Overview

Grade 11  £36,922– 38,890
Permanent Contract
37 hours per week

CLOSING DATE:  4th February
INTERVIEW DATE: 17th February 

Location: National Park Authority’s Headquarters
Responsible to: Director of Nature Recovery and Climate Change
Responsible for: Ecologists, Project Officers
Also working with: Senior Ecologist for Climate Adaptation, Planning Ecologists, Wardens Manager, Countryside and Access Projects Officer, Rights of Way Officer, Strategy and Policy Officers, Education Officers, Stakeholder Manager, Sustainable Communities Officer, Heritage Officers, Geopark Officer and Visitor Management Officer.

Job Purpose:

Corporately, to provide leading expertise for the conservation and enhancement of the Park’s wildlife and natural beauty, providing practical advice and training, developing strategic policy, plans, advice, and research for this purpose, ensuring that this is at the heart of all Authority business and services.

Functionally, to steer the nature recovery work of the BBNPA, support the practical management of land owned and managed by the BBNPA; to provide training for the same to staff and Members; to quality control ecological advice and guidance provided; to undertake and to commission surveys, surveillance and monitoring of habitats and species; to draw together and develop the Authority’s understanding of ecosystem structure and function in relation to the distribution, condition and status of habitats and species in the Park; to lead the development and implementation of project and funding proposals for nature recovery; and to collaborate with relevant partners and stakeholders in achieving these tasks. Where a clear beneficial environmental outcome can be achieved, to lead the preparation of environmental strategy, policy, and advice; to contribute to the State of the Park Reports, National Park Management Plans and Corporate Plans.

Main Duties

  1. Work closely with relevant sections within the Authority to advise and provide training on practical habitat and species conservation and enhancement, and where necessary or appropriate developing new methods to achieve this.
  2. Advise colleagues on when and where management plans/statements are required for the management of BBNPA owned or managed land holdings and what management actions are required; co-ordinate the writing of said plans, overseeing their implementation, and provision of advice, working with colleagues.
  3. Develop teamwork plans, thematic work plans and relevant grant and project proposals, based upon relevant National Park Management Plan and Corporate Plan priorities, identifying where priorities should be delivered through project management, partnerships or through other means.
  4. Work closely with other senior managers, the Senior Ecologist for Climate Adaptation and with the Strategy and Policy Team to ensure alignment and synergy between ecology services for nature recovery, planning and policy development.
  5. Where necessary to the fulfilment of NPMP strategic objectives, lead the development and implementation of ecological policy within the Authority, with a particular focus on biodiversity conservation including nature recovery ecosystem structure and function, the sustainable management of natural resources and natural capital and public benefit finance schemes.
  6. Provide line management for the Ecologists and Project Officers, as well as contract management for large scale ecology contracts, whilst supporting the Ecologists to oversee other project contracts.
  7. Support the research remit of the NPA in liaison with key stakeholders. Supervise the budget for research and monitoring work.
  8. In liaison with key stakeholders including colleagues, oversee the programme of habitat and species surveys and the commissioning and monitoring of associated research programmes; supervise research and survey contracts.
  9. Manage and develop the ecology budget, paying close attention to the management of project budgets.
  10. Together with the Ecologists, provide ecological advice to other sections and the public and ecological input to relevant national consultations; quality control the advice and guidance provided.
  11. Provide one of the Authority’s ‘public faces’ for media-related stories and events about biodiversity conservation in the Park.
  12. Any other duty, appropriate to the grade and nature of the post, as occasionally required by the and the Chief Executive.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

  • Educated to degree level or equivalent in ecology or a similar environment subject.
  • A minimum of 3-5 years proven management/supervisory/natural resource management experience, ideally within a protected area, local authority planning department and/or conservation organisation, delivering conservation work at middle management level or above.
  • Ability to develop and manage projects and to identify where a project management approach is required.
  • Good experience of research and development within the public sector, including the commissioning and quality control of relevant contracts, synthesising and disseminating information.
  • Good experience of preparing and contributing to the implementation of corporate strategies, policies and plans and delivering these to timetable.
  • Good experience of budget and other resource management including resource planning, implementation and monitoring.
  • Good experience of providing advice and recommendations to colleagues affected by legislation and policy, for example Members, CEO, Directors, development control, access and rights of way, land management and tourism.
  • A strategic thinker with considerable in-depth knowledge and understanding of the factors affecting natural resource management and policy development within a protected area (for example international, European and UK legislation and treaties, national, regional and local policies, strategies and plans affecting natural resource management and conservation).
  • A good understanding of the emerging approaches to conservation with an increasing focus on managing ecosystem structure and function within an overall ‘ecosystem approach’ .
  • A good understanding of the approaches being developed by Britain’s National Park Authorities in response to climate change and the opportunities for NPAs to play a leading role in mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change.
  • A good understanding of the tools and processes being developed to assist organisations and regions to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.
  • Excellent interpersonal, oral and written presentation skills, able and willing to speak and operate with authority and confidence, representing the organisation in public, as well as at a senior level and with the media.
  • In-depth knowledge of natural history, conservation principles and practice within upland, lowland and freshwater environments and the relationship between these and strategic policy development; a working understanding of natural history field survey methods, techniques and best practice.
  • A strong ability to analyse and interpret new and complex information and to turn this to the advantage of the organisation and the public over the short and long term, developing new areas of policy and research.
  • A strong ability to support and encourage colleagues, to share and develop work and ideas and to present complex issues to others, especially members of boards, councils or committees.
  • Good ability to plan and organise wide-ranging work programmes and to manage and co-ordinate staff effectively, to work and make decisions independently and as part of a team.
  • Willingness to undertake occasional evening and/or weekend work with time off in lieu as and when required.
  • Ability to manage a budget in line with projects and strategic priorities.
  • Driving Licence
  • Level 0 Welsh Language Skill

Desirable Criteria

  • Willingness to develop and undertake long-term research within the job that will benefit the delivery of natural resource management and policy within the protected landscape.
  • A working knowledge of geographic information and spatial modelling systems or a willingness to develop these skills.
  • Spoken and written Welsh – a successful candidate will be helped to develop a working knowledge within two years and encouraged to become bilingual in Welsh and English. Diploma in Management Studies or equivalent.
  • Level 1 Welsh Language Skill

Note on Welsh Language Requirement Please note: If you do not meet the Welsh language Requirements specified, then the Authority offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these requirements during your employment with us.