Environmental Research Officer

This project is different from Change Agents UK’s normal Graduate Resource projects since it is a funded work experience placement abroad rather than a work placement in the UK. Change Agents UK has obtained funding from the EU through the Leonardo Mobility Programme. The graduate will gain valuable work experience, individual linguistic and cultural preparation, tutoring and mentoring support throughout the project alongside advice on travel and accommodation. Participants will receive travel expenses from the UK to the host destination and receive subsistence payments to cover living expenses.

Viborg Municipality is a local authority with 94,000 citizens and covering an area of 1,422 km2 located in the middle of Jutland in Denmark. Viborg is one of the oldest cities in Denmark and thus boosts many years of history and a historical city centre with a cathedral. The landscape in Viborg Municipality is varied with hills, lakes, river valleys and forests.

The department Nature & Water is responsible for environmental protection and conservation, maintenance of watercourses and lakes, water supply and waste water treatment.

The main objective of the internship for the Gudenaa Committee’s Secretariat and Viborg Municipality will be to strengthen and establish an international perspective on the following areas:

• Research: Locate similar and comparable projects and organisations working with experience development (relating to the experience economy) as well as tourism and business development combined with nature protection in relation to a larger water way and in a partnership between authorities and private associations

• Research for and in relation to a study tour for political committees and local authority managers

• Research: Locate international research about co-operation in relation to the development of the framework for nature and cultural experiences (along a larger water way)

Personal Specification:
• knowledge about / experience with landscape planning and co-operation with associations, volunteers, non-municipal organisations, outdoor life (angling tourism)

• experience with the planning and organisation of study tours, seminars, conferences, etc.

• interest in and the ability to work with different stakeholders

• committed and responsible individual

• flexible and able to work independently as well as in teams

• Good communication skills (written and verbally)

• Organised

Eligibility Criteria:
1. Candidates must be either British or EU citizens;
2. Candidates must currently be residing in the UK;
3. Candidates must have valid passports to travel during their placement, and;
4. Candidates must have completed their university degree before the beginning of the placements.

Interview date: 17th - 19th June

Skype Interview: 24th - 25th June

Start Date: 29th September 2014

Placement length: 12 weeks