Sands of LIFE Project & Monitoring Officer
Closing Date: 5 March 2023 | Salary: £32,876 - £36,229 (Grade 5) | Location: Bangor
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment to 30 June 2024.
Work pattern: 37 hours a week, Monday to Friday with occasional weekend work
Post numbers: 200446
As an organisation we support flexible working. This role allows hybrid working (a mix of home and office working) and a working pattern suitable for you can be discussed on appointment if you are successful.
You will be contracted to the NRW location stated in this advert, of which you will be required to attend for regular meetings, training and for one-to-one meetings with your manager. These will be planned in advance.
Job Description
This is an exciting opportunity to join an established, multi-million pound biodiversity restoration project. As a member of the Sands of LIFE project team, you will be helping to deliver the ambitious programme of practical sand dune restoration, monitoring and stakeholder engagement work across four Special Areas of Conservation in Wales.
As Sands of LIFE Project and Monitoring Officer North, you will be responsible for leading on the delivery of large-scale, innovative on-site works at Newborough, Tywyn Aberffraw, Morfa Harlech and Morfa Dyffryn. This will involve letting and overseeing high-value contracts as well as subsequent monitoring. You will also collate and share the results of the project with fellow sand dune professionals (from the UK and overseas), local communities and visitors, including at the project’s final conference.
This post would suit an individual looking to develop their career in biodiversity conservation with a government agency. You will be required to regularly visit the four sand dunes named above, and will need to be comfortable in these remote environments. The successful candidate will be adaptable, learn quickly, show initiative and be able to work effectively with contractors, team members and other partners. The focus will be on delivering final outputs under a demanding time pressure.
The Sands of LIFE project (LIFE 17 NAT/UK/000023) has received funding from the LIFE Programme of the European Union and is part funded by Welsh Government.
Responsibilities
- Together with other project team members, you will support the Team Leader in ensuring delivery of the project objectives and targets and in reporting progress according to agreed milestones. You will ensure good governance of the project, including strict adherence to NRW’s procurement and wellbeing, health and safety practices. Your responsibilities will include the following:
- Work with other project team members and other NRW staff, to plan and develop the detailed programme of site restoration, monitoring and stakeholder engagement work for four sand dune sites for the project period.
- Deliver all practical on-site management, restoration and monitoring works to exemplary standards through a combination of first-hand on-site work and close supervision of specialist contractors.
- Develop and manage multiple and overlapping contracts covering all aspects of the programme.
- Maintain detailed records (including GIS-based data) of progress with project implementation to support reporting at key milestones. Collate and analysis project monitoring data to quantify the effectiveness of project actions. Present and share results and learning via written reports and other methods.
- Attend and actively contribute to regular meetings of the LIFE project team, and supporting the Team Leader at Project Board and Steering Group meetings.
- Manage the budget allocated to project elements you are responsible for and maintain relationships with third party suppliers to meet value for money and spend profile requirements.
- Be responsible for the supervision, mentoring and on-the-job training of an assistant post.
- Work with a wide range of stakeholders using a variety of engagement methods to increase understanding and appreciation of the requirements for and societal benefits resulting from sand dune restoration, LIFE and the Natura 2000 site series.
Qualifications, experience and knowledge
You will be able to demonstrate knowledge and experience of the following:
- Knowledge of site conservation management for biodiversity, including experience of the application of management techniques and the management of contractors.
- Terrestrial habitat data collection, analysis and presentation of results including the ability to write clear, concise reports and the use of GIS to analyse and collate data.
- Excellent team working and communication skills and the ability to represent the LIFE project to a variety of audiences including land managers.
- The ability to undertake physically demanding field work in a variety of weather conditions and terrains. Where necessary/appropriate this includes lone working.
- The ability to currently and legally drive a car in the UK.
Welsh language requirements
Essential Level 1 - Able to pronounce Welsh and use basic phrases
Desirable Level 3 – Able to communicate with confidence in Welsh in some work situations
Please note if you do not meet the level 1 requirement i.e., ability to understand basic phrases and ability to pronounce Welsh names correctly, then NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Competencies
Applications to this role will be assessed based on the following competencies, both at shortlisting and interview. Please give examples of how you demonstrate these competencies when completing your application form.
Essential Knowledge and Skills |
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Evaluation of Information |
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Decision Making and Autonomy Requirements |
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Impact |
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Communication and Relationships with Others |
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Responsibility for Resources |
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Benefits of Working for us
This role will offer a range of benefits, including:
- Agile and Flexible Working (role dependent)
- Civil Service Pension Scheme offering employer contributions of 26.6% to 30.3%
- 28 days Annual Leave, rising to 33 days
- Generous Leave Entitlements for all your life needs
- Health and Wellbeing Benefits and Support
- Weekly Well-being Hour to use at your choice
See full details for all the employee benefits you will receive.
How to Apply
Please send a completed Application form to Applications@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk using the post number as the email reference
Before completing your application, please read our Guidance on completing a job application form
Application closing date 5 March 2023
Interviews will take place through Microsoft Teams
If you have any queries about the role, please contact Kathryn Hewitt on Kathryn.hewitt@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk or 07970 254369
Natural Resources Wales embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunity. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition.
We welcome and encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented, including women, black and ethnic minority groups and people with a disability. We have a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
We put the principles of human rights, equality, fairness, dignity and respect at the heart of our values.