- Working base: Warwick House, Llandrindod Wells (with occasional travel within England and Wales)
- Fixed-term Contract: Hybrid contract
- Duration: 3 year fixed term contract
- Responsible to: Head of Conservation
- Responsible for: Project Officer, Intern(s).
- Salary: £30,000 pro rata
- Holiday Entitlement: 25 days per annum plus Bank Holidays
- Pension: Enrolment into the NEST auto-enrolment scheme, currently with 3% minimum employees’ contribution with a 6% contribution from RWT.
- Working Hours: 35 hours per week, with flexible working arrangements. Some evening and weekend work required for which Time Off In Lieu will be awarded.
Overall Purpose of the role:
The Radnorshire Rivers project aims to restore and reconnect Radnorshire’s riparian habitats, strengthening their role as vital corridors for wildlife. Working with local farmers and landowners, this project will evidence both the need and the success for a change in land management use, specifically within 3 identified priority zones along key Radnorshire rivers.
This will be achieved through practical interventions on identified sites, building strong relationships with local landowners through proven results and outreach, as well as surveying of protected sites. This project will produce information in the form of detailed maps that will form the basis for wider ecological work and feed into the development of a Resilient Ecological Network.
This project manager role will lead this project to achieve its ambitious aims and will suit someone experienced in both leadership and practical ecology work, as well as someone who is knowledgeable about farming practices. We are seeking someone who is sensitive to the struggles of local farmers, and someone who is willing and able to build bridges between communities to ensure that ecological benefits delivered have long term impacts.
This project is funded by the Nature Networks Programme. It is being delivered by the Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
Your responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
- Managing project officers and overseeing the recruitment and training of Interns
- Managing Project development and budgets
- Ensuring all project reports are completed in a timely and accurate manner
- Undertaking, where relevant, direct delivery of advice to farmers and landowners
- Organising presentations, workshops and events where you will act as a representative of RWT
- Direct delivery of practical interventions alongside Project Officer
- Working with a range of landowners, land managers and colleagues to identify the best locations and types of habitat creation and management to help nature’s recovery.
- Producing detailed maps and surveying land & protected sites.
PERSON SPECIFICATIONS
Skills and abilities
Essential
Travel is an essential part of this role, so a full and valid driving licence and own car, insured for business use is required.
Environmental skills:
Any applicants must have proven experience is environmental roles, the Project Manager will be expected to deliver outcomes as part of this role alongside the management of the project. We are looking for someone passionate about nature’s recovery.
- A degree qualification or equivalent practical experience in environmental sciences/agriculture/conservation management or similar. Equivalent relevant experience will be considered as highly as academic qualifications.
- Experience with GIS or other equivalent mapping tools
- Commitment to nature conservation
- Knowledge of farming activities and agri-environmental schemes
- Knowledge of the context of farming in Wales
Project Management skills:
We are looking for someone to lead delivery for a key project for RWT over 3 years, and it is therefore essential that the applicant have proven experience in team leadership.
- Line management experience
- Experience of positive collaboration with stakeholders and partners, including neighbouring landowners and the farming and forestry sector.
- Experience successfully managing budgets
- Experience producing project reports
- Ability to learn from mistakes and critically appraise both their own work and that of their team.
- Experience with releasing contracts and contractor management
- Experience with applying for relevant permissions and approvals (e.g. SSSI consents, planning permission, ordinary water consent)
- Experience with following financial procedures and compliances with funder requirements (e.g. number of quotes needed).
Other Essential skills include:
- Experience using IT software including email, MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and videoconference apps.
- Any applicant must have at least a base knowledge of the pronunciation of Welsh place names
As part of this role you will be working with a small, but passionate team within Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, and as such it is essential that any applicant have a flexible approach to managing a changing workload and supporting other members of the team to fulfil the trust’s ambitions and focus on the wider benefits to Radnorshire.
Desirable
- Successful grant bid compilation
- Good natural history skills
- Ability to communicate in the Welsh language
- Practical land management skills, backed by certification e.g. chainsaw certificate, tractor, ATV and off-road driving skills, brushcutter etc
RWT is looking for someone who is committed to nature and communicating this to a wider audience, someone who is good natured and able to communicate effectively and clearly to a broad audience, some of whom may have dissenting opinions. This role will be a leadership role within the trust, and it is therefore important that the applicant understands they will be acting as an ambassador of the trust in the local community.
