Role description - A Wilder Career Choice Trainee
This placement is ideal for someone who is looking for a career in conservation
and/or community development work, as it will provide the skills and experience
that are essential to be successful in obtaining employment within this highly
competitive sector. All the Trust’s work is helping to deliver a Living Landscape
– the name given to our approach to restoring and reconnecting large areas of
habitat to allow wildlife to adapt to climate change and other environmental
challenges. You will be a key member of the team in assisting with the
management of reserves and identifying opportunities to reconnect them with
each other and the people around them.
Objective of the traineeship
To gain hands-on work based experience in managing and monitoring the natural
environment and inspiring people to take action for wildlife; To complete the City
& Guilds approved Certificate in Work Based Environmental Conservation
Key tasks**
 Assisting in planning and implementing the management of the Trust’s
nature reserves
 Assisting with monitoring and surveying of sites and species
 The delivery of community based environmental projects of varying
complexities including practical, social and desk-top work
 Engaging and inspiring children and adults about their natural environment
 Working in identified communities to develop partnership projects primarily
through volunteer activity.
** These may change depending on the placement Trust – please see
additional information
Key responsibilities
 Active involvement in the management of nature reserves and community
spaces, to the required standard of work, efficiency and quality expected
by the Placement Provider
 Completion of the objectives and tasks as specified in your Individual
Training Plan to be agreed with your Supervisor
 Registration and commitment to completing the City & Guilds approved
Certificate in Work Based Environmental Conservation.
 Be accountable for your own development by undertaking and completing
the project’s reviewing and reporting procedures
Core requirements
This placement does not require any particular qualifications or
experience. However, you must be passionate about making nature conservation
your career and have demonstrated your commitment through volunteering or
other means.
The placement will involve considerable amounts of travel and therefore a valid
driving licence is essential.
Knowledge
 Knowledge and interest in current environmental issues
Skills
 Proven ability to work outside, in a variety of weather conditions
 The ability to work with a range of people from different age groups and
backgrounds
 Adaptable and flexible, with proven qualities as a strong team player, able
to work closely with others, and ability to work on one’s own initiative
 Willingness to supervise and lead others
 Written communication skills
 To be computer literate
Experience
 Proven ability to absorb and apply new information
 Proven ability to take responsibility for professional development
Motivation
 A genuine desire to work in wildlife conservation
 A desire to inspire people about the wonders of the natural world and to
encourage them to take action for wildlife
Practical arrangements
Training
Allowance:
Hours:
Probationary
period:
Contract
Holidays:
Notice Period:
Place of Work:
Travel:
Training:
Closing date:
Interviews:
Start Date:
£9000 per annum to cover the cost of accommodation, living
expenses and travel to and from your place or work
35 hours a week over a seven day period. The nature of the
post’s duties may from time-to-time require evening and
weekend work. Paid overtime is not available, but time off in lieu
will be given for any additional hours spent on the placement in
a week.
All appointments are subject to the satisfactory completion of a
probationary service of one month.
One Year
A full-time trainee has 25 working days per annum in addition to
normal public holidays.
The period of notice for termination of your placement will be
one week on either side.
The post will be based at: TBC dependent on placement Trust
Travel across the region will be required. Where applicable, the
use of your own vehicle may be necessary and you will be
required to have insurance to cover business use and a mileage
allowance of 45p per mile will be payable for such journeys. If
you are required to use public transport fares will be reimbursed.
The Trust is fully committed to personal development and
training and each trainee will be allocated a £1500 training
budget
5.00pm on 14th December 2015
18th/19th January 2016
29th February 2016
Individual Trusts’ Role Descriptions
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
People and Wildlife Trainee
One trainee will join the Visitor Services Team based at Shropshire Wildlife
Trust’s headquarters and visitor centre in Shrewsbury. This role will support the
people engagement work of the Trust at our two visitor centres and on key nature
reserves. Activity will include a broad range of face to face engagement with the
public, developing interpretation, running family events, children’s parties and
working in the retail and conference businesses. Whilst part of the Visitor
Services Team, the trainee will have opportunity to work across all areas of the
Wildlife Trust.
Conservation Trainee
The second trainee will join the Reserves Team based at the Trust’s Old
Coleham Estate Yard, just over the road from the headquarters and visitor centre
in Shrewsbury. This role will support the work of the Conservation Team, and
involve practical work on Trust reserves including preparing and assisting with
work parties and leading groups of volunteers. The role will also involve
monitoring the condition of reserves and rivers. There will be opportunities to get
involved in a wide range of Trust events and activities on reserves as well as
experience essential skills such as production of management plans, site and
species survey work, mapping and GIS.
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
Highgate Common Trainee
We are looking for a trainee warden to be based at Highgate Common, our
flagship reserve in South Staffordshire. The trainee will be part of a small team
based at the reserve office assisting in the day-to-day management of the
reserve. The trainee will gain experience across the full range of skills required in
running a large and busy nature reserve (practical habitat management, leading
volunteer work parties, survey work, running events and family activities). For
more information on Highgate Common, please go to http://www.staffswildlife.org.uk/reserves/highgate-common
Roaches Trainee
We are looking for a trainee warden to be based at the Roaches, our largest and
newest reserve in the Peak District National Park near Leek. Based at a nearby
office, the Roaches Trainee will work alongside the Roaches Warden to assist in
the day-to-day management of the reserve. The trainee will gain experience
required in running a large and busy nature reserve including practical habitat
management, survey work, leading volunteer work parties and assisting in our
annual 'Peregrine Watch'. For more information on The Roaches please go
to http://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/reserves/the-roaches
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
Conservation Trainee
Based at the Trust headquarters at Brandon Marsh Nature Centre on the
outskirts of Coventry, the first trainee will be an important member of the Living
Landscapes team. The trainee’s role will be primarily to lead regular volunteer
work parties in conservation work on reserves throughout the county. He or she
will also be involved in working with other members of the Trust on community,
conservation and education projects and with corporate work parties.
Education Trainee
The People and Wildlife Trainee will join the Team based at Warwickshire
Wildlife Trust at Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, near Coventry, and also be
required to work at our centre at Brueton Park, Solihull. This role will support the
Environmental Education work of the Trust for a significant part of the placement.
The trainee will be involved in delivering a range of activities, including
environmental education sessions, holiday workshops and children’s parties and
events. During the quieter season (November-January), the trainee will also be
able to work across other areas of the Wildlife Trust and have the opportunity to
get involved in practical conservation work.
The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country
We have two opportunities based within The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham & the
Black Country. Both trainees will be expected to work across all areas of the
Trust’s work, Conservation, Reserves, Community and Education, they will also
be expected to work across the whole geographic area of this Trust.
The Conservation Team specialise in carrying out on site surveys, management
plans, reserves management, support for local groups. The Community and
Education Team manage 2 environment centres, we work on public sites and
educational settings, delivering both education and practical activities to a
diverse range of people, all of which feeds into the Nature Improvement Area.
The post holders will be based at our head office in Edgbaston, but could be
asked to work at any of our centres.
Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
Conservation Trainee
The Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust is looking for one Trainee to join
the Trust’s Conservation Team based at our main offices in Leicester. The role
will support the Reserves Officer in carrying out practical tasks on the Trust's 32
reserves throughout Leicestershire and Rutland and to help manage and lead the
volunteer group.
The placement will also offer opportunities to gain experience with other areas of
the Trust’s work including delivering education and events, undertaking survey
work, livestock management and production of management plans.
Wyre Community Land Trust
The Wyre Community Land Trust trainee will be based at Uncllys Farm in the
heart of the Wyre Forest National Nature Reserve, near Bewdley. The Wyre
Forest straddles the Worcestershire and Shropshire borders and covers over
6,000 acres. It is probably the largest contiguous area of ancient and seminatural woodland in England.
The trainee will be part of our small team and will work with our partner agencies,
Natural England and the Forestry Commission, to assist in the delivery of
improvements to the National Nature Reserve and the associated Site of Special
Scientific Interest (SSSI). The trainee will work alongside the Farm and
Woodland Conservation Manager on a wide variety of practical conservation
tasks, managing weekly volunteer work parties and helping to look after our herd
of Dexter Cattle. For further information on WCLT please see
http://www.wyreclt.org.uk