| Description |
This post is an exciting opportunity to lead the delivery of Natural England’s work at the National Land Access Centre (NLAC) at Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve (NNR) in Oxfordshire, as part of our Connecting People with Nature and NNR programmes.
Working with Area Teams, the NNR Operations team, Access to the Outdoors Team, Delivery Programmes and external partners, this role will help to develop and deliver our long term aims and objectives for promoting, demonstrating and improving public access for all, including contributing to the development of first-class visitor experiences across Natural England’s NNRs nationally.
The National Land Access Centre (NLAC) is designed to:
- Promote best practice for access to the countryside by providing, in one place, exemplars of gates and other access furniture which can be tested and compared for their performance by all groups of users and access professionals
- Provide a national training resource for access and inclusion professionals and site managers who provide access to the countryside and green spaces
- Embed knowledge and understanding of solutions to access issues to improve access for all, reducing barriers to nature and improving people’s health and wellbeing
- Develop over time a wide range of countryside furniture, fencing, ground surfaces, signage etc, for demonstration, training and best practice
- Provide an opportunity to test products over time and to research optimum materials
- Provide an opportunity for manufacturers and designers to work with NE to improve existing designs and to develop new designs and products
The Role
- Development and delivery of a continual improvement training programme for countryside managers and access professionals, promoting access-for-all and best practice least-restrictive accessibility standards
- Day-to-day management responsibility for the NLAC infrastructure and training resources, including working with Aston Rowant NNR site staff and volunteers as required
- Working with the NNR Senior Adviser for Visitor Experience, leading the improvement of accessibility standards across Natural England’s NNR Estate, delivering best practice standards as described by the British Standard BS 5709 for Gaps, Gates and Stiles, and seeking to meet wider accessibility needs and overcome additional barriers wherever possible
- Supporting NNR Capital Programme investment plans and projects to ensure visitor access, accessibility and infrastructure improvements are delivered to appropriate least-restrictive accessibility standards
- Embedding best practice standards in line with statutory and policy frameworks, and developing supporting tools, guidance, and provision of training & advice for NNR site managers, managers of the wider countryside and other individuals and organisations to enable access-for-all accessibility objectives to be incorporated into management plans, and delivered effectively at the local level
- Leading the future development of the NLAC as an exemplary training and demonstration resource, including improvements to the existing NLAC site and supporting the development of a new northern NLAC site in due course
Key tasks and responsibilities:
Training promotion and delivery
- Promoting the NLAC resource to relevant partners, suppliers and stakeholders externally, including Local Authority Access Officers, Local Access Forums, countryside access user groups and countryside sites managers
- Internal promotion and training for Natural England staff with relevant roles, including those working on National Nature Reserves and on access to green space
- Managing enquiries and bookings
- Delivering training events
- Maintaining records of training delivered, attendance, feedback etc
- Managing the NLAC budget and income
Infrastructure
- Inspection, maintenance and installation of NLAC access infrastructure, including servicing for Trampers (scheduled inspections and checks prior to training days) and other maintenance of the training site/facilities as required
- Ensuring risk assessments are undertaken as required
- Keeping records of inspection, servicing and maintenance
Development
- Convene a steering group for NLAC development activities
- Develop new training resources, including digital and on-line content
- Plan, develop and deliver infrastructure and training centre improvements at the site to ensure the NLAC can demonstrate all types of infrastructure, including as appropriate: access gates, latches, board walks and other surfaced path types, signage, other access infrastructure; on-site training shelter or built facilities; other new equipment
- Liaison with Centrewire and develop partnerships with new suppliers
- Seek funding and investment opportunities such as sponsorship and/or external funding
- Support development of a new NLAC ‘north’ in the Greater Manchester area
- Relationship lead with Paths for All (Scotland)
- NLAC relationship lead with current project partners –Pittecroft Trust, Disabled Ramblers & British Horse Society.
Key Competencies
We expect you to have a certain level of capability in a range of activities. At the interview you will be asked questions to see how close you are to these levels in the following activities which are drawn from our skills framework for this role:
Personal effectiveness – Practitioner
- Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience
- Share expertise and knowledge with people and networks so that you can develop together
- Make and explain objective decisions which combine your professional judgement and evidence
Putting people at the heart of the environment - Practitioner
- Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and Natural England
- Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver Natural England’s vision, mission and aims
- Work proactively and collaboratively with stakeholders and partners to identify and secure opportunities to deliver gains for people and nature
Work Delivery – Practitioner
- Handle data responsibly, understand your role in good governance, and comply with delegations, policies and procedures
- Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines
- Understand and apply relevant policy, legislation, governance frameworks and strategies to your work
Technical skills and knowledge
You do not need to use STAR format for this competency.
The candidate should be able to demonstrate the following technical knowledge, skills and experience:
Essential
- Some experience of delivering training or learning activities
- An understanding of access and rights of way, including the access needs of different users
- Working knowledge of the British Standard BS 5709 for Gaps, Gates and Stiles, or Access for All principles
Desirable (these will be required to be completed within the 6 month probationary period for the role)
- Off-road driving and trailer towing (a driving licence is essential)
- Use of brushcutters (Lantra standard or equivalent)
- First aid (Outdoor First Aid or First Aid at Work)
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