Trabaja en la conservación de especies amenazadas de ríos y lagos con este proyecto LIFE

Oferta compartida por Cristina

Life R4ever Kent Catchment Management Adviser (Ref: 4126)

Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 16th May 2022

Reference number
204957

Salary
£26,224

Grade
Higher Executive Officer
Lead Adviser

Contract type
Fixed Term

Length of employment
Until end May 2026

Type of role
Environment and Sustainability
Geography

Working pattern
Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of posts
1

Location
North West (region)

About the job

Summary
This position is based at Kendal or Penrith

Job description
We are the Government’s statutory advisor for the natural environment, playing a vital role in delivering the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan. This describes an ambitious vision, bringing new opportunities to protect and enhance, and to achieve real outcomes for the environment.

At Natural England, we love what we do. We’re here to make sure people and nature can thrive. A healthy natural environment is fundamental to our wellbeing, prosperity and happiness – that’s why we collaborate with scientists, lawyers, project managers and experts to implement environmental policy and shape decisions.

We work with a wide range of partners, stakeholders and customers on a huge range of projects, from influencing construction, advising farmers and landowners how they can manage their land in a sustainable way for the benefit of the environment, gathering and analysing environmental data, and carrying out vital statutory duties. Across the country, we’re helping nature to support people and our planet.

We are focusing our efforts on six key programmes:

Greener Farming and Fisheries – supporting those who manage land and sea to operate in harmony with the environment
Sustainable Development – creating great places for people to live and work
Connecting People with Nature - promoting health and wellbeing through the great outdoors
Resilient Landscapes and Seas – protecting and restoring wildlife and natural beauty for future generations
Specialist Science and Evidence - an evidence-led organisation that is driven by science
Managing the Organisation – gathering business data to enable decision making

Natural England staff are inclusive, motivated and ambitious to achieve results for our environment, for everyone. We welcome and encourage applications from all communities and we operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the role.

Wherever possible Natural England accommodates requests for both full-time and part-time hours and other flexible working patterns to help employees achieve a good work/life balance and maintain their health and wellbeing.

From induction to ongoing learning and development, everyone in Natural England is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. Where appropriate there will be offers of training under our apprenticeship schemes.

See more about the work of Natural England at:

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england

This role can be carried out from our Kendal or Penrith offices.
You can view a map of our office locations here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-england-office-locations?

The Catchment Management Adviser role is an exciting opportunity to be part of the EU LIFE Programme funded R4ever Kent Project (LIFE20 NAT/UK/001013) led by Natural England in Cumbria.

The R4ever Kent Project is a partnership project to deliver catchment restoration actions in the River Kent Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in the Lake District National Park and South Cumbria. The River Kent, which partly flows through the Lake District’s World Heritage Site landscape has some of the UK’s rarest and at-risk species. It is the only major English river system where native crayfish populations are still abundant throughout and the only UK river where native crayfish and freshwater mussels are found together. Freshwater mussels formerly occurred more widely in the Kent, but the population is now near to extinct with less than fifty individuals found across two locations.

This project will move the 88.9ha SAC towards Favourable Recovering/Favourable secure condition by using a range of river/riparian restoration and invasive control best practice methods. The projects key objectives will improve the resilience of the river's habitats and species to future pressures and threat:

1.*Restore the SAC: A range of river/riparian restoration and invasive control best practice methods will improve the resilience of the river's habitats and species to future pressures and threats.
2.*Increase critically endangered species’ populations. The project will reinforce the site’s population with donor stock from other suitable sites and improve the breeding facilities to secure England’s long-term freshwater mussel population. It will also protect the endangered White-clawed crayfish from crayfish plague, provide optimum conditions for FPM's salmonid hosts and maintain bullhead populations.
3.*Trial new techniques: By using biocontrol methods and eDNA surveying techniques to detect key species movement/distribution and provide an early warning system for crayfish plague, the project will research the effectiveness/sustainability of these methods.
4.*Secure the long-term sustainable management of the River Kent’s catchment: Targeted advice and training for landowners and to the agricultural/forestry sector will improve practices and reduce nutrient/sediment inputs entering the SAC.
5.*Transfer knowledge/skills: A programme of communications and outreach, together with networking with other UK and European projects will inspire conservation action and raise awareness of the value and function of more natural riverine systems.

We are looking for a team player who is keen to work with the project partners and landowners / managers to help improve the water quality of the River Kent SAC. You will have an understanding of agri-environment schemes, and be able to connect with different people using different communication styles, tools, and techniques to suit the person/people you are engaging with. You will be located in the north-west of England with good access to the South Lakes / South Cumbria and have a love of the outdoors including a desire to protect and enhance the natural environment.

It is a full-time, fixed term role until the end of May 2026. The role is office based (either Kendal or Penrith), with opportunities to work from home and be out on site, dependant on the tasks being delivered.

Key Tasks

•*Develop and implement a strategy with delivery plan to promote sensitive catchment management to improve water quality in the River Kent SAC.
•*Promote sensitive management in the Kent catchment and work with Landowners / Managers with an aim to reduce anthropogenic diffuse water pollution sources of nutrients, sediment and chemicals entering the SAC.
•*Promote land use/land management practices that maximise natural rainfall retention within the catchment and reduce run-off energy and associated diffuse pollution.
•*Liaise with Cumbria area Catchment Sensitive Farming advisers
•*Hold workshops, provide advice/ training, carry out farm walkovers, promote agri-environment agreements and produce specific guidance for key landowners / managers.
•*Explore and embrace lessons learned by previous Catchment Sensitive Farming Partnerships, draw on these techniques/experience in your own delivery
•*Demonstrate the advantages of working sensitive catchment management at a smaller more detailed scale, sharing lessons learned with wider stakeholders and help replicate project actions on other sites, both within and outside the SAC.

Additional Information

A driving licence is essential for the role as travel to rural parts of Cumbria is not always possible with public transport.

The role will require frequent travel to sites within the River Kent catchment. National travel will also be required, which will involve some overnight stays and anti-social hours. Natural England encourages staff to travel by public transport wherever this is feasible.

On taking up this post, the post holder will be expected to follow certain time-recording and expenses claim rules and will be required to sign a letter allowing Natural England to use their payroll information and request copies of pay slips for project claims and audits.

How to Apply

We'll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process. When completing the application form you should present relevant examples using the STAR format. STAR stands for:

•*Situation
•*Task
•*Action
•*Result

Examples should be given in no more than 250 words for each competency. Please ensure you read the Candidate Information Pack before you begin completing the application form.

Recruitment Framework
Competencies

Competence 1
Professional competency
Technical Skills & Knowledge

Description
You do not need to use STAR to answer this competency.

• The ability to communicate effectively with farmers (Essential)
• Good understanding of the challenges affecting our water environment e.g. climate change, drought, flooding, abstraction, agricultural water pollution etc. (Essential)
• Good level of agricultural knowledge (Desirable)
• Awareness of appropriate management techniques to maintain, enhance or restore the condition of freshwater and freshwater related habitats or systems (Desirable)
• Good working knowledge of relevant environmental and water legislation, policy and governance Frameworks (Desirable)

Competence 2
Professional competency
Creating Resilient Landscapes & Seas

Description
• Understand and use appropriate agri-environment schemes and other interventions to contribute to a healthy natural environment that benefits people and the economy (Practitioner)
• Identify appropriate solutions for avoidance, mitigation, compensation of environmental impacts and meeting shared outcomes; and identify opportunities for enhancing the natural environment (Practitioner)

Competence 3
Professional competency
Putting People at the Heart of the Environment

Description
• Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and the organisation you represent (Practitioner)
• Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver the vision, mission and aims of the organisation you represent (Practitioner)

Competence 4
Professional competency
Work Delivery

Description
• Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines (Practitioner)

Responsibilities
Please refer to Job Description

Benefits
•*Learning and development tailored to your role
•*An environment with flexible working options
•*A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
•*A Civil Service pension

Things you need to know

Security
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details
Please refer to Job Description

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements


This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact : Name : Carla Dynda
Email : carla.dynda@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone : 07799 218360
Recruitment team : Email : defra-recruitment-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

Further information
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england/about/complaints-procedure

https://networkrecruitment.tal.net/vx/appcentre-7/brand-4/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/8/opp/4126-4126-Life-R4ever-Kent-Catchment-Management-Adviser/en-GB