Address
Form of work
SalaryJob Description
Biodiversity Initiatives Officer, Villages and Towns PKC11559
£30,727 - £33,843 Fixed Term (until 31/3/25)
Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, Perth PH1 5GD
You will be assisting in the rolling out of the innovative Biodiversity Villages, Towns & Neighbourhoods Initiative across Perth and Kinross. This will involve co-ordinating and facilitating new or existing volunteer community groups, organisations and businesses to actively engage in the care of their local environment, understanding of environmental issues and biodiversity by exploring and developing best practice. You will have the opportunity to work with others to prepare and run community mapping sessions, creating StoryMaps of the resulting information as well as assisting and advising each community on how to choose a suite of practical biodiversity projects which will extend across and beyond the settlement's boundaries.
The project's legacy will include helping to prepare Community Biodiversity Action Plans and a calendar of events, as well as liaising with NGOs, Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust and council staff. This will involve encouraging new skills for all ages and abilities, engaging communities (and individuals) in citizen science surveys and campaigns, including bioblitzes and online learning.
This post will require a considerable amount of on-site work with local community groups (usually a minimum of 2 days per week) including weekend tasks. Our FAQs on hybrid working can be found here Hybrid working FAQs
https://www.pkc.gov.uk/media/51581/FAQ/pdf/Hybrid_Working_FAQs.pdf?m=1714056244770
We are committed to being a more inclusive employer - to ensure we can consider any reasonable adjustments, please either contact the recruiting manager to discuss any individual circumstances, discuss at interview or, if you prefer, after any conditional offer is made.Requirements
Your skills, abilities and experience should include:
• Significant, appropriate experience in a work-related discipline with proven experience in the areas relevant to the post.
• Experience and understanding of working with the voluntary sector and successfully delivering environmental improvement projects/schemes, including an understanding of Health & Safety legislation and preparation of Risk Assessments.
• Knowledge of biodiversity (especially species and habitats, including nature networks and habitat connections), together with a working knowledge or experience in wildlife gardening and urban biodiversity.
• Experience of developing and maintaining positive working relationships with a wide variety of people, from farmers and land managers to local authority staff, from environmental NGOs and local community groups to individual community members.
• Experience of developing management plans and/or Action Plans, including transferring the local community's wishes to workable on-the-ground projects that suit all audiences.
• Experience in organising involvement in national biological surveys and campaigns, together with experience of basic biodiversity data collection, collation and analysis.
• Knowledge and understanding of working with children, young people and adults from a variety of backgrounds.
• Experience of contributing to or running workshops, webinars and conferences.
• Experience in innovative delivery to achieve results.
• Articulate with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to cope calmly with all situations.
• Experience of preparing copy for different publications including E-News, social media and end-of-project reporting.
Minimum HND or equivalent in environmental management, ecology or in an environmental subject or related discipline for responsibilities to be undertaken or significant, appropriate equivalent experience in a work-related discipline.
• Proven experience in the areas relevant to the post.
• Knowledge of working with the voluntary sector and successfully delivering environmental improvement projects/schemes.
• Knowledge of biodiversity (especially species and habitats, including habitat connections) including experience of basic biodiversity data collection, collation and analysis.
• Excellent organisational and PR skills with the ability to manage a diverse workload, prioritise tasks and meet deadlines.
• Computer literate and proficient in Microsoft Office Word and Excel.
• Experience using GIS/StoryMap (or willingness to undergo training).
You must have a valid driving licence as this post requires you to travel to a variety of locations across Perth and Kinross.
The Individual
The post will be full time until 31st March 2025. As funding may continue beyond this date, continuation of the post may be possible subject to confirmation of further funding. Contact Catherine Lloyd - caglloyd@pkc.gov.uk - for more information.
When completing your application for this post, please ensure you provide current contact details (including e-mail addresses) for two referees, one should be your present or most recent employer. However, if you are an existing employee of Perth & Kinross Council, you are only required to provide reference details for your current employer.
At PKC our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of the Perth and Kinross Offer. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours. Find out more about PKC and you could soon be joining our team!
Please APPLY ONLINE. Facilities are available at all public libraries in Perth and Kinross. If you have a disability and require reasonable adjustments, please call 01738 475555 to discuss.
As part of our safer recruitment measures, any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of mandatory checks including eligibility to work in the UK, Disclosure Scotland or PVG, qualifications, references, and fitness to undertake the post. This may also include an Overseas Criminal Records Check if you have spent time living overseas.
Some jobs may have been traditionally carried out predominately by one gender, but we would encourage you to apply if you meet the requirements, irrespective of your gender.
A healthy work life balance is important to Perth & Kinross Council and we provide supportive management and flexible working arrangements to help you achieve a healthy work life balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.
Perth & Kinross Council welcomes applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.
What we can do for you
If you are successful in a role with Perth & Kinross Council, you will have access to a range of benefits to help your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
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