Peatland Project Officer - Fixed term

Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of an established Peatland restoration team at Lake vyrnwy as they scale up delivery across Wales. The role would suit an individual looking to forge a career in peatland restoration with an opportunity to build expertise within a team that has established itself as leading peatland practitioners. We are looking for someone who understands the upland landscape of Wales; someone with a passion for protecting our uplands for the benefit of wildlife and people.

Our current programme of work sits within the 10,000ha estate which surrounds Lake Vyrnwy, owned by water company Hafren Dyfrdwy and managed in partnership with RSPB. Carbon investment now enables the scope and scale of work to expand with the opportunity to work with partners in the wider Welsh landscape delivering restoration at landscape scale.

We are looking for an individual with an understanding of upland ecosystems and experience of relevant habitat management, someone with the ambition, drive and the skills to join a team already setting the standard for peatland restoration with Wales. This is an opportunity to work in some of Wales’s most iconic landscapes, driving RSPB’s ambitious vision for our uplands.

What’s the role about?

You will support in developing, delivering, monitoring and reporting on peatland restoration projects as we expand our influence beyond Lake Vyrnwy, helping to ensure that the project achieves the desired outputs and objectives.

The overall programme of works includes:

• Establishing current baseline condition
• Developing restoration plans, Peatland Code applications and Funding
• Delivering habitat restoration through the management of contractors.
• Monitoring of completed work and impact.

The role will be based at Lake Vyrnwy and report into the existing Peatland team and include the following key focus areas:

• Help put in place the right governance structure to keep their projects on track.
• Undertake agreed activities in order to deliver the project outputs and objectives in accordance with the project plan.
• Work with staff, partners, external contractors and volunteers as necessary to ensure that actions are delivered to agreed standards of cost, quality and time.
• Produce relevant project documentation as directed by the site team.
• Develop and deliver appropriate communication activities such as events, media interaction, briefings, talks and production of materials in association with communications colleagues to support the delivery of the project.
• Co-ordinate meetings and report to the site team.
• Ensure that risks and issues are highlighted.
• Support in managing the project budget.
• Contribute to project reviews.
• Contribute to the handover to ‘business as usual’ at the end of the project, by conducting any follow-on actions.

What we need from you:

• Project delivery experience in a relevant sector working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Knowledge and experience of upland conservation including peatland restoration.
• Experience of working with contractors.
• The ability to communicate about the project in a passionate and credible manner.
• Experience of producing written materials, newsletters and similar project related communications.
• An ability to persuade and influence a wide range of people, both internally and externally.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and working in partnerships to achieve shared outcomes.
• Excellent problem solving skills and ability to find creative solutions.
• Able to work under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Proven time management and organisational skills and attention to detail
• Competent IT user (e.g. MS packages, Outlook etc).
• Experience of GIS packages.

Additional Information

This is a fixed term contract for 22 months, full-time at 37.5 hours per week. We are looking to conduct interviews for this position the week commencing the 29th September. For further information please contact mike.perks@rspb.org.uk

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.

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.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.