Project Officer - Hoveton Wetlands Restoration Project

Context – Hoveton Wetlands Restoration project

Set in the heart of the stunning Norfolk Broads, the Hoveton Wetlands Restoration Project aims to improve the quality, understanding and enjoyment of the internationally-important wetland of the middle Bure valley. 

The project is focused on the restoration of important wetland habitats within and immediately adjacent to the Bure Marshes National Nature reserve (NNR). This includes the restoration of Hoveton Great Broad, using a range of novel techniques. The project is also improving the access to and interpretation of the site, informing people about wetland conservation and better-explaining how the broads sits in the context of the middle Bure.

The project is run by Natural England, in partnership with the Environment Agency and the Hoveton Estate. The project is predominantly funded through external funding bodies; Life and HLF. 

Role description 

The project needs an experienced new member of staff to lead on delivering the important conservation ground work elements of the project, including lake restoration, the creation of a canoe trail through Hoveton Marshes and the environmental monitoring elements of the project. The post holder will work to the Project Manager and alongside other members of the project team, including the Finance Officer, Communications Officer and staff from Natural England’s Norfolk and Suffolk Area Team.

Responsibilities of the post:

• Produce specifications/tender documents, appoint contractors and help to oversee on-site works.
• Ensure capital and monitoring works are delivered on time, to the required standards and within agreed budgets. 
• Ensure all records and timesheets are collated and maintained in compliance with funder’s requirements.
• Maintain the support of major stakeholders and partners and coordinate their inputs to the project.
• Lead on all environmental evaluation and monitoring work and reports, ensuring the outcomes of the restoration work are clearly recorded and that all restoration works are informed by the latest scientific information.
• Communicate project results and success in accordance with project objectives and funders requirements. Share best practice with other lake restoration practitioners.
• Report progress to the Project Manager on a regular basis.  

Technical/specialist knowledge/qualifications

• Proven experience of project and budget management in land management for nature conservation, demonstrating sound organisational abilities.
• Excellent communication skills, with a proven track record in using communications and relationship management to deliver beneficial outcomes for the environment, including leading external communications on key projects, engaging with project partners and local stakeholders, and the ability to explain technical information to a range of audiences.
• Strong ecological skills – demonstrable ability to determine outcome focussed solutions for habitats and species using environmental data, and with input from technical specialists.
• Good knowledge of environmental legislation including policies and procedures relating to SSSIs, European sites, and protected species.
• Competence in the use of IT, including ability to work with spreadsheets, databases & presentation packages.
• Previous experience of the development of Heritage Lottery Fund or similar projects would be an advantage, but is not essential.

Key Capabilities

If you are successful 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 the skills framework for this role:

Work Delivery - Practitioner 

• Use a project management approach and appropriate techniques to deliver project-based work
• Undertake day to day tasks and activities in a timely and effective manner, prioritising key work, using knowledge and experience to make appropriate judgements and decisions
• Manage and deliver your workload to meet agreed targets and deadlines 

Personal effectiveness - Practitioner

• Show innovation and creativity in finding solutions to deliver project objectives and outcomes
• Develop and display independence and initiative, including the ability to test and challenge others in a constructive and evidence-based way, to deliver project outcomes.

Building partnerships – Practitioner

• Collaborate, negotiate and influence in a well-informed and timely manner to achieve pragmatic outcomes.
• Develop an understanding of the objectives and needs of our partners and how we can contribute to these.  

Communicating effectively – Practitioner

• Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience
• Understand and advocate to a wide range of external stakeholders and partners, defined environmental and project objectives.

Securing environmental improvements - Practitioner

• Understand and apply relevant legislation, policy and governance frameworks to your work.
• Understand how public access and local communities interact with landscapes and habitats. 

Additional information

A Driving Licence is essential for the role

Flexible working patterns will generally be accommodated unless stated otherwise. 

Candidates with disabilities will automatically be put forward to the interview stage provided that they satisfy the minimum criteria for the role.

Closing date: 28/01/2018

Job contact (vacancy manager): Karen Kramer-Wilson Telephone: 02080 264 934 Email: karen.wilson@naturalengland.org.uk

Eligibility: 

For roles advertised internally within Natural England please see the eligibility table on our jobs intranet page

If in any doubt about eligibility please check with the SSCL Recruitment Team: ssd.nerecruitment@defra.gsi.gov.uk 

How to apply:

Application forms are available:  Internal applicants - Vacancies - Working in Natural England External applicants – find this job on Civil Service Vacancies and follow the application guidance. 

Completed application forms should be sent to: ssd.applications@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Short-listing: w/c 29 January 2018 

Interviews: w/c 5 February 2018