Letcombe Brook Project Officer Job Description Responsible to: Responsible for: Purpose of post: Key Committees: Chairman and Trustees of Letcombe Brook Project. Project volunteers and any relevant personnel assisting with project work. Undertake projects to enhance and protect the natural beauty of the brook, reduce flood risk and to help people appreciate and enjoy the environment along the Letcombe Brook corridor. Letcombe Brook Project Steering Group comprising funders, Environment Agency and Vale of the White Horse District Council. Overall role The Letcombe Brook Project is seeking an experienced Project Officer to deliver ecological and landscape enhancements, instream and along the corridor of the Letcombe Brook. Working closely with the partners and particularly the Environment Agency the post will work from concept to completion by generating project ideas, designing practical solutions, gaining appropriate consents, assessing funding requirements and delivering the work through contractors and volunteers. The role will also involve raising awareness amongst the public and involve local people and organisations in taking an active role in managing the brook for people and wildlife. Letcombe Brook The Letcombe Brook is a chalk stream that rises in Letcombe Regis and Letcombe Bassett and flows for 12 kms through Wantage and Grove where its meets the Childrey Brook to the North of East Hanney. Chalk streams are a globally rare habitat, rich in biodiversity and confined mainly to England and north west Europe. The Brook supports a diverse and specialised range of wildlife including wild brown trout, otter and water vole. There are diverse habitats along its floodplain including farmland, chalk downland, watercress beds, urban gardens, reedbeds, amenity grassland, small copses and veteran willow trees. The Letcombe Brook is a prominent feature running through urban and rural landscapes. People long ago settled along it, as it provided a clean and plentiful supply of fresh water. The Brook still provides water for local use today for domestic, industrial and agricultural use. It is an attractive feature much loved by local people. The diversity and character of the Brook has been shaped and changed by centuries of human interference and changes in land use. Over time, habitats and the river corridor landscape have deteriorated and faces pressure from development and other environmental issues. The Letcombe Brook Project (Charitable Trust) The Letcombe Brook Project was formed following public concern about pollution, low water levels, and general neglect resulting in littering, erosion, poor bank management and unsympathetic development. The Project was set up in April 2003 to enhance and protect the natural beauty of the Brook and to help people appreciate and enjoy the environment. By working in partnership with local people, riparian owners, the district council and parish and town councils along with other agencies, the Project has been able to bring about many positive environmental benefits for both wildlife and the people that live and work along the Brook. 1
Partnership The Letcombe Brook Project is a charity funded and supported by the Wantage Town Council, Grove Parish Council, Letcombe Regis Parish Council, East Hanney Parish Council, Vale of the White Horse District Council, and the Environment Agency. Objectives: The brook still faces many challenges and it will be the successful candidate s responsibility to deliver projects with the following aims: conserve and enhance the biodiversity and landscape of the Letcombe Brook corridor; seek opportunities to reduce flood risk, implementing natural flood management measures wherever appropriate; promote land management practices that achieve the Projects objectives for biodiversity, landscape, flood prevention and management amongst landowners and land managers; increase awareness of the countryside and environmental issues through education and interpretation; involve all sectors of the community in caring for and appreciating the Letcombe Brook. Key responsibilities To identify and resolve ecological, flood risk and landscape issues along Letcombe Brook, seeking to achieve multiple benefits wherever feasible. To undertake technical work and negotiations on the feasibility, design and implementation of environmental improvement schemes along the Letcombe Brook corridor and to supervise the implementation of projects on site, once agreed by the Trustees and Letcombe Brook Steering Group. To undertake all necessary consultations and negotiations with the Vale of the White Horse District Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Environment Agency and other organisations and obtain all relevant consents and permissions. To carry out any necessary consultation with external agencies and the public on schemes and projects during the design and implementation processes To give advice to farmers, riparian owners, landowners and residents, where appropriate on the management and maintenance of the brook. To work in partnership with Officers at the Vale White Horse District Council, Environment Agency, Grove and East Hanney Flood Groups and local communities to identify projects to reduce flood risk. Where appropriate, procure specialist advice to design or advise on river restoration projects for selected river reaches, or to provide diffuse pollution advice and run appropriate workshops on soil and nutrient management. Procurement and management of contractors and supervision of Letcombe Brook Volunteer Group to implement approved projects with due regard to health and safety and CDM regulations. 2
To raise awareness of the Letcombe Brook with the local community including parish and town councils, schools, local interest groups through education and interpretation, including presentation, leaflets, exhibitions, press releases and reports. To report to the Trustees and members of the Letcombe Brook Steering Group and provide advice including making recommendations on which projects should be progressed any technical problems and funding implications. Collate and submit project reports and grant claims to project funders. Identify opportunities for funding and assist with grant applications for capital projects and the continuation and extension of the Letcombe Brook Project Officers post. 3
Person Specification We are looking for an experienced Project Officer (self-employed) to lead and develop the Letcombe Brook Project. The right candidate will be enthusiastic and will need to demonstrate excellent technical and inter-personal skills. You will be well-organised and have the confidence to work independently and on your own initiative. Qualifications and skills Essential Desirable HND, degree, or equivalent qualification in a relevant environmental subject and 3 work years experience. Full driving licence and use of own vehicle. Excellent leadership skills. Ability to motivate others and to negotiate positive outcomes with individuals and organisations. Ability to build relationships with new partners and engage them in the delivery of project objectives. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to recognise and analyse problems and identify solutions. Enthusiasm, drive, self-motivation and self-discipline. Ability to take initiative and work independently with minimal supervision but cooperatively. Good organisational and time management skills; accurate and methodical; able to prioritise workloads effectively, meet deadlines and monitor the outcomes. Computer literacy and competent in the use of Microsoft Office and Powerpoint. Good species identification skills. First aid certificate. Experience Essential Desirable Project management design, planning, implementation. Proven ability to deliver river enhancement projects using a variety of techniques. Preparing and managing work programmes and budgets. Leading and managing conservation volunteers. Writing reports Providing conservation advice to residents and landowners on river and habitat management. Habitat and species identification and surveying Community and public engagement including talks and presentations. Commissioning and overseeing contracted work, securing good value for money. Grant applications for capital projects 4
Experience of negotiating consenting process, including Flood Risk Activity Permits (FRAPs) Leading and managing conservation volunteers. Schools work delivering field studies lessons such as river dipping. Knowledge Essential Desirable Knowledge of the habitats and species associated with UK lowland rivers and understanding of how river ecosystems function. River and wetland species and habitats and the issues that affect them. Habitat management and restoration techniques for rivers. Practical experience of project management. Agricultural issues and agri-environment schemes. Legislation relating to wildlife; policies on fisheries and biodiversity. Knowledge of planning policy and experience of responding to planning applications. 5
General Terms and Conditions Job type Hours Fees Hours of Work Duration of post Place of work Expenses Self-employed consultant Part time, 2.5 days (18.75 hours) 21,600.00 per annum ( 43,200.00 full-time equivalent) Office hours, working days are flexible. The Project Officer may occasionally be required to attend meetings in the evenings and work weekends The contract is for 12 months initially and will be renewed annually, subject to funding. This post is based at the Letcombe Brook Project office in the Vale and Downland Museum, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 8BL and involves regular travel around the Letcombe Brook catchment. Mileage and appropriate expenses will be reimbursed. Applications and interviews The deadline for applications is 10.00 am on Monday 19 March 2018. Applications should be sent on the Letcombe Brook Project Officer application form along with your CV and sent via email to Sally Wallington at wallingtonsally@hotmail.com. Please make sure you receive an acknowledgement that we have received your application. Unfortunately, we do not send acknowledgements for applications or letters to unsuccessful applicants. Therefore, if you have not heard from us within 1 week of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful. Interviews will be held on Friday 23 March 2018. 6