Nature Officer - Tir Canol

Job Description

This is a wonderful opportunity to join a great team saving nature and inspiring people in some of the most wildlife-rich areas of Wales.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about conservation delivery, who sees the big picture and has an eye for detail. Someone with real vision, commitment, a passion for nature and excellent people skills.
This is a 3-year, 4 day a week post, with the potential of longer term subject to funding.

Please see the attached additional information doc for further insight into this role with Welsh translation.

The role focuses on the tree resource centred around the Dyfi Valley and wider Tir Canol project area, which has some of Wales’ most specular scenery and the species to match. This role will be delivering the co-designed Tir Canol Blueprint, with a focus on woodlands, including Western Atlantic Oak Woods:

• Produce a tree resource landscape plan, using existing data and additional survey work
• Deliver habitat surveys for, and with, landowners of their tree resource and priority species which incorporates their knowledge and ambitions
• Deliver management interventions where opportunity and funding allows
• Engage with the public forestry in the area to support sustainable forestry management
You will sit within the Tir Canol team, working together and meeting regularly with each other. You will also work closely with Tir Canol partners, particularly RSPB Cymru staff including conservation, reserve, and Celtic Rainforest LIFE programme; and Woodland Trust staff, to deliver an assessment of the tree resource and key associated species in the Dyfi area.

Key activities:

• Survey work, for assessing broadleaved woodlands using methodology developed jointly by Woodland Trust, Plantlife and RSPB.
• Selected woodland and wooded habitat priority species surveys
• Develop a plan for woodland and woodland species enhancement across the landscape with landowners and stakeholders.
• Identifying and implementing woodland creation and restoration opportunities where funding allows
• Contributing to whole farm habitat assessments (to Phase 1 level) and action plans alongside landowners to identify management opportunities.
• Liaising with external partners and stakeholders across the Dyfi and wider area developing relationships locally within organisations and communities
• Encouraging and supporting development of locally led woodland and tree focused projects
What we need from you.

Essential:

• Knowledge of woodland management, ecology, and delivery mechanisms for conservation work, relevant to the Dyfi area to enable recommendations to stakeholders of appropriate interventions
• Ability to work effectively as a team player both internally and in external partnerships
• Excellent communications skills (verbal and written) – including an ability to speak confidently and cogently to a variety of audiences
• Ability to rapidly analyse significant quantities of information, prioritise and balance a diverse workload often to tight deadlines
• Ability to carry out ecological surveys such as phase 1 and woodland bird surveys
• Welsh speaker
• Experience of engaging/negotiating with landowners, farmers different stakeholders to deliver biodiversity benefits,
• Experience of working to survey, protect and/or manage important, species and/or habitats
• Experience of productive partnership working
• Degree level qualification in a relevant subject or ability to show equivalent work experience

Desirable

• Competency in use of GIS
• Experience of public engagement work
• Effective project management skills
• Specialist conservation knowledge in relevant areas, such as lower plants in woodland, ancient and veteran trees, and upland.
• Understanding of the concept of landscape scale conservation and the pressures on land use in Wales.

Additional Information

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. Fixed-term part-time role for 30 hrs per week.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 19/4/24. For further information please contact Heledd.Wyn@Tircanol.cymru

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.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

This role is joint funded with Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust in Wales) and hosted by RSPB Cymru as part of the Tir Canol Partnership.