Biology LTV

Introduction

With over 35 years experience, CAT is dedicated to informing, inspiring and enabling in the field of sustainability through a diverse range of activities. The Centre offers information and education and has a visitor and conference centre. We attract around 60,000 people a year and employ more than 100 dedicated and creative staff.

Based in beautiful mid-Wales, the Centre overlooks the Snowdonia National park, renowned for its stunning scenery and outdoor activities. Within easy reach of the local beaches and University town of Aberystwyth, Machynlleth has a vibrant local community, has a lively arts and music scene and is a great place for families.

About the LTV Scheme

Volunteers are extremely important to the work at CAT and the achievements over the last 30 years simply wouldn't have happened without the hard work, inspiration and dedication of the initial idealists who founded the centre in 1975.

Long Term Volunteers (LTV’s) come every March and September to work full time for 6 months in various departments across CAT.  Whilst gaining hands-on valuable work experience and learning more about sustainability during their unpaid placement, individuals make a valuable contribution to the work of CAT which is highly appreciated.

LTV’s find accommodation locally and need to be completely self funding.  Anyone is welcome to apply but you must be over 18 years old. 

Interested individuals should consider the different roles and apply for these unpaid placements by filling in our application form or alternatively sending a CV and a thorough covering letter explaining your motivation for volunteering, why you would be suitable for the role and any information that could be useful in your application.  Please clearly state which role you are applying for.  You are welcome to apply for more than one position but please indicate this in your application and explain, for each role, why you would like to do this role. 

Please see www.cat.org.uk/jobs for details of each of the roles and www.cat.org.uk/volunteers for more information about the LTV scheme.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us, 01654 705955, vacancy@cat.org.uk  

About the Biology department

The Biology Department is responsible for the management of the water and natural resources at CAT. This includes the main CAT site, and our 15 acre woodland study site ‘Coed Gwern’. Some of the main subjects covered by the Biology Department are;

Sand filters and water purification,

Ecosan and Compost toilets

Constructed wetlands including reedbeds for sewage treatment

Rainwater-harvesting systems

Composting research

Woodland management for economic, social and ecological benefit e.g felling, coppicing, charcoal production, coppice products, nature walks……..

Greenwood crafts

Biodiversity monitoring and enhancement

Smallholding and land use based study

Research in Water and Natural Resource management (currently biochar)

About the job

Working alongside biologists on site, you will be involved in the general upkeep and sustainable management of natural systems.  For the first couple of weeks you will work closely with the Biology staff. We will think about areas that you are particularly interested in with the view of setting you up with a project.  As you feel more confident with the tasks you will gradually be given more responsibility within the department.

As a volunteer you will hopefully learn as much as possible about everything we do. The best way to learn is though practical experience and you will take on some essential jobs that keep this place running.

Responsibilites

Tasks may include assisting with the following:

• Maintaining our ecological sanitation systems such as reed beds and compost toilets
• Coppicing, felling and thinning of woodland habitats
• Composting machine maintenance
• Invasive species removal
• Course attendance and helping tutors
• Species and habitat monitoring
• Water sampling
• Outdoor plumbing and water filtration management
• Talking to visitors about what we do
• Attend regular Departmental meetings
• Perform CAT duties as required of all staff members; e.g. staff meetings, cleaning rotas, etc.

Person Specification

Essential

• Practical attitude, happy to get a bit grubby
• Flexible with an enthusiastic and positive disposition
• Keen and willing to learn

Desirable

• Experience of water and natural resource practical management or study
• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
• Empathy with the ethos and core values of the Organisation
• Good understanding of environmental issues
• Organisational and time management skills

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