Job Description

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Role Description for the post of

Senior Livestock Officer (North)

Department:

Reporting to:

Location:

Hours:

Adaptation

Head of Adaptation

Site work throughout Wiltshire with office base in Devizes

This contract requires both parties to commit to an IVA agreement (see special note)

Contract duration:

Salary:

Background:

To 31 st March 2015

£23,900 - £26,500 (Hay = 496)

Led by the Head of Adaptation the role of the Adaptation Department is to deliver the Trust’s vision of creating a Living Landscape, through strategic conservation projects, land acquisition, reserves management, landowner advice, habitat creation projects, partnership building and local advocacy.

The team will also work closely with adjacent Wildlife Trusts t deliver cross border Living Landscapes projects.

Engaging communities with their natural environment and encouraging them to value and protect it in the face of climate change is central to our work. Working with local people will be a key part of this role. As part of this approach we aim to make local wildlife sites easier and more welcoming to visit for everyone.

Role Summary:

The purpose of this role is to develop the Trust estate across Wiltshire to benefit wildlife and the local and wider community.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

The day to day management of the Trust’s nature reserves in accordance with their respective management plans.

To manage livestock in order to deliver conservation grazing on all sites, including supervising and undertaking the movement of livestock to and from, all sites included within the

Landscape vision.

To manage grassland restoration works, such as hay making, silage making, reseeding and scrub management, ensuring that all are undertaken to the highest standard in accordance with statutory requirements.

To manage the livestock and other farming operations, ensuring all legal livestock management requirements are met and all ancillary farming operations are undertaken to the highest standard in accordance with statutory requirements.

To source suitable livestock and machinery to enable the effective management of the project.

To work closely with the Braydon Forest Field Officer to provide advice and support for

Reserve Wardens, Reserve Support Groups and other volunteers involved in the management of the nature reserves and Landscape areas.

To work with all members of the Adaptation team to improve the biodiversity of these sites whilst ensuring maximum access opportunities to all communities.

To work with all members of the Adaptation team to provide support and advice to farmers, landowners, partner agencies and the wider community to create a sustainable farming operation within WWT.

Assist WWT in providing increased opportunities for local people and community groups to become involved in countryside projects.

To ensure that the requirements of the Trust’s Health & Safety Policy as they affect the project sites, nature reserves and volunteers are fully adhered to.

To work closely with the Mitigation and Communications Departments within the Trust to increase awareness of environmental issues and the Living Landscape concept.

To provide advice and support to staff not directly involved in nature reserve management where appropriate.

To provide the Director, Head of Adaptation and associated funders with written and verbal reports within agreed time frames.

To work with the Fundraising team to maximise all funding opportunities.

Provide regular updates relating to the reserves for social media purposes.

Attend regular support and supervision sessions with the Head of Section.

Undertake personal development training as required.

Any other duties as may be required which are commensurate with this post.

Dimensions of role:

This is a role that carries responsibility for a wide range of functions; land management, people engagement, health and safety and livestock management as well as requiring a high level of management competence and leadership qualities, working with volunteers and contractors to achieve the objectives laid down in the Adaptation Business Plan.

You will be required to work closely with all members of the Adaptation team together with all other Trust staff members. This post requires active engagement with volunteers, contractors, funders and the local community.

This role has no direct line management responsibilities but the officer will be required to supervise volunteers and contractors.

There will be a requirement to carry out weekend and evening work and the post holder will, during this time, be the point of contact for any issues that may need to be addressed. A mobile phone will be provided for this purpose.

The post holder will be expected to wear a uniform provided by the Trust and carry appropriate identification when working away from the office.

In addition this post holder will be required to work within the terms of their contract and adhere to

Trust policies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

To be educated to degree level or have proven substantial relevant experience

Proven land management for people and wildlife

Desirable

Relevant environmental degree or equivalent

Relevant Practical Conservation certificates eg tractor, trailer, pesticides etc.

A good all-round working knowledge of habitat management.

ATB approved certification in a wide

Experience

Skills

Personal attributes

Additional requirements

Knowledge of livestock and arable farming.

Extensive knowledge of HLS and SFP.

Proven ability to engage and work with local communities and the public.

Experience of working on partnership projects.

Conservation / environmental project work experience.

The ability to develop and sustain strong working relationships, including reporting back.

Good understanding of Health and Safety legislation.

Knowledge of policies, legislation and organisations relevant to the work of the

Trust.

Experience of supervising volunteers or staff.

Ability to work with all livestock and farm machinery in the delivery of a conservation farming system.

Act as an effective team leader who is able to manage volunteers and contractors.

Good written / oral skills.

Able to implement and develop Nature

Reserve Management Plans.

Ability to handle a range of computer skills, including developing and monitoring budgets and report writing.

Self-motivation and drive.

Able to effectively prioritise, organise and manage a wide range of tasks, duties and resources concurrently.

The practical ability to turn concepts into reality.

Strong interpersonal and influencing skills including the ability to communicate with a wide range of service users.

Excellent customer care.

Ability to deal with matters in a sensitive manner when required.

Good judgement in managing resources and people.

Approachable and dynamic manner.

A commitment to the environment.

Valid full driving licence. range of farming disciplines.

Interest in achieving a sustainable conservation farming system.

Knowledge of marketing of products produced under conservation farming.

Ability to run Open Farm Days.

Experience of running a LEAF farming operation.

Understanding of electronic tagging systems.

Able to use GIS systems

Ability to mentor younger team members or volunteers.

Knowledge of the Living Landscape concept

Knowledge or experience of working in the charity sector.

Special note:

This job description does not form part of the contract of employment but indicates how that contract should be performed. The job description will be subject to periodic review and amendment in consultation with the post holder. The post holder may be required to perform duties other than those given in this job description. The duties and responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of the responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and would not in themselves justify the re-evaluation of a post. In cases, however, where a permanent and substantial change in the duties of the post occurs, consistent with a higher level of responsibility, then the post would be eligible for re-evaluation.

IVA Agreement –You agree that the 48 hour limit on average weekly working hours imposed by the

Working Time Regulations 1998 does not apply to your employment but this agreement will cease to have effect upon the expiry of 3 month’s written notice to WWT that you wish the limit to apply.

Notwithstanding the above, and in conjunction with your line manager, you are encouraged to take adequate rest by ensuring, where possible, that you do not exceed the 48 hour limit on average weekly hours. This includes ensuring that you take sufficient rest periods and rest breaks in compliance with the Working Time Regulations 1998.

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