Conservation Capacity Development Officer - Fixed-Term

Job Description

The cloud forest is safeguarded in the ‘Peaks National Park’, but only 16 hectares of old growth cloud forest fragments remain on the highest peaks and steepest slopes. The remaining cloud forest is arguably the single most important site anywhere on British soil for species: at least 250 unique species are found entirely or nearly entirely in these fragments. This represents 1/6th of all unique British wildlife. Restoring the forest is critical for climate change as almost 40% of the island’s water comes from just two of the nine water catchments in the central Peaks area of the island, and the majority (60%) of this is derived from mist capture, which is most effectively achieved by the native cloud forest.

Through a highly collaborative process, a project-partnership has been formed with funding secured from the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to deliver the island's collective vision for the future; aiming to restore St Helena's iconic cloud forest for wildlife, water security and for people.

The Conservation Capacity Development Advisor (St Helena) is a key team facilitation role.

You will:

• be responsible for supporting St Helena Government’s Nature Conservation Division (NCD) with the cloud forest restoration in one of the National Conservation Areas.
• help catalyse the implementation of the management plan for the Peaks National Park working with St Helena’s highly skilled and inspirational habitat restoration teams alongside key roles within Government and the Partnership.
• work with the relevant teams to help set direction to achieve the project’s goals.
• work with relevant teams to coordinate pathogen response activities on St Helena and produce a conservation action plan to manage conservation work to take account of impacts and risk of plant pathogens threatening key cloud forest species.
• be an excellent collaborator who is motivated by bringing teams together and fostering talented people.

The Conservation Capacity Development Advisor (St Helena) will play a key mentoring role to others, notably NCD’s Terrestrial Conservation Officer and the Cloud Forest Restoration Ecologist role, to ensure long-term capacity is built in respect to habitat and project management. You will support the collaborative development of work plans key skilled teams and provide opportunities for staff development as the next phase of the project takes off.

We are looking for an experienced team facilitator, with the following skills and experience to bring to this exciting role:

• Proven understanding of habitat management.
• Relationship and partnership building to enable work with a wide range of stakeholders nationally and internationally.
• People management.
• Diplomacy and negotiation skills to solve problems and avoid and overcome conflict.
• Cultural sensitivity to ensure mutually respectful working relations with a wide range of stakeholders, nationally and internationally.
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of project management.
• Risk management.
• Proven time management and organisational skills.
• An ability to persuade and influence a wide range of people.
• Able to work under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances.
• The ability to produce verbal and written communications in a passionate and credible manner.
• Driving licence

This fixed-term full time role (37.5 hours per week) is being offered initially for 3 months but with an extension for a further 12 months dependent on funding, and starting as soon as possible on the island of St Helena, based within RSPB’s Cloud Forest Office. We would be happy to consider internal applicants on a secondment basis for the role.

For further information please contact Kirsten.Ellis@RSPB.org.uk.

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position w/c 4 December.

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.