Post Title:
Location
Grade:
Hours:
Responsible to:
Responsible for:
Contact with:
Main purposes of post:
1 st September 2012
Farm and Woodland Adviser
Graduate Placement
The Conservation Board Offices, Northleach
Scale 2/3
37 hours a week, normally Monday to Friday, but with some evening and weekend work (for which time off in lieu will be granted)
Planning Officer
No staff responsibility is attached to this post
Within the Conservation Board
The Board and its Members
The Director and Staff
Volunteers
Outside the Conservation Board

Farm and woodland owners and agents

Woodland and forestry businesses such as woodfuel suppliers and contractors

Natural England, Forestry Commission and Woodland Trust officers

Officers from relevant organisations such as the Deer
Initiative and Royal Forestry Society

Local Authorities

The general public

The Chilterns Conservation Board, other AONB
Partnerships and National Park Authorities

Statutory and voluntary bodies involved in countryside affairs

Prepare and Submit to the Forestry Commission English
Woodland Grant Schemes, Woodland Improvements Grant
Schemes, Woodland Management Plans - focussing on areas agreed by the Cotswolds Ancient Woodland Project.

To promote the Cotswolds Ancient Woodland Project and seek the restoration of plantations to native broadleaf cover.

Prepare and submit to Natural England Environmental
Stewardship schemes in the Cotswolds AONB

Main Activities:
Conditions of service:

Promotion of the services offered by the Board to farmers, landowners, woodland owners, agents and land managers

Assess the qualities of the farm/woodland against
Environmental Stewardship and English Woodland Grant
Scheme criteria and the Board’s Landscape Strategy and
Guidelines.

Prepare Farm Environment Records, Farm Environment Plans and/or Woodland Management Plans for discussion and agreement with the farmer/landowner.

Work with farmers and landowners to prepare Environmental
Stewardship and/or English Woodland Grant Scheme applications and subsequently support as necessary their submission of paperwork and recovery of fees due to the Board.

Organise events for farmers and landowners to promote good
Environmental Stewardship / Higher Level Stewardship management practice.

Liaise with Natural England and Forestry Commission officers to ensure ‘right first time’ applications.

Identify and contact woodland owners primarily within the
Cotswolds Ancient Woodland Priority Area prioritising those with
Planted Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) and those not in a current agreement.

Investigate the PAWS resource and target work on the most threatened sites and produce PAWS Assessments

Promote woodland creation to extend and link ancient woodland in line with the Landscape Strategy and guidelines for the
Cotswolds AONB.

Organise events for woodland owners and agents to demonstrate the importance of ancient woodland and Identify and promote good management practice.

Record and maintain accurate time records of activity to ensure accurate invoicing.

Attend Project Steering Group meetings and provide a project update.

Monitor the impact of the schemes submitted to Natural England and the Forestry Commission by the Board.

Assist with the promotion, operation and monitoring of the
Board’s dry stone walling grant scheme.
 Submit grant award recommendations to the Board’s Grants
Sub-committee.

Promote the Cotswold Deer Forum, and help to organise events

Promote and facilitate local Deer Management Groups as a result of the Deer Forum
1. The Conditions of Service of the National Joint Council for
Local Government Services
2. Local Conditions of Service and contained in the Staff
Handbook

3. Normal working week is 37 hours, Monday – Friday, but some flexible out of hours working in evenings and at weekends required, for which there is time off in lieu
4. Staff are not permitted to smoke in office premises;
5. Casual car user allowance payable;
6. The operational base will be the Board’s offices at
Northleach
7. The postholder will be require d to comply with the Board’s
Health and Safety Policy;
8. This post is for a FIXED TERM OF 12 months. Subject to funding availability and achievements, an extension may be possible.

Cotswolds Conservation Board
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Farm and Woodland Adviser
Graduate Placement
Honours Degree or equivalent in a rural land management or countryside management related subject.
Paid or voluntary experience in a similar or related role
Experience in developing project work
Knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting the countryside and rural businesses.
Knowledge of agri-environment support schemes, particularly Environmental
Stewardship and English Woodland Grants
Scheme
Knowledge of Farm Environment Record,
Farm Environment Plan or Woodland
Management Plan preparation
Knowledge of farm and/or woodland management
Essential
Desirable
Desirable
Desirable
Essential
Essential
Essential
IT skills - MS Office
Good inter-personnel, written and oral communication skills
Ability to record findings
The flexibility to be able to respond to fluctuating workloads and priorities
Essential
Essential
Essential
Essential
Ability to work with a minimum of supervision. Essential
Good timekeeping, honest and trustworthy Essential
Application/reference
Application/Interview
Application/Interview
Application/Interview
Application/Interview
Application/Interview
Application/Interview
Application/Interview
Presentation/
Application/Interview
Application/Interview
Application/Interview
Interview/references
Interview/references

Ability to prioritise and meet tight deadlines
Ability to maintain confidentiality
Ability to walk for up to 5 miles across rough ground at any one time
Full Driving Licence
Access to a vehicle for business purposes
Essential Interview/references
Essential Interview
Essential Application/interview
Essential
Essential
Interview
Interview