking strands:

Theme 1 – Providing habitat

Strand 1 - Habitat Works and Practical Conservation, will work with partners and volunteers on five sites to increase pollinator habitat on nature reserves, commercial and local authority land. Habitat works will include grassland restoration; sowing wildflowers to increase forage; adjustment of cutting and grazing regimes; rotational scrub management; and creation of solitary bee nest sites. We will install interpretation boards to raise awareness and knowledge of local bee species.

Strand 2 - Bee-Roads, will restore roadside verges in the borough of Swale into flower-rich habitats for priority bee species (and provide habitat connectivity as described above) through sensitive management. This strand will be led by Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT) in partnership with KCC Highways and Swale Borough Council, who have pledged long term commitment to maintaining the sites.

Strand 3 - Landowner Engagement and Advice, will target farmers and fruit producers, the Environment Agency (EA), and new audiences like holiday parks, golf courses and parish councils to help them restore and create bee-friendly habitat along the coast, working closely with Natural England. Farm days, workshops and specialist advice including management plans will be followed by ongoing support (regular site visits, monitoring). The Short-haired bumblebee project has shown us that this model of concentrated work at a landscape-scale is highly effective.

Theme 2 – Understanding populations

Strand 4 - Bee With Us, is the central hub of the project: the recruitment, training and supporting of volunteers, who will play a vital role in all seven work strands. Each project year, the project will host three trainee placements (following KWT’s highly successful model) for those pursuing a career in conservation: Conservation Trainee, Bumblebee Monitoring Trainee and Bee-Roads Trainee. Two Local Volunteer Coordinators will also be recruited, trained and supported in coordinating other volunteers’ activities. All volunteers will receive thorough induction and training. Opportunities for volunteers will be offered in every strand of work, so there will be something to appeal to everyone at every level of skill and knowledge.

Strand 5 - Skills for Bees, will recruit and train local volunteers to undertake regular bee surveys as part of BBCT's national recording scheme, BeeWalk, monitoring population densities of rare and common bumblebees along the coast. This strand will create experts in rare species, which BeeWalk does not currently do, through a staged training programme (beginners to advanced), a mentoring scheme and ongoing support to help volunteers and ensure all data are verified.

Theme 3 – Engaging communities

Strand 6 - Buzzing Communities, will enable local community groups, schools and businesses to learn about and take action for bees, raising awareness about their importance through guided walks, talks, competitions (schools, photography, art and poetry), exhibits, many other volunteer-led events and a quarterly e-newsletter. We will create a range of leaflets, display materials and activity sheets to inspire and inform people about Kent’s bees.

Strand 7 - Buzzing Gardens, will highlight the importance of gardens for bees and other pollinators and help schools, community groups, local businesses, councils and individuals to garden for bees. It will include events (e.g. bee-friendly gardening ‘clinics’ at community events; talks; open gardens); workshops (covering seed propagation, wildflower meadow creation, and including outreach workshops for garden centre employees); leaflets (‘bee friendly on a budget’; advanced gardening-for-bees information) and volunteer advisers providing bespoke garden advice. An annual Garden with Best Buzz competition will be held as part of KWT’s Wild About Gardens scheme, culminating in an exciting new ‘Neighbourhood with the Best Buzz’ competition in year 3. We will provide an online forum for people to share bee-friendly gardening tips and questions.

Our aim is to secure a future for the Kent coast’s wild bees in which they not just survive but thrive.

Making a Buzz for the Coast will do this by mobilising the people of Kent to take action to protect their wild bees; building a greater understanding of bee populations and creating habitats for some of our rarest bumblebees.

Job Description

Job Title: Making a Buzz for the Coast Project Manager

Reporting to: CEO and Conservation Manager

Responsible for:

  • Line management of two part-time Conservation Officers, a full-time Outreach and Volunteer Officer and a part-time Admin and Finance Officer.
  • The management of consultants and contractors appointed to support the project’s delivery.
  • Liaison with the KWT Connectivity Manager and the KWT Project Officers regarding Kent Wildlife Trust delivery of the related project outcomes.

Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week), based in the project office in North Kent (exact location to be confirmed). Fixed-term 3 year contract.

Job purpose:

  • The day to day management of all the work strands withinthe Making a Buzz for the Coast project - an ambitious natural heritage project focusing on Kent’s wild pollinator populations especially bumblebees and solitary bees, with minimal supervisory input.
  • Act as the main media spokesperson for the Making a Buzz for the Coast project.
  • Produce regular reports to the project steering group and funders on the project’s progress.

Main responsibilities:

Project Management

  • Ensure the project is resourced and implemented correctly to the satisfaction of BBCT and the funders, within budget and on time.
  • Management of the reporting process so that the project reflects both BBCT’s and the funders’ objectives in the presentation and reporting of the project.
  • Negotiation of acceptable costs and contract agreements with suppliers/ contractors/ consultants, in accordance with BBCT and funder guidelines.
  • Ensure clear communication channels exist between project partners and manage all steering group meetings.
  • Act as a main point of contact for HLF regarding project delivery, grant drawdowns and reporting.
  • Lead on the delivery of the project’s Conservation and Activity Plans.
  • Lead on the delivery of the project’s Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.
  • Produce a Making a Buzz for the Coast annual review.

Budgets

  • Manage and oversee the Making a Buzz for the Coast delivery budget.
  • Monitor expenditure in line with budget plans.
  • Schedule resources to ensure key activities are delivered on budget and on time.

General

  • Build on learning from the Trust’s highly successful Bees for Everyone project but focusing on Kent’s local needs, interests and opportunities.
  • Carry out your duties with regard to relevant legislation and BBCT’s policies and procedures including health and safety and fundraising regulations.
  • Undertake any other duties commensurate with the nature of the post as deemed appropriate and by agreement with the CEO.

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL
Qualifications & Experience
  • 3+ years of demonstrable experience of project management, ideally working independently and/or on a complex community project.
  • Experience of thevoluntary sector, including a good understanding of local charitable and voluntary organisations.
  • Understanding of project costing, finance, establishing project management systems, risk management principles and practices, health and safety.
  • Proven experience of partnership working.
Communication Skills
  • Able to communicate and negotiate effectively and efficiently with a wide range of audiences including funders, potential sponsors, local voluntary organisations, and the media.
  • Possess good presentation skills.
Teamwork
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and work with and report to a steering group.
  • Be understanding and responsive to the needs and wishes of individuals and community organisations.
Initiative and planning
  • Can plan, manage time effectively and work flexible hours.
  • Ability to prioritise, make decisions in complex areas with a restricted budget.
  • Experience of leading staff and teams and setting priorities and workplans.
  • Self-disciplined, motivated, organised, able to meet deadlines, work under pressure – shows real initiative.
IT Skills
  • Very confident with a range of ICT systems, software and equipment.
Personal skills
  • Can think innovatively and identify inventive and creative solutions to a range of problems.
  • Understands and can exploit the opportunities presented by new concepts and technologies.
Other
  • Personally motivated and able to motivate others.
  • Full driving licence.

DESIRABLE
  • Degree in an associated subject, eg; Business, Project Management, Ecology, Conservation.
  • Experience of project management in the 3rd sector and/or managing a partnership.
  • Experience of delivering heritage or wildlife conservation projects.
  • Knowledge of bumblebee ecology, conservation and bee-friendly gardening.
  • Bumblebee identification skills.
  • Fundraising experience.
  • Evidence that the candidate can contribute to the wider objectives of BBCT would be beneficial.

Summary of terms and conditions of employment

Terms and conditions: This is a full-time, three year fixed term post.

Salary: £30,000 per annum

Pension: This fixed term post is eligible for the BBCT pension scheme (7% Employer contribution).

Location: Based in the project office in North Kent (exact location to be confirmed).

Hours of work:The post holder will be employed full-time for 35hours per week. Some overtime work may be required and a flexitime system is in place.

Annual leave:Annual entitlement of 35 days (on a pro rata basis for part-time staff) inclusive of Bank/Public Holidays.

Policies and procedures: We have policies designed to ensure the safety and well-being of both workers and volunteers e.g.health and safety, lone working.

Recruitment and Selection Process

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer. This means that when carrying out our work and in the employment of staff to undertake this work, we will seek to ensure equality of treatment for all persons regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, marital status, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or economic status.

Pre-employment checks:

We will require a minimum of two appropriate references and will check original documents proving your qualifications, identity, and right to live and work in the UK before you can start work with us.

You will be asked to provide details of any unspent criminal convictions.

References:

Referees should be your present and last employer. They should have had either managerial or supervisory responsibility for your work, and not be colleagues, subordinates or friends. Where appropriate (i.e. when this is your first employment), a tutor’s reference and a personal reference or similar will be acceptable.

Referees will be provided with a copy of the job description and person specification for the vacancy.

BBCT will only approach your referees once an offer of employment has been made.

How we use your personal information:

The information which we gather from you during the recruitment and selection process is retained and processed in accordance with the provisions set out by the Data Protection Act1998 (DPA).

Please note that by submitting an application for employment, you are also agreeing to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust processing such information as may be necessary to assess your application, provided that proper regard is had to the data protection principles in force.

If your application is successful, the information you provide will be retained and will form part of your personnel file. If you are not offered work with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, all documentation related to your application will normally be confidentially destroyed after a period of six months.

How to Apply

If you are interested in joining us, please complete the application form belowand return by email o later than 5pm, Sunday 20 August.

In order to ensure that all applicants are assessed equally and fairly, applications will only be accepted on the form provided. Please do not send CVs.

Interviews are expected to take place on Thursday 077 September in North Kent.

Application Form

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL

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Detail how your knowledge, skills and experience will enable you to fulfil the requirements of the post. Please refer to the job description and person specification when completing this section. You can also include details of any voluntary activities or interests, as well as any other relevant information you would like us to consider in support of your application.
PLEASE DO NOT EXCEED 2 SIDES OF A4 IN LENGTH.
REFERENCES
Please give details of TWO people who can confirm your suitability for this role. This should include your present/most recent employer and they must not be related to you in any personal capacity (e.g. friends or family members). We will only approach referees if you are offered the post.
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  • I accept that if any of the enclosed information is found to be untrue after my appointment, I may be liable for dismissal without notice.
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Please also complete and return the separate Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form below.