Department: / CVLLP
Responsible to: / Churnet Valley Living Landscape Partnership Manager
Responsible for: / CVLLP Veteran Tree Project & Volunteer Group
Salary: / £22,119
Hours: / Full Time 35hours per week
Tenure: / 2 year fixed term contract.
Background information
The Churnet Valley is one of the most biodiverse and culturally rich areas in Staffordshire.
Over the last five years, theChurnet Valley Living Landscape Partnership (CVLLP), funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), has worked to conserve and enhance the valley’s unique landscape, wildlife and heritage.
The Partnership’s vision is:“To ensure that the Churnet Valley is maintained as a high quality landscape treasured by the communities who live and work in the area and visitors to it, whilst recognising that all who benefit from this special place share a responsibility for its guardianship.”
In 2012 the Partnership was awarded a Heritage Lottery Grant of just under £2m to deliver a wide range of partnership projects throughout the Churnet Valley. This stage was completed at the end of 2016.
Currently the Partnership, made up of 20 partners and funded by HLF, is managing a transition budget to deliver ongoing projects on the ground as well as to secure additional funding for future work. Current HLF funding runs until the end of March 2018.
Job Purpose:
The Practical Project Officer will be employed by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, the lead partner and accountable body for the current HLF-funded work programme, to carry out a range of projects in the Churnet Valley Living Landscape.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and manage the delivery of a Veteran Tree Project to: highlight the ecological importance of veteran trees, improve the health of veteran trees, and improve the habitat around them.
- Develop collaborative working with a range of partners, including land owners and volunteers, to survey veteran trees and deliver project objectives.
- Survey veteran trees and determine project pilot area and, through landowner agreement, deliver veteran tree monitoring and management.
- Be responsible for the supervision and training of a well established group of volunteers to help them undertake a range of practical tasks for CVLLP projects, including contracted work, involving determining agreements with private landowners, grant applications, tender for contracted works, job specifications and timescales, and licences/permissions.
- Manage workshop facilities; maintenance of powered machinery; hand tools and vehicles.
Person Specification
Job Title: Churnet Valley Living Landscape Partnership (CVLLP) Practical Project Officer
Criteria / Essential / Desirable / Assessment Method *Qualifications
- HND or similar in countryside management
- CS 30/31 Chainsaw Operator
- CS38/39 Ariel Rescue & Free fall cutting
- Full driving licence
- Driving licence categories B, D1 and E (i.e. ability to drive a minibus and trailer). Off Road & ATV
Experience
- Demonstrable experience of managing volunteersundertaking practical conservation tasks
- Experience of project delivery
- Previous experience of contract specification, tender and delivery
- Provennegotiation and communication skills
- Supervision of contractors & CDM compliance
- Experienced in a wide range of practical estate and habitat management work.
Skills/knowledge
- Supervising and leading practical work parties
- Volunteer recruitment and management
- Use and maintenance of power tools
- Knowledge of Health and Safety legislation and its application
- Excellent leadership skills
- Knowledge of veteran tree habitats & management techniques
- A broad knowledge of natural history
Personal Qualities
- Confidence and an ability to deal with difficult situations.
- Able to work on own initiative and flexible to work as part of a team
- Able to motivate others and retain a high level of self-motivation
- Assertive, with an ability to demonstrate an authoritative approach if required
- Physically fit
- Positive, enthusiastic attitude
The job will from time to time involve evening work and weekend work. The post holder must be prepared to undertake manual work in all weather.
The post holder will be required to provide cover and support for other CVLLP staff andin order for the partnership to work effectively, you may be required to assist with other areas of work and therefore you should be prepared to undertake other duties, appropriate to the post, as delegated by your line manager. All staff of CVLLP are required to abide by the organisational policies and procedures of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and maintain an appropriate level of confidentiality.
*
- I = interview
- QC = qualification certificate
- AF = application form
- T = test or assessment
- P = presentation
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