Vacancies
***The application window for this vacancy has now closed***
Job Description – Wayoh Catchment Agricultural Project Officer
The Ribble Rivers Trust (RRT) and Irwell Rivers Trust (IRT) are looking to recruit a technically competent, dynamic and enthusiastic person to head up an initiative aimed at reducing diffuse and point source chemical and pesticide pollution in the Wayoh Catchment. The successful candidate will build on work already carried out in the catchment by the project partners including (United Utilities, Environment Agency and others) to identify and reduce Diffuse and Point source Pollution hotspots by delivering farm advice and implementing capital works to address and disrupt pollution pathways.
The project will be guided by existing knowledge of the catchment, and GIS modelling work carried out by IRT and RRT. The project officer will visit and offer advice to farms using the rivers trust pinpoint methodology, and work with them to design and implement low cost capital measures that will serve the dual purposes of protecting watercourses whilst also realising cost savings on the farm. The project and the project officer must be able to demonstrate successful physical delivery in a short-time scale.
The project officer will be responsible for the day to day running of the project and the duties will include:
- Work closely with project partners and stakeholders, such as, United Utilities, and the Environment Agency.
- Identifying sources of diffuse and point source pollution.
- Cold-calling landowners, visiting farms and identifying and prioritising works;
- Carrying out walkover surveys of areas not yet investigated and recording findings;
- Helping to organise demonstration workshops through liaison with industry professionals;
- Liaising with farmers and contractors, drawing up, costing and implementing capital schemes;
- Liaising with the projects’s monitoring team and undertaking sampling surveys where required;
- Recording and reporting actions thoroughly and on time;
- Publicising the projects successes through all forms of media
- Other duties as required by the project.
The position full time 37.5 hours per week, on a 26 month contract, and the pay will be £22,000 – £26,000 per annum dependant on experience. The Project Officer will be catchment based, working from various partner offices, including RRT offices in Clitheroe, and will report to the RRT Director. All Personal Protective Equipment and other necessary equipment will be supplied.
Person Description
The successful candidate will be an exceptional self-starter and passionate about river and stream conservation. They must also be a good communicator with a strong background in agricultural advice with an ability to engage with Farmers. A good knowledge of Catchment Management, Water Chemistry, Water protection legislation and aquatic sciences will also be beneficial.
Essential
- Valid driving licence and own car, insured for business use
- Minimum degree level in aquatic / environmental sciences, agriculture, conservation management or similar. Equivalent related experience will be considered as highly as academic qualifications.
- Demonstrable experience of successful practical project delivery, including managing budgets.
- Demonstrable and In-depth knowledge of farming activities and agri-environment schemes
- Experience of Farm Environment Plans and agri environment agreements.
- Understanding of pesticides and appropriate usage, including dilution and water chemistry.
- Experience in GIS (eg MAPINFO / ARCGIS)
- Excellent presentation skills and ability to get complex information across simply and concisely and to a wide range of audiences
- Self-starter able to work on your own without day-to-day supervision.
- Ability to work on the differing tasks identified in the Job Description at the same time.
- Possessing good inter-personal skills, both face-to-face and over the phone.
- Reliability, good attendance and work performance.
- Ability to set performance objectives and ensure these are achieved.
- Excellent organisational/admin. skills and attention to detail –
• Good IT skills (including Microsoft Office; Excel, Word and Outlook)
• Keeping records of work undertaken
• Keeping records of expenses incurred
• Awareness of the need for confidentiality
Desirable
- FACTS / BASIS trained or working towards qualification.
- GIS skills
- Knowledge of the project area
- Based near or in the project area.
The deadline for applications is the 24th January 2013, interviews will be immediately after the deadline, and we are looking for a quick appointment.
You can email your CV and application form to jack@ribbletrust.com or post it to Ribble Rivers Trust, c/o Hanson Cement, Ribblesdale Works, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 4QF.