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Title

Dartmoor Biodiversity Officer

Posted
Reference
Sectors Conservation & Ecology
Location England (South West) - UK
Salary Additional Information £27,000 – £28,361 per annum
Salary (Minimum)
0
Salary (Maximum)
0
Type Fixed Term and Permanent Roles
Status Full Time
Level Mid Level
Company Name South West Lakes Trust
Contact Name
Website Further Details / Applications
South West Lakes Trust  logo
Also Listing:
Description
  • AREA             Dartmoor 
  • BASE              Burrator Reservoir with flexible remote working, also required to travel to various sites across Dartmoor notably Venford Reservoir
  • TYPE              Fixed term 01 August 2022 – 31 March 2025
  • HOURS          37.5 hours per week on a flexible basis; normal working hours will include weekends, Bank Holidays and some evenings. 
  • SALARY         £27,000 – £28,361 per annum

Purpose:

Working in partnership with South West Water (SWW) to deliver Water Industry Green Recovery Programme obligations on SWW owned landholdings, you will oversee delivery of interventions to enhance biodiversity and restore land to improve catchment management and drinking water protected areas on rivers and headwaters in the Dartmoor National Park.

By working with colleagues, stakeholders, partners and funders, you will deliver nature based solutions for the environment, which will contribute towards overall water quality and improved habitat conditions. You will also look for opportunities to partner with neighbouring landowners for wider benefit. Focusing on two SWW-owned and SWL-managed locations, Holne and the Burrator catchment and Venford Reservoir.

You will also consider opportunities for habitat enhancement at some of our other reservoirs to widen the reach across Dartmoor.

Role

  • Working in partnership with South West Water to deliver water quality obligations with a particular focus on improving habitats to protect drinking water and enhance biodiversity. This will include overseeing the delivery of management actions such as peatland restoration, wetland management, woodland diversification and small scale habitat creation.
  • Work closely with Head of Environment and wider SW Lakes team to ensure the project is delivered with our strategic vision for the sites and catchments in mind.
  • Utilise existing reports from our Burrator Investigations project to inform and plan management prescriptions
  • Deliver management prescriptions in the Burrator and Venford catchments, regularly reviewing in order to ensure biodiversity gain and water quality improvements are met within the scope of the project
  • Support the development of integrated management plans alongside other SW Lakes Team members for Burrator and Venford reservoirs
  • Maintain records of baseline and ongoing monitoring data to demonstrate impact over time.
  • Deliver project outcomes in line with budgets.
  • Work with wider Environment Team to conduct an options appraisal for future land management such as Higher Tier, Farm Business Tenancy and ELMS in liaison with SWW.
  • Attend regular meetings, prepare reports as required and requested by SWW and /or SW Lakes.
  • Undertake stakeholder engagement to allow collaborative partnerships to grow.
  • Liaise with voluntary/statutory conservation bodies, landowners, graziers, and local authorities keeping them informed and consulting them where applicable.
  • Seek knowledge exchange and the sharing of materials from the public, private and voluntary sectors to assist with the above tasks.
  • Take responsibility for health and safety of self, colleagues, customers and contractors.
  • Carry out such other duties as may reasonably be assigned by SW Lakes.

Knowledge, Experience & Skills

(E) – Essential            (D) – Desirable

  • At least three years’ experience of employment or volunteering in nature conservation as well as an understanding of current nature conservation policy. (E)
  • Experience in some of the following would be beneficial; woodland management, river restoration, ecological surveying, natural flood management (D)
  • Experience of engaging groups of stakeholders to achieve a common goal. (E)
  • Experience of delivering conservation projects by working with contractors, colleagues and volunteers. (E)
  • Knowledge of working within designated sites and the requirements and restrictions this brings about. (E)
  • IT literate particularly in Microsoft Office packages (E)
  • Working knowledge of geographical information systems (GIS) and mapping software. (E)
  • Knowledge or experience of upland farming systems and grazing regimes and the farming community. (E)
  • Experience in developing or working with management plans. (D)
  • Knowledge of safe working practices and risk assessments. (E)
  • Good geographical knowledge of Dartmoor (D)
  • Good interpersonal skills and an excellent communicator at all levels with an enthusiasm for working with volunteers and stakeholders. (E)
  • Ability to write concise accurate reports. (E)
  • Enthusiastic with a positive approach to problem-solving and demonstrating a flexible approach. (E)
  • A good organiser with proven ability to set priorities and to see tasks through to completion. (E)
  • Experience working to project budgets. (D)
  • Ability to work under own initiative. (E) 

Behaviours

  • Demonstrate SW Lake’s commitments:
    • Resilience – Thinking long term for biodiversity and people
    • Advocate – Stand up for our beliefs and empower others
    • Inclusivity – Promote equality and dignity in all that we do
    • Sustainability – Innovate for a sustainable future
    • Engaging – Consult and partner stakeholders to achieve more
  • Take responsibility for the safety of colleagues, volunteers, self and customers. Comply with SW Lakes Health & Safety policy and defined standards. Investigate and report incidents, accidents and near misses. Ensure safe use of appropriate equipment, prepare Risk Assessments and Method Statements ensuring contents are understood and acted upon.
  • Being aware of your own responsibilities regarding safeguarding and to support our commitment to providing safe environments and working practises that promote and protect the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults at all times.
  • A self-starter and team player you will motivate your team to take initiative and action to achieve more.
  • Willingness to challenge how things are done, to look for improvements and take action for change.
  • Being committed to delivering our strategic outcomes of:
  • Our managed landscapes will be abundant, diverse, and connected;
  • Lives will be enhanced from experiencing the outdoors;
  • To become a national exemplar for balancing conservation and recreation.

Qualifications

  • Degree or equivalent in a relevant environmental discipline or proven equivalent professional experience (E)
  • Full and valid UK driving licence, essential as you will need to be readily mobile across your area of responsibility (E)

About us

  • As an independent charity, our purpose is to protect special places for people and wildlife; in doing this we care for over 40 inland waters in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. Ranging in size from one to nine hundred acres, the lakes provide unrivalled access to watersports, angling, walking and cycling, and are places you can be active or play and explore all day long. We take great pride in protecting and enhancing these locations for the future and for people to value and enjoy. They provide a perfect setting for a great day out, be it for a stroll, to play, nature watch or enjoy adventurous activities such as stand up paddle boarding, kayaking or sailing.
  • We offer a stakeholder pension scheme after 3 months of employment, with a 5% contribution matched by the company, 23 days holiday (plus statutory bank holidays) rising to 25 days after 5 years and 28 after 10, a culture of investing in our employees through training and development and the opportunity to work in some of the most beautiful places in the south west.
  • Normal working hours of this role will require you to work out of hours and a degree of flexibility in working patterns.
  • This role is in partnership with South West Water to deliver Water Industry National Environment Programme obligations

To apply

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