Role Description Role Title: Volunteer Conservation Officer Location: The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, Lings House, Billing Lings, Northampton NN3 8BE Accountable to: Hours: Holidays: Transport: Wildlife Sites Officer, Wider Countryside Team Part time (minimum three days a week during summer) with minimum 9 months commitment. Working hours are 0900-1700 Monday to Friday. Occasional weekend or evening work may be required for which time off in lieu should be taken. Time off is in arrangement with the Line Manager Travel from home to the Northampton office will be paid at a rate of 30 pence per mile up to a maximum of 40 miles per day. Additional expenses incurred during the course of the placement will be reimbursed at 30 pence per mile or the full cost of public transport. About The Wildlife Trust BCN The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire is a registered charity (and a company limited by guarantee), whose mission is to conserve local wildlife, by caring for land ourselves and with others; inspire others to take action for wildlife; and inform people, by offering advice and sharing knowledge. We are among the largest and most effective of 47 Wildlife Trusts across Britain and we are a major contributor to the nationwide work of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. We currently manage 126 nature reserves covering almost 2,300 hectares and six education centres. Our work also includes the acquisition and application of information about biodiversity. The Trust s turnover in 2010/11 was over 4.5 million and its capital assets more than 17.5 million, of which almost a half is classified as heritage assets. The Trust is promoting four major Living Landscape schemes: the Great Fen, the West Cambridgeshire Hundreds, the Nene Valley Vision, and the North Chilterns Chalk. The report and accounts are posted on the Trust s website www.wildlifebcn.org/annualreview. The work of the Trust is directed by the 2010-15 Strategic Development Plan. To achieve the targets within this plan the Trust is managed and directed by an Executive Board of four Directors.
The Trust is a voluntary organisation, but the working culture of the Trust encourages a professional approach with a commitment and enthusiasm for nature and its conservation. Mutual respect and teamwork are highly prized among both staff and volunteers. In all its dealings, the Trust tries to be fair but firm and in all its activities it aims to be environmentally responsible. Systems, processes and bureaucracy are kept to the necessary minimum for effective performance. The Chief Executive reports to the Trust s Council of 14 Trustees, who are elected annually from the membership (presently standing at almost 36,000). Council and its two Committees (Conservation, Education & Community, and Resources) meet quarterly. There are 100 staff members, with main offices in Bedford, Great Cambourne, Northampton, and Peterborough and over 1,000 active volunteers. The Executive Board consists of the Chief Executive, the Living Landscapes Director, the Finance & Administration Director and the Director of Marketing & Fundraising. Reporting to the Directors is a team of senior managers, which includes 3 Conservation Managers, Conservation Monitoring Manager, Community and Education Manager, the Corporates & Grants Manager, Major Donor Manager, Communications Manager and the H&S/HR Manager. Wider Countryside Team The Wider Countryside team takes the lead with the Trust s advisory and advocacy work. They are in the fore front of delivery of our priority Living Landscape schemes, responsible for providing nature conservation advice to landowners, public bodies and individual members of the public, undertaking wildlife and habitat surveys, working with local communities on local conservation projects and supporting the high quality management of our nature reserves.
Volunteer Conservation Officer Main Purpose To contribute to the delivery of the Northamptonshire Wider Countryside Team s Local Wildlife Sites work and other biodiversity projects. Main Objectives Assist with the implementation of the Wider Countryside Team s on-going Local Wildlife Sites work and contribute towards the Wildlife Trust s Living Landscape schemes and other biodiversity projects Key Responsibilities Assist with the Local Wildlife Sites work including contacting landowners, undertaking surveys, and producing survey reports Assist with surveys of habitats such as woodland, grassland, hedgerow and watercourse, and including some species surveys. Assist with the GIS mapping and analysis of Local Wildlife Sites Assist with landowner engagement work, including organising contractors and discussing site management with landowners Assist with the production of the LWS newsletter Assist with current biodiversity projects related to the Nene Valley NIA and living landscape schemes. Help with planning casework, preparation of comments on planning applications and critical assessment of environmental statements Contribute to the library of species and site monitoring photographs This role description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise. The responsibilities listed above suggest what may be available to the Volunteer Conservation Officer. The exact work programme will be based upon the specific interests of the successful candidate and work available at the time.
Training It is expected that the Volunteer Conservation Officers will gain a wide range of skills in the field of nature conservation. Much of this will be from on the job experience as well as structured reading and the development of skills in free time, such as natural history skills. The Wildlife Trust organises an extensive programme of Wildlife Training Workshops run by specialists, of which Volunteer Conservation Officers may attend five free of charge. Training will be offered in the following areas, depending on experience: Species identification Species and habitat surveying techniques Data analysis Habitat management techniques Applied use of GIS software First Aid At Work (certificated) Health & Safety and Risk Assessments Brushcutting (certificated) Other opportunities for gaining experience in this Wildlife Trust may be available, depending on the interests of the individual.
Volunteer Conservation Officer - Role Holder Profile Experience and Qualifications Knowledge Skills Work with other people Communicate Deliver Results Learn and Apply Competency Statement Some experience in practical management of nature reserves or similar green spaces Some experience of habitat and/or species surveying, phase 1 surveying experience (desirable) Hold a current UK driving licence (desirable) Keen interest in and commitment to wildlife, heritage and environmental issues Basic understanding of the principles of ecology and the practices of nature conservation A good general knowledge of British natural history Understands and responds to Health and Safety needs Competent user of Windows/Microsoft Office based computer software, including Word, Excel, Outlook. Some experience of using Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping software e.g. ArcView or MapInfo (desirable) Very good oral and written communication skills and the ability to engage a variety of audiences Good team player with the ability to foster collaborative working and a positive attitude Treat people with respect and be tolerant of diverse backgrounds, views and approaches Seek to build and maintain good working relationships Show reliability and not let people down Listen actively and ask questions to check understanding Share own ideas, experience and knowledge with colleagues and others, through contributing in meetings and discussions Prioritise and organise own time and resources effectively day to day Meet deadlines and objectives without last minute crises Be open to change and show a willingness to learn new ways of doing things and to acquire new areas of knowledge