Peatland Impacts Casework Officer Windfarms

POST: Peatland Impacts Casework Officer - Windfarms
POST NO: 000985
LOCATION: Newtown or Aberystwyth
GRADE: C

MAIN DUTIES

• Support CCWs input as a statutory consultee to casework resulting from windfarm and other development applications on sites supporting peat and peatland and related habitats. As such, you will provide detailed technical and critical input to and evaluation of applications to develop windfarms on peatland and other semi-natural habitats, primarily in the Welsh uplands. This will extend throughout the development timeline, including the following key stages (i) initial scoping consultations, (ii) extensive contact with developers concerning EIA and Environmental Statement and Habitat Management Plan [HMP] development at the pre-submission stage, (iii) where applicable representation of CCW at planning inquiries, (iv) post consent liaison during construction and operation.
• Provide technical advice and support to CCW operational teams, CCWs HQ Peatland Specialist and other relevant staff concerning development and land management impacts on peat and peatland habitats.
• Develop and maintain a detailed technical knowledge of mire ecology and hydrology as applied to land management and development impacts.
• Lead CCWs technical input to the development of mitigation and compensation packages on windfarm sites, including afforested sites.
• Contribute to the development of impact assessment and monitoring programmes and guidance for use by CCW and its partners and as guidance for developers.
• Undertake field and desk-based assessments to test the veracity of EIA evidence and provide CCW with information on the quality and sensitivity of peat and peatland and related habitat features.
• Take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and others and comply with all health and safety legislation as appropriate.
• Behave in accordance with our corporate values.
• Consistently meet the standards required to fulfill the service expectations of your internal and external customers/citizens and partners.
• Carry out other general duties as necessary.

JOB COMPETENCIES

To be considered for this post you will need to demonstrate the following competencies:

Essential

1. A good grounding in a relevant science or land-based discipline applied to an excellent understanding of the application of ecological principles in a conservation context.
2. Ability to apply standard ecological assessment techniques for the purposes of ecological evaluation for conservation.
3. Ability to assess development and/or land management impacts in a terrestrial ecological context.
4. Sound knowledge of peatland conservation, knowledge of peatland habitats and impacts on peatland hydrology
5. Strong and effective self-management and organisational skills, including the ability to manage workloads according to tight deadlines within a project framework.
6. Good interpersonal and communication skills at all levels, including the ability to work as part of a team, write clear, concise documents and translate complex lengthy EIA reports into an understanding of where the key issues lie in respect of quality of assessment and likely residual impact, allied to good skills in negotiation and liaison.
   - The ability to currently and legally drive a car in the UK.
7. Data handling and interpretation skills, including the use of Geographical Information Systems and the ability to use word processing, spreadsheet and e-mail applications in a Windows environment.
8. An awareness of Welsh culture, and a positive attitude to linguistic and cultural diversity.
   - The ability to use basic Welsh conversational phrases and to pronounce Welsh place names correctly.

Desirable

1. Post-graduate or other professional understanding of wetland ecology or hydrology.
2. An understanding of carbon flux processes in wetland soils and how they are influenced by land management and development pressure.
   - Fluency in Spoken Welsh

There are 10 sections on our application form for you to tell us how you meet each of the numbered competencies above. Our application form asks about your driving and Welsh language abilities separately, so these competencies are not numbered above and don’t need further explanation on this part of the form.

SALARY

The starting salary will be £23,770 a year.

STATUS

This is a fixed-term, pensionable full-time appointment until 31 July 2014 with a possible extension subject to funding.

APPLICATIONS AND CLOSING DATE

Application forms can be downloaded from our website or you can e-mail us at d.manning@ccw.gov.uk or phone us on 01686 613400 and we will post an application form and job description to your home address.

Please return your completed application form to:

Dianne Manning
Countryside Council for Wales
Ladywell House
Newtown
Powys
SY16 6RD

The closing date for receipt of application forms is midday on 1 July 2011.