Lws Ecologist - Species Survival Fund: 'Bogs And Bitterns'

LWS Ecologist - Species Survival Fund: 'Bogs and Bitterns'
Salary: £28,544 - £31,025
Contract type: Fixed term until end of December 2025
Working hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week
Location: Cheddar, with opportunities for hybrid working

“Bogs and Bitterns": Somerset Wetland Restoration is one of twenty schemes being funded by the Government's Species Survival Fund.

As Project Ecologist you will be at the forefront of delivering, working with landowners and communities to undertake the survey and monitoring work across Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) in Somerset.

This project is funded by the Government's Species Survival Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency. “Bogs and Bitterns: Somerset Wetland restoration is one of twenty schemes being funded across the country. Within their project area they aim to deliver 50 hectares of wetland habitat, restoring and expanding to improve and create quality ‘stepping stone’ sites of high quality biodiversity and to enable species abundance across the wider county.

As Project Ecologist you will be at the forefront of delivering, working with landowners and communities to undertake the survey and monitoring work across these sites. Year one of the project will be focused on targeted ecological surveys and engagement with year two focused on completing surveys and delivering small-scale capital works. The outcome of the project is to better understand the condition of their Local Wildlife sites and to have delivered targeted individual small-scale actions.

Responsibility 1: Develop and Oversee Relationships

Share knowledge and expertise by:

• Taking responsibility for a range of ecological and habitat consultancy and advisory projects.
• Being responsible for corresponding with landowners and communities to access survey sites.
• Carrying out preliminary appraisals.
• Undertaking LWS habitat survey work and producing high quality technical reports within the project area whilst liaising with the SERC LWS Ecologist on this delivery.
• Undertaking and coordinating with volunteers and the wilder project team including Reserves and Nature Recovery Team species survey monitoring and evaluating work across the project area.  
• Undertaking a wide range of complex, technical and professional tasks in differing situations, with a degree of personal responsibility and autonomy. It is important to be able to work both alone and as a member of the team.
• Adopting environmentally friendly working practices, setting, and maintaining high personal standards of efficiency and customer care and fostering a ‘can do’ culture based on ownership, initiative, teamwork, and exchange of information.  All staff are ambassadors for the organisation both internally and externally and are expected to always act in a professional manner. They are required to abide by organisational rules, policies and procedures as laid down in the staff handbook.

Responsibility 2: Data Collection and Records

Be responsible by:

• Supporting the ongoing LWS Programme in Somerset, following LWS protocols.
• Capturing and recording LWS habitat/species and condition data and aid in the inputting of this data, supporting updating of LWS records and feeding into the SERC database.

Responsibility 3: Project Fund Management

Support and be accountable by:

• Identifying, coordinating and delivering small scale capital funding and actions across LWS and PCNR network, whilst managing project budgets.
• Working with the communications team where applicable to promote and highlight the project achievements.

General

• The job holder is required to follow and comply with all policies and procedures of this nature conservation charity which includes their health and safety and safeguarding procedures, ensuring the personal safety of all staff, volunteers, young people and vulnerable adults involved in the project.
• To carry out other duties relevant to your post as reasonably required by your line manager.
• To reflect their Values in all areas of work.
• To work collaboratively with other organisations to share learning and achieve greater impact collectively.
• They are committed to creating a more digital culture across the organisation. They aim to become more collaborative, agile and efficient through the use of digital technology.  A basic level of digital skills is expected of all staff with the opportunity to improve these skills with career progression.
• They are a Disability Confident Employer, as such they offer an interview to people with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the job.

Additional benefits of working for this organisation include:

• 7% employer pension contribution
• Life insurance
• An annual professional institution subscription
• Flexible and agile working
• Wellbeing support – EAP, wellbeing champions
• Diversity networks through RSWT/TWT
• Paid volunteer days
• Continuous Professional Development opportunities
• Minimum 33 days of holiday (25 annual leave + bank holidays)
• Active staff social events

The opportunity to make a real and positive difference to nature, communities and the climate.

Closing date: Sunday 30 June 2024

Application Process:

To find out more information, please click the apply button. You will be taken to a simple CHM Recruit form and then redirected to complete your application for this position.

No agencies please.