Project Officer (Natural Capital)

Post: Project Officer – Natural Capital
Directorate: Park Management
Responsible to: Hadrian’s Wall Wetlands Landscape Recovery Project Manager
Responsible for: No Direct Reports
Grade: Band 5
Term: 18 Months Fixed Term Contract.
Work base: Based from our offices in Hexham including travel within the National Park. Hybrid
work from home options also available 

Job purpose 

This is a key role in the National Park’s ambitious project to develop a set of natural capital
accounts, along with a repeatable methodology, to support our Hadrian’s Wall Recovering Nature
(HWRN) initiative and Hadrian’s Wall Wetlands Landscape Recovery (HWWLR). The post will report
to the HWWLR Project Manager and will be responsible for the following main tasks:

• To implement the North of Tyne Combined Authority funded Haltwhistle Burn to Bellingham
  Natural Capital Baselining and Accounting Project on behalf of Northumberland National Park
  Authority. 
• To manage any consultant contracts. 
• To be the strategic lead on the promotion and showcasing of this exciting project, both
  internally and externally. 
• Overall responsibility for budget management, project claims and reporting. 
• To lead the strategic coordination with partners including Hadrian’s Wall Recovering Nature
  steering group members and other stakeholders. 

Key Result Areas

Project Development and Implementation 

• Develop an implementation framework for the overall Project Plan, including work planning,
  defining tasks and allocating resources. 
• Identify project stakeholders and develop and implement an appropriate stakeholder
  engagement strategy. 
• Overall management of and accountability for the successful implementation of the project
  Workstreams and delivery of the Key Outputs. 
• Alongside the Data and Monitoring Officer and other appropriate NNPA staff, evaluate and
  identify appropriate accounting metrics. 
• Deliver a set of baseline natural capital accounts, developed in accordance with the
  principles set out in the baselining and accounting project plan. 
• Develop and document a repeatable methodology for producing the accounts that can be used
  by the National Park Authority and its key stakeholders and partners; solicit expert and peer
  feedback on the methodology. 
• Develop a programme of work required to maintain and update the accounts on an annual
  basis. 
• Work with the NNPA Strategic Projects Manager and Data and Monitoring Officer to develop a
  monitoring, evaluation and learning framework to inform effective ongoing decision making and
  wider lessons, including reporting to the National Park Authority. 
• Manage reporting and risk registers, including responsibility for the mitigation of risks
  and implementation of change to ensure project success. 
• Manage the resourcing and procurement requirements of the project Workstreams. 

Communication and reporting

• Represent the project to internal teams, the National Park Authority and its external
  stakeholders and partners. 
• Build strong working relationships with project stakeholders to achieve buy-in. 
• Support the HWWLR Project Manager in the development and delivery of a communications
  strategy in support of the project, its objectives, and the wider adoption of its accounts and
  accounting methodology. 
• Lead the preparation and presentation of reports explaining and promoting the project’s
  work and its contributions to the Hadrian’s Wall Recovering Nature initiative and other ongoing
  landscape recovery work. 
• Working with the Data and Monitoring Officer, ensure that project data is clean, structured
  and accessible. 
• Produce performance information, as required, to support Authority-wide performance
  reporting and to demonstrate the impact of projects and delivery of corporate outcomes. 
• Work closely with colleagues. 

Leadership 

• Support the delivery of all project workstreams and advocate on behalf of the project to
  the National Park Authority’s management.
• Promote a culture based on teamwork, open communication and collaboration throughout the
  National Park Authority and its wider stakeholders and partners. 
• Manage contractors as appropriate.

Other Duties 

• Ensure that work and service provision is carried out in a manner which safeguards the
  health and safety of the workforce and the general public observing and applying Health &
  Safety Policy and Practices. 
• Support the HWWLR Project Manager in managing the project logistics. 
• Undertake any other duties consistent with the post as may be directed by the HWWLR Project
  Manager.
• Proactively support the promotion of equality and inclusion in all areas of work. 
• Comply with General Protection Data Regulation (GDPR) and implement Memorandum of
  Understanding with key partners, as appropriate. 
• Any other duties consistent with the nature, level and grade of the post as may be
  required. 

Person Specification 

Essential

Knowledge

• Educated to degree level in environmental, ecological, or natural sciences, or in an
  economics-related or a land management-related discipline, or equivalent level of experience.
• Strong knowledge of current approaches to natural capital, including frameworks for natural
  capital accounting. 
• Strong knowledge of ecosystem services concepts. 
• Knowledge of environmental metrics. 
• Knowledge of landscape recovery, habitat types, and land management considerations and
  issues. 

Skills 

• Excellent interpersonal skills, in particular an ability to motivate colleagues through
  clear communication and direction. 
• Ability to influence partners in a way that leads to effective delivery and good working
  relationships. 
• Strong data management skills. 
• Confident in the use of information technology systems, including the use of Microsoft
  Office 365 and MS Teams. 
• Proficient in use of GIS. 

Experience 

• A track record of engaging stakeholders and working with partners in collaborative
  projects, ideally within the natural environment sector. 
• Experience of natural capital, landscape recovery, nature restoration, or ecological
  monitoring projects. 
• Experience of managing project deliverables and successfully delivering projects to budget
  and deadline. 
• Experience of briefing and managing consultants. 
• Experience of communicating projects and connecting them to the broader context in order to
  facilitate stakeholder buy-in and adoption of project outputs. 

Personal Qualities 

• Ability to work a flexible pattern and travel to sites to fulfil the requirements of the
  post. 
• A desire to learn more about natural capital approaches and develop a specialist source of
  knowledge within the National Park Authority. 
• An interest in wildlife and natural landscapes. 
• Entrepreneurial approach to promoting and advocating for the project. 

Desirable 

• Project management qualification. 
• Experience with or knowledge of natural capital valuation techniques. 
• Experience authoring or managing the creation of natural capital accounts. 
• Knowledge of land management stakeholders and policy. 
• Knowledge of National Parks and protected areas. 
• A sound knowledge of health and safety procedures.