Conservation Officer

This job helps to develop and sustain Wales’ natural heritage so that everyone can enjoy it and benefit from it. You will do this by working with partners, often in conflicting situations to conserve wildlife and landscape, by managing special sites, responding to casework consultations with expert local advice, and providing other professional advice relating to important habitats and protected species, often as part of a legal process.

The Montgomeryshire NRM team is responsible for all aspects of advice and responses to consultations on designated sites, protected species and wider countryside issues within the area it covers.

As a key member of the team, you will often work independently helping to establish the delivery of SMNR locally, as part of a wider network working on natural resource management with a particular focus on conservation.

Responsibilities 

Setting direction

• Participate in initiatives and projects to promote the understanding and enjoyment of, and access to, the countryside

Delivering results 

• Influencing and work with owners/managers on the development and sympathetic management and monitoring of a suite of designated sites, and important non-designated sites, including: agri-environment scheme negotiations with Welsh Government; negotiating and providing scientific input to management agreements; dealing with requests for Consent or Assent under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), and failures to comply with this legislation
• Provide professional local advice and responses to consultations on designated sites, important non-designated sites, protected species, landscape and wider countryside issues, particularly with respect to consultations from Powys council relating to applications for planning permission
• Undertake the evaluation, notification and confirmation of designated sites, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
• Responsible for the planning and implementation of site monitoring, including arranging and carrying out surveys, evaluating results and writing reports
• Developing and implementing Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Areas management plans
• Responsible for establishing and maintaining partnerships with statutory and voluntary bodies. Provide expert local advice on preparing and implementing plans and strategies such as Local Biodiversity Action Plans, Forest Resource Plans and Local Development Plans
• To progress Sustainable Management of Natural Resources SMNR in Montgomeryshire and take our full remit for nature conservation, landscape, outdoor recreation and access into account in all responses and advice
• Assist colleagues in other work and carry out other general duties as necessary

Building relationships

• Work as part of a professional network in liaison with other teams and specialists in NRW
• Participate to NRW networks such as Habitat and Species Working Groups, depending on skills and opportunities

Ensuring effective governance 

• Coordinate and manage appropriate corporate and team evidence systems relevant to the above work
• Behave in accordance with our corporate values
• Consistently meet the standards required to fulfil the service expectations of your internal and external customers/citizens and partners
• Take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and others and comply with all health and safety legislation as appropriate

Developing people and teams 

• Ensure continuing professional and personal development and expertise through formal and informal learning. Keep abreast of new ideas and developments in ecological and other relevant fields

Job Specific Criteria

1. Professional Qualification - Education to degree level or equivalent experience in a scientific subject is necessary with a good grounding (a degree or equivalent, or relevant experience) in at least one of the following subjects:
   • biology/ecology,
   • environmental science,
   • recreation,
   • agriculture,
   • rural studies
   • landscape
2. Identification skills (vascular plants or other groups), and the ability to effectively carry out field survey or landscape assessment
3. The ability to influence, negotiate and gain the cooperation of others as well as working within a team
4. Good written and spoken communication and presentational skills
5. The ability to use IT applications, including GIS, databases, spreadsheets and word processing
6. Knowledge and experience of nature conservation, landscape, outdoor access and recreation, farming and forestry, and of the legislation relating to wildlife, planning, access and the countryside and the ability to apply it in this role

Welsh Language Requirements

Due consideration has been given to Welsh language requirements in line with our organisation's Welsh Language Scheme Guidance for recruitment. The post requires direct external liaison and is classed as Welsh level 3 ie the ability to communicate with confidence in Welsh in some work situations (Level 3), or with a commitment to develop skills to this level.

Additional Information

• The ability to currently and legally drive a car in the UK

Job Advert Information

• Contract type: This is a permanent, pensionable full-time appointment
• Work pattern: 37 hours a week
• Grade / Salary: £24,828

This role will be subject to a forthcoming Job Evaluation exercise and this may result in a change to the salary.  

Existing NRW staff applying for vacancies via an external advert will be treated as internal applicants and remain on their substantive grade and salary until job evaluation is implemented

• Application closing date: 21 July 2017
• Interviews to take place on: Wednesday 2 August 2017 in Newtown

To apply send your completed application form to:

• recruitment@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

If you have any queries please contact:

• David Lee 0300 065 3823, david.lee@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Before applying for this position, please ensure you read the Candidate Guidance. 

Natural Resources Wales embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunity. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. We welcome and encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented including women, black and ethnic minority groups and people with a disability and we have a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We are an employer of choice because we put the principles of human rights, equality, fairness, dignity and respect at the heart of our values