THE BIODIVERSE SOCIETY
A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST, LERN AND MERSEYSIDE BIOBANK
A PROJECT FUNDED BY THE HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND
Thanks to contribution, support and ideas from volunteers, individuals, Local Naturalist Groups,
landowners, education establishments and community groups, our application to the Heritage
Lottery Fund clearly demonstrated how important this project is for our Local Wildlife Sites.
The consultation carried out was vital for shaping the final proposal, which culminated in a Project
Activity Plan, which will ensure that our proposed activity is targeted to the sites that need
surveying the most, sites that are most accessible, and sites closest to where there is the most
interest from local groups and individuals.
What our project will do
The main focus of The Biodiverse Society, is to enhance and update the data on Local Wildlife Sites
throughout Lancashire and North Merseyside and to make the collection of accurate data sustainable
into the future, creating a well supported new cohort of ambassadors for wildlife sites, equipped
with the skills to carry on this essential work into the future
The project is absolutely crucial to help us carry out the following aims:
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Understand better the value of Local Wildlife Sites, their place within ecological networks
and enable active protection and enhancement of our most precious sites of wildlife
importance.
Enable Local Naturalist Groups, volunteers and community groups alike to get actively
involved in recording wildlife on their nearest Local Wildlife Site, encouraging ownership of
these sites and the ability for long term monitoring
Support Local Naturalist Groups to share their expertise and recruit new members, ensuring
that these groups continue to carry out essential monitoring work long in to the future
Encourage new audiences to take an active role in recording their local wildlife
Providing opportunities for trainee recorders to gain necessary skills and experience and help
them into a relevant career within conservation.
Job Description
Job Title:
Trainee Ecological Recording Officer
Responsible to:
The Biodiverse Society Project Officer
Responsible for:
Volunteers
Overall Purpose of the Job:
To support the delivery of The Biodiverse Society with a focus on undertaking surveys of Local
Wildlife Sites (LWS) across North Merseyside or Lancashire, producing reports based on survey
results, landowner liaison, supporting volunteer recruitment, induction and training, and supporting
Local Naturalist Group involvement, in accordance with the project’s Activity Plan.
Main Responsibilities:
1. Monitor progress against Activity Plan and review activities in response to any issues
identified.
2. Contact landowners and gather existing records of wildlife found on Local Wildlife Sites.
3. Undertake site condition assessment and species and habitat surveys on Local Wildlife Sites.
4. Produce reports on management recommendations and liaise with landowners.
5. Ensure all volunteers submit records to Local Record Centres, and provide information on
wildlife found to the Project Manager to help with communications.
6. Support the co-ordination and delivery of training that will enable volunteers to undertake
wildlife surveys and submit quality wildlife records to Local Record Centres.
7. Support volunteer co-ordination and recruitment, including inductions and training.
8. Support the co-ordination of the Wildlife Counts, Basic wildlife survey and social media
training, and help promote all of our training through a booklet and on line.
9. Organise and deliver a celebration event to highlight the benefits of biological recording.
10. The opportunity to plan and deliver a personal project which
demonstrates the skills that have been acquired and meets targets
identified in the project’s Activity Plan.
11. Helping with recruitment, induction and mentoring to the new trainee
officers.
12. Contribute to the database of key contacts, groups and organisations that have an interest in
Local Wildlife Sites.
13. Contribute to the delivery of the Communications Plan and promote all of our achievements,
successes and wildlife recorded through media website, social media, networks, and email
newsletters, encouraging volunteers to have an active input.
14. Support the delivery of mentor training and support to those people who want to become
mentors.
15. Provide support to Local Naturalist Groups and identify ways in which groups can support
LWS surveys, and support to new volunteers. In turn support groups to help recruit and
maintain new members.
16. Ensure all activities are evaluated and meet targets / milestones set within the Activity Plan.
17. Any other duties commensurate with the post’s responsibilities as defined by the line
manager.
Person Specification
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Experience:
The post holder will be expected to have recent and relevant experience in the following areas:
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Activity
Degree in a relevant subject and at least 6 months
appropriate experience working within a recognised
conservation agency in a voluntary or professional capacity
Wildlife surveys and working alongside volunteers
Local Naturalist Groups – attended events or meetings
Report production with recommendations based on survey
results.
Project management
Supporting events
Essential
Desirable
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Knowledge:
The post holder will have the following knowledge:
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Activity
The Local Wildlife System and its strategic importance
Environmental issues, such as ecosystem services and
climate change
Legislation and organisations affecting UK wildlife
Evaluation techniques
Essential
Desirable
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Skills
The post holder will need to be able to:
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Activity
Persuasive communicator, both verbally and in writing,
to a wide range of audiences
Organise and prioritise work effectively, often to tight
deadlines, and monitor outcomes
Focus on tasks and take them through from conception
to completion
Essential
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Desirable
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Personal Qualities
The post holder should posses the following:
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Activity
Ability to maintain high levels of enthusiasm and self
motivation
Ability to inspire others and generate support and
action for conservation
Ability to work well on their own initiative and cooperatively as part of a team
Essential
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Desirable
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Ability to be innovative, flexible and respond to
changing situations and opportunities
Ability to work well with a wide range of audiences
from landowners, volunteers, Local Naturalist Groups,
community groups and the wider community.
Ability to work effectively under pressure
A strong affinity with wildlife/wildlife habitats,
particularly in urban areas
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GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Salary:
£ 9843.60 per annum
All successful officers will complete a one month induction with weekend
residential. A training package is available for each officer.
Duration of post:
This is a fixed term contract for 12 months.
Pension:
The Trust has a Group Personal Pension Scheme, which is available to the
post holder on commencement of employment.
Probation Period:
All new employees to the Trust undertake a probationary period of 6
months, in which time they are expected to establish their suitability for the
post.
Hours per week:
30 hours. Personal study time of a maximum of 7 hours per week will be
encouraged. Specific hours worked to be arranged with the line manager.
Holidays:
25 days plus 3 occasional days pro rata per annum.
Place of work:
Lancashire officers will be based at the Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s
Headquarters at The Barn, situated in Cuerden Valley Park, Bamber Bridge,
south of Preston.
North Merseyside officers will based at the Merseyside BioBank offices in
Court Hey Park, Knowsley.
Applications:
5pm on Tuesday 11th November
Interviews:
Tuesday 25th or Wednesday 26th November
Please note we will be interviewing for both posts over one or two days. If you have a preference
where you are based please indicate this on the form, however if you do not indicate this you will
be considered for both positions.
Criteria Common to All Job Descriptions:
A Job Description sets out the purpose of the job, where it fits into the Trust’s structure, the context
within which the job holder functions and the principal accountabilities of job holders, or the main
tasks they have to carry out. It is not a definitive work plan. This document is intended to provide
guidance on the scope and function of the job.
Equal Opportunities Statement:
All employees are required to adhere to and promote the principles and operation of the Trust’s
policies on equalities, to ensure that services provided are relevant to ethnically diverse communities
and other disadvantaged groups in the area.
Health and Safety Statement:
All employees are required to ensure that all duties and responsibilities are discharged in accordance
with the Trust’s Health and Safety at Work Policy and the Health and Safety File. They should take
reasonable care for their own Health and Safety and that of others who may be affected by what
they do or do not do. Staff should correctly use work items provided by the Trust including personal
protective equipment in accordance with training or insurance. All members of Trust staff are
responsible for informing their line managers of any potential gaps in the current Trust Policy. All
employees are responsible for ensuring that Health and Safety Policy is up to date and continuously
reviewed and evaluated.
Performance Review:
All employees will participate in the Trust’s Performance Review process. The process aims to ensure
that performance standards/targets are jointly agreed between employees and line managers and
are achieved within agreed time scales. Failure to maintain an appropriate standard indicated by
management can result in Capability proceedings being taken.
Commensurate Statement:
At times, the Post holder will be required to undertake other duties and responsibilities of a similar
level and nature in order to support workload peaks and resources and skill shortages, ensuring
priorities are met. This will be sensitive to available resources and individual skills and will generally
be within the same area.
Adherence to Staff Handbook, Policies and Procedures:
The Trust is a large, diverse charitable organisation and as such needs to ensure that all employees
are aware of their obligations to and from the organisation. These are clearly defined in the Staff
handbook, the Intranet and in the policies and procedures adopted by Council as part of the Trust’s
governance. All Employees have an obligation to read and understand these policies, especially
those that are pertinent to this role.