Glastir Officer

Glastir Advanced is run by Natural Resources Wales on behalf of the Welsh Government. As part of this project we need self-motivated people who have the ability to work on their own and in teams to assess agricultural fields and yard areas.

The overriding mission for Natural Resources Wales is to ensure that the environment and natural resources of Wales are sustainably maintained, enhanced, and used by the people, communities and economy of Wales in the present and for the future.

The organisation, a Welsh Government Sponsored Body, will be expected to deliver for Wales and play its part in delivering against the three pillars of sustainability – people and communities, the environment; and the economy, thereby supporting Ministers to deliver the Welsh Government’s ‘Programme for Government’.

As a recognition of the establishment of Natural Resources Wales and the organisation’s key role in delivering the Government’s agenda, Welsh Government has committed to developing shared outcomes against which delivery and performance (of both partners) can be aligned.

These shared outcomes recognise the need for close working with stakeholders (including customers, communities, staff and representative groups). Multi-partner delivery will be central in addressing the key challenges associated with sustainable development and working in partnership with Welsh Government and other delivery partners, Natural Resources Wales Leadership Group will contribute collectively to deliver the shared outcomes :

• The people of Wales are safe
• Natural resources are healthy and resilient
• There are more and better jobs for now and for the future
• The people of Wales are healthy
• People live in viable and vibrant places
• There are increased opportunities for people to achieve a better quality of life, and people are wealthier with greater equality
• People have the knowledge and ability to make the best choices for future wellbeing

Delivery against these outcomes will require new ‘ways of working’ and Natural Resources Wales is committed to being a learning organisation adopting an ecosystems approach to deliver the NRW’s overall mission.

As a new organisation, Natural Resources Wales will face challenges in establishing itself as an exemplar in terms of how it delivers these innovative and far reaching concepts in Wales. There will also be challenges in ensuring that the organisation provides value for money for Wales and maximises the impact of sustainability for our people, communities, environment and economy.

Job Location:

Mid Wales area (Lampeter), North area (Bangor), South West area (Cross Hands) or South East area (Monmouth).

Job purpose

Glastir Advanced is a part farm agri-environmental scheme run by Welsh Government as part of the wider Glastir scheme. It is intended to deliver environmental improvements to a range of habitats, species, soil and water.

As part of this project we need self-motivated people who have the ability to work on their own and in teams to assess agricultural fields and yard areas. This important and interesting work will see you working outdoors on farms across Wales to bring positive environmental outcomes.

The post will start in November 2013 for five months and will be based in: Mid Wales area (Lampeter), North area (Bangor), South West area (Cross Hands) or South East area (Monmouth).

The role will involve:

• Walking agricultural fields to identify issues that affect water quality. This may include features such as soil erosion, compaction or inappropriate field applications.
• Recording data and assisting in report production.
• Collecting and sending soil samples to project partners.
• A high level of activity including walking and collecting soil samples.
• Working outdoors over the winter months.
• Undertaking on-yard assessments to identify issues.

Job Specific Responsibilities

As a Glastir Officer you will be responsible for:

Delivering results:

• Complete all of 2013/14 farm visits and reports ensuring NRW complies with its SLA.
• Obtain soil sample results from farmland in Wales.
• Analyse water quality issues of farmland.
• Prepare data ready for Glastir reports and external audit.

Building strong stakeholder relationships

• Communicating with farmers and assessing farm yard areas.
• Working with the Glastir Project Support Officer to achieve the project outcomes.
• Being a point of contact for farm queries, to ensure consistency in the delivery of our project obligations.

Job Specific Requirements

• Ideally have a degree in soils or agriculture, or experience of working in the same field.
• Be self motivated and have the ability to work on your own and in teams.
• Competent in with a range of software, specifically; Access, Excel and Word.
• Have good communication skills, along with an approachable and friendly manner to engage with farmers.
• Be well organised and have the ability to work to tight deadlines.
• A driving license is essential.

Due consideration has been given to the Welsh language requirements for the post and the existing skills within the team. Taking this into consideration the Welsh language skills required for the post are at Level 4 for North Wales and Level 1 for Mid, South East and South West Wales.

Level 4: Fluency in spoken Welsh

Level 1: The ability to use basic Welsh conversational phrases (eg “bore da” – “good morning”) and to pronounce Welsh place names correctly.

Personal Responsibilities

• Agrees a personal delivery plan and report to their line manager on progress no less than twice a year
• Exercises good judgement and be willing to be held to account for decisions, actions and choices made personally and by staff for whom you are responsible
• Acts as a role model of organisational values
  • Shows exemplary behaviours of honesty, integrity and ethics
  • Challenges others when they fail to act as role models
  • Combines confidence and resilience with humility and a willingness to learn

The post holder is responsible to:

Martyn Evans, Strategy Advisor (Water and Environment), Knowledge, Strategy and Planning

This post is responsible for:

Glastir data collection

Status

This is a fixed-term, pensionable full-time appointment of 37 hours a week for five months.

Salary:

£19,929 per annum

Applications and Closing Date

For further details please contact Martyn Evans on 029 2046 6597 or email martyn.evans@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk. In your application please state which area you wish to be considered for (Mid, North, South East or South West Wales).

Closing Date: Friday 25 October 2013 (midday)

Interviews to take place: 30 October – 01 November 2013

Please forward your expression of interest demonstrating your suitability for this role to:Martyn Evans

Tel: 029 2046 6597
Email: martyn.evans@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk