Rutland Water Nature Reserve
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Thank you for your enquiry about this post.
The following information for the post is attached:
1. A job description and person specification
2. Key terms and conditions of employment
3. Background information
Application is by CV with a full covering letter and must be returned either:
By post -
Becky Corby
Development Officer
Rutland Water Nature Reserve
Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre
Egleton
Oakham
Rutland LE15 8BT
By email –
Closing date is Sunday 1st March 2015.
Candidates wanting an informal chat about the post can arrange this via Becky Corby at the above email address.
We will acknowledge receipt of applications sent by email. If you apply by post and wish us to confirm that your application has arrived, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope, marked “Application arrived”.
Shortlisting will take place in the week after the closing date and interviews will be held at Rutland Water Nature Reserve on Friday 13th March 2015.
If you apply but do not hear from us by Wednesday 11th March you should assume that you have not been short listed.
Yours sincerely
Becky Corby
Development Officer
(Tel. 01572 653025)
Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust
Rutland Water Nature Reserve
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job title Volunteer Co-ordinator
Responsible to: Rutland Water Nature Reserve Manager
Purpose of post: To co-ordinate volunteer engagement, deployment, support, training and development at Rutland Water Nature Reserve (RWNR) and manage the effective day-to-day running of the new Volunteer Training Centre, thereby enabling more people to connect with and enjoy the wonderful natural heritage of Rutland Water and other nearby nature reserves
Main responsibilities of the post:
· Acting as first point of contact for volunteering at Rutland Water Nature Reserve
· Recruiting new volunteers and dealing with volunteering enquiries
· Working closely with the Development Officer to
- promote and publicise an expanded and enhanced range of volunteering opportunities at Rutland Water
- engage with new volunteer audiences of all ages, backgrounds and abilities and develop innovative and imaginative opportunities for volunteer access, involvement and activities – including targeted outreach to schools, young people and students, special needs groups, older volunteers and a wide range of other participants
· Assisting the RWNR, Rutland Osprey Project and Birdfair staff teams with volunteer rotas and keeping the volunteer database up to date and accurate
· Coordinating a varied programme of volunteer training and activities, including heritage and countryside skills, practical habitat management, wildlife monitoring, survey and recording
· Working with the RWNR, Rutland Osprey Project and Birdfair staff teams to deliver comprehensive and inclusive volunteer support and development
· Managing the efficient day-to-day running of the new Volunteer Training Centre to ensure it functions effectively and is a friendly space for volunteers
· Ensuring volunteering activities are carried out safely and in accordance with the Trust’s health and safety policy and guidelines
· Ensuring appropriate liaison and communication with Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust staff and Anglian Water staff plus other relevant organisations and bodies
· Liaising with the local community, visitors and other groups as required
· Attending the Volunteer Forum
· Giving guided tours / walks and talks to interested groups
· Assisting with promotion and delivery of events and activities at RWNR
· Any other duties reasonably required
Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust
Rutland Water Nature Reserve
Volunteer Co-ordinator
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
· Experience of working with volunteers including support, development and training
· Understanding of nature conservation, access and recreation and related health and safety issues
· Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office software
· Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal and able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people
· Excellent organisational skills, thorough and careful attention to detail
· Systematic, meticulous and quick worker, able to prioritise work, especially when under pressure and consistently deliver to a high standard
· Good team worker who is also able to use initiative, be self-motivating, flexible and innovative
· High level of commitment and enthusiasm for protecting and enhancing the natural environment
· Engaging representative for LRWT
· A friendly personality that puts people at their ease
· Sound judgment with a calm, confident and pragmatic approach
· Determination and tenacity to succeed and drive to continuously improve and develop
· A willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty
· A full, current driving licence
Desirable
· Experience of volunteering in the environment sector
· Experience of delivering a range of events and activities
· Knowledge of day to day operations on a large nature reserves including habitat management, visitor access, events and activities
· Experience of assisting with the running of a multi-purpose building
· Educated to degree level or equivalent
· Good all round natural history
· Experience of giving talks to large audiences
· Familiar with a range of social media platforms and competent in the use of Facebook and Twitter
· Familiar with WordPress web design
· Current First Aid certificate
Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust
Rutland Water Nature Reserve
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Key Terms and Conditions of Employment:
Employer: Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust
Place of work: Rutland Water Nature Reserve, Egleton, Oakham, Rutland LE15 8BT
Salary: Officer grade £19,787 - £21,435 pa
Length of contract: The post is offered on a three year fixed-term contract
Hours of work: 35 per week excluding lunch breaks, with flexible working to include evenings / weekends and out of hours cover. Payment for overtime worked in excess of the standard working week is not available, but time off in lieu may be taken by prior arrangement with line managers.
Leave: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days per year for full time employees plus statutory public holidays
Pension: The Trust operates a Stakeholder Pension Scheme and pays an employer contribution of up to 7% of gross salary contingent on a 50% matching contribution from the employee
Death in Service: Death in service cover is provided at three times annual salary
Training: A training budget is allocated to this post and on-the-job training will also be given.
Travel: A full, current driving licence is essential. Trust vehicles will be used, if available, otherwise the standard Trust mileage rate will be payable for the business use of the post holder’s private car.
Probation period: A probationary period of six months applies, during which new employees are expected to demonstrate their suitability for the post.
Equal opportunities: The Trust’s Equality and Diversity Policy is available on request. The requirements for outdoor work in areas with access difficulties should be borne in mind by applicants.
Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust
Rutland Water Nature Reserve
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Background information to the post
Rutland Water Nature Reserve (RWNR) is managed by Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust in partnership with Anglian Water and provides one of the most important wildfowl sanctuaries in Great Britain, regularly holding in excess of 20,000 waterfowl.
It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a European Special Protection Area and internationally recognised as a globally important wetland site (Ramsar).
RWNR occupies an area of land and shallow water running for 9 miles around the western end of Rutland Water was created in the 1970s with the construction of the reservoir. The overall size of the reserve has been expanded to approximately 1,000 acres with the completion of the major Rutland Water Habitats Project in February 2011. This involved the constructions of nine extensive new lagoons comprising shallow water, snaking islands and wet marginal habitats to provide optimum conditions for wildlife and ensure it is undisturbed by future water management of the reservoir.
The larger section of RWNR lies on the western shore, close to the village of Egleton. Here there is the Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre, 9 shallow lagoons, meadows and plantation woodland.
The Lyndon area of RWNR, on the south shore of the reservoir, comprise the Lyndon Visitor Centre, a narrow strip of meadows and shoreline, two large impounded lagoons as well as plantation and ancient woodland.
A highly committed team of over 350 volunteers are vital to the effective operations of activities at RWNR from practical nature conservation tasks, staffing the two visitor centres, wildlife monitoring and recording and helping stage Birdfair.
The Volunteer Training Centre Project is an exciting, ambitious and inspiring programme that will build on the impressive commitment of volunteers at Rutland Water Nature Reserve and greatly improve the range of volunteering opportunities, taking the overall volunteer experience to a whole new level.
A new Volunteer Training Centre is under construction and is due for completion in April 2015. It will provide a much needed facility, fit for purpose, to support and train volunteers and staff in heritage and countryside skills essential to protect and enhance Rutland Water, as well as other nearby nature reserves, and ensure they reach their full natural potential for both wildlife and people.
The Volunteer Training Centre will act as a hub to deliver a comprehensive programme of engagement with new volunteer audiences plus expansion and enhancement of volunteer involvement, training, development and support. It will enable the delivery of a wonderful range of learning and participation opportunities in the natural heritage of an internationally important wetland by significantly expanding and enhancing volunteer involvement in a variety of key ways.
A variety of events and activities take place at RWNR including regular walks, talks and courses.
RWNR is home to the successful Rutland Osprey Project enabling ospreys to breed again in central England for the first time in 150 years. Ospreys are regularly seen fishing over the reservoir from April – September and in 2014 there were five nests, fledging 11 chicks and bringing a total of 86 chicks fledged from Rutland nests since 2001.
The Birdfair takes place at Rutland Water Nature Reserve in August each year (dates for 2015 are Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd August). Described as the birdwatcher's Glastonbury, Birdfair is the world's first and largest international birdwatching event and encompasses the whole spectrum of the birdwatching industry whilst at the same time supporting global bird conservation. There are hundreds of stands selling the latest products for wildlife enthusiasts and a packed programme of lectures and events.
The following website will provide further information about Rutland Water Nature Reserve and the different activities that take place there:
Rutland Water Nature Reserve www.rutlandwater.org.uk
Rutland Osprey Project www.ospreys.org.uk
British Birdwatching Fair: www.birdfair.org.uk
For information on the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust see: www.lrwt.org.uk