Graduate Public Rights of Way (PRoW) Officer

Role Responsibility

Kent County Council

Job title: Graduate Public Rights of Way (PRoW) Officer

Salary: £28,598 - £32,333 per annum

Permanent - Full Time

37 hours per week

Location: Maidstone/Hybrid Working

The Kent County Council Rights of Way Improvement Plan has been designed with a clear purpose: to provide a high-quality, well-maintained access network to the county’s open greenspace. We’ve identified and committed to the key objectives we need to achieve over the next 10 years in order support the economy, encourage active lifestyles and sustainable travel sources, and contribute to making Kent a great place to live, work and visit.

We’re now looking for an ambitious graduate to help ensure projects and multi-agency access initiatives are delivered successfully. You’ll advise on, and implement, a range of Public Rights of Way (PRoW) and countryside access plans. Working closely with planners and developers, you’ll assist the delivery of integrated schemes including car-free travel for short journeys and access to green spaces.

Your responsibilities will include: planning and implementing projects that can be completed in short-to-medium term timeframes, including the bidding process and securing of external funding, grants and non-financial assistance; contributing to our responses to local and strategic consultations; championing quality standards to improve the user experience; building relationships with user groups, landowners and community groups and, raising awareness of issues relating to countryside access for those with disabilities and under-represented groups.

This is a great opportunity for a graduate to shape our projects and deliver real results. You’ll develop valuable skills and experience across a range of different areas, from legal orders and financial matters to site visits and interactions with all sectors of the public. Plus, you’ll be offered the chance to study for an Associate Project Management Level 4 Apprenticeship.

About you

You’ll have a minimum 2:2 degree (or equivalent) in in geography, environmental sciences, civil engineering, agriculture, forestry or a related subject, as well as GCSEs grade A-C (4-9 or equivalent) in English language and mathematics.

Organised, collaborative and able to communicate with tact and diplomacy, you’ll think creatively and apply your learning to produce positive outcomes. You’ll be comfortable using Microsoft Office packages, while some knowledge of Geographic Information Systems and Global Positioning Systems is also required. Importantly, you’ll be willing to travel to a number of locations across Kent at short notice, and be comfortable working independently outside as well as in, in all weathers.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.