wildlife jobs in London

468872

£33,854 - £33,854

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Fixed term
Loan
Secondment

Fixed Term Appointment until end of March 2029, with the possibility of extension or permanency

FC - Forestry England

Operational Delivery
Project Delivery

Full-time

1

The postholder will be part of Forestry England North District based out of our Grizedale or Bellingham offices.

Forestry England’s Biodiversity Plan sets out a bold ambition for nature recovery in the nation’s forests. Working across five principal focus areas, Forestry England aims to restore resilient biodiversity in the nation’s forests, delivering our vision to ensure that these forests provide the most valuable places for wildlife to thrive and expand in England.

Forestry England’s Biodiversity Programme is a multi-year work stream to accelerate nature recovery at scale in England. With a multi-million-pound budget, supported by Defra and a growing portfolio of external funders, the programme makes a significant investment in nature recovery, alongside Forestry England’s parallel ambitions for sustainable timber production and connecting people with our forests.

The ‘Nature Networks’ project is a new addition to the wider Programme, aiming to create over 15,000 ha of dynamic habitat corridors along roads, rides and watercourses, improving ecological connectivity and enabling species movement across forest landscapes.

The role is based in Forestry England’s North District which covers Northumberland, Cumbria, County Durham and North Lancashire. As Nature Networks Project Officer you will oversee the development and delivery of North District’s Nature Networks project, managing it through concept and definition project stages, and facilitating their effective implementation on the ground. The post holder will be responsible for bringing the concept of nature networks to life, delivering at scale and pace to meet Forestry England’s ambitions for nature recovery.

You will develop key project documentation, including ecological feasibilities and project plans, working closely with other colleagues such as forest planners to link nature networks with existing open habitats and protected sites. As nature networks move into their delivery stage, you will plan operations and work closely with foresters and ecologists to turn them into a reality on the ground. In the longer-term, you will develop management plans for new networks and working with contractors and volunteers.

This is an exciting role, at the forefront of nature recovery in Forestry England. Reporting to North District Nature Recovery Team, the post holder will also work closely with the national Nature Networks Manager, as well as other district-based staff, including ecologists, planners and foresters. The post holder will be part of a growing team of colleagues across the country delivering similar nature recovery projects, sharing expertise and experience.

Key responsibilities & accountabilities

Project Management

• Lead on the development of the vision and project plan for nature networks in North District.
• Apply appropriate project management principles to ensure effective and timely project implementation.
• Produce, maintain and review relevant project documentation throughout the project lifecycles.
• Develop annual and long-term work programmes and budgets for projects.
• Manage a delegated budget.
• Support funding bids for external funding and ensure that commitments to funders for the projects are appropriately met through project delivery.
• Work with the Nature Networks Manager to ensure that programme, corporate and funder reporting requirements are met.

Land Management

• Lead on the development of land management plans for nature network projects, working with district and national colleagues.
• Lead the investigation of appropriate techniques which will deliver the vision for nature networks in restoring dynamic open space at scale, ensuring there is a sound evidence base for our interventions.
• Collaborate with the foresters and/or ecologists to deliver the agreed land management plans.
• Procure and manage contracts, services and contractors, including graziers, forestry contractors, consultants and academic institutions.
• Ensure Forestry England procurement and contract management regulations are followed throughout the project

Knowledge and Monitoring

• Work with the national Biodiversity Programme team and colleagues from Forest Research and wider academia to learn from and share best practice across the programme.
• Undertake or commission feasibility studies to explore innovative approaches to secure nature recovery across nature networks.

Communications and Public Engagement

• Work with district and national communications colleagues to develop and implement communications plans for projects.
• Where relevant, support the development of partnerships with neighbouring landowners to increase the scale and effectiveness of landscape scale nature recovery.
• Showcase the project to internal and external stakeholders to gain support for projects, nature recovery and further delivery within the nation’s forests.

Skills, knowledge & experience

Essential professional and technical experience

• A track record of successfully developing, managing and coordinating land management or nature recovery projects.
• Experience managing and prioritising workloads, meeting deadlines and solving problems, and managing budgets.
• Practical experience of a range of land management interventions.
• Experience of procurement and contract management.
• A great team worker, adept at working under your own initiative and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, taking ownership of the responsibilities of the role, building collaborative working relationships with colleagues, and being adaptable in the face of changing situations.
• An excellent communicator, both written and verbally, able to adapt to a range of audiences.
• Competent using information technology, and sound knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams.

Desirable

• Knowledge and/or experience of working with livestock and/or graziers.
• Working knowledge of environmental legislation and designations, including their practical application.

Qualifications

Essential

• Ecology or environmental degree, or equivalent professional experience in nature-focused land management.
• A full and current driving licence that enables you to drive in the UK.

Desirable

• A recognised project management qualification
• A member of a relevant professional body, e.g. Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, Institute of Chartered Foresters.

The post is based at our Bellingham office, Hexham, Northumberland, with blended working opportunities. The duties of this post will require the applicant to sometimes travel to remote locations that are not accessible by public transport. You will therefore need to hold a full and current driving licence that enables you to drive in the UK and be willing to stay away from home. We are willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by other means.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions

Alongside your salary of £33,854, Forestry Commission contributes £9,807 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides .

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

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Job contact :

• Name : fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk
• Email : fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk