LWS Ecologist – Species Survival Fund: ‘Bogs and Bitterns’

Contract type: Fixed term until end of December 2025

Working hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week

Location: Callow Rock, Shipham Gorge, Cheddar, with opportunities for hybrid
working

“Bogs and Bitterns”: Somerset Wetland Restoration is one of twenty schemes being funded by the
Government’s Species Survival Fund.

As Project Ecologist you will be at the forefront of delivering, working with landowners and
communities to undertake the survey and monitoring work across Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) in
Somerset.

This project is funded by the Government’s Species Survival Fund. The fund was developed by
Defra and its Arm’s-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency. “Bogs and Bitterns: Somerset
Wetland restoration is one of twenty schemes being funded across the country. Within our
project area we aim to deliver 50 hectares of wetland habitat, restoring and expanding to
improve and create quality ‘stepping stone’ sites of high quality biodiversity and to enable
species abundance across the wider county.

As Project Ecologist you will be at the forefront of delivering, working with landowners and
communities to undertake the survey and monitoring work across these sites. Year one of the
project will be focused on targeted ecological surveys and engagement with year two focused on
completing surveys and delivering small-scale capital works. The outcome of the project is to
better understand the condition of our Local Wildlife sites and to have delivered targeted
individual small-scale actions.

Responsibility 1: Develop and Oversee Relationships

Share knowledge and expertise by:

• Taking responsibility for a range of ecological and habitat consultancy and advisory
  projects.
• Being responsible for corresponding with landowners and communities to access survey sites.
• Carrying out preliminary appraisals.
• Undertaking LWS habitat survey work and producing high quality technical reports within the
  project area whilst liaising with the SERC LWS Ecologist on this delivery.
• Undertaking and coordinating with volunteers and the wilder project team including Reserves
  and Nature Recovery Team species survey monitoring and evaluating work across the project area.
• Undertaking a wide range of complex, technical and professional tasks in differing
  situations, with a degree of personal responsibility and autonomy. It is important to be able
  to work both alone and as a member of the team.
• Adopting environmentally friendly working practices, setting, and maintaining high personal
  standards of efficiency and customer care and fostering a ‘can do’ culture based on ownership,
  initiative, teamwork, and exchange of information. All staff are ambassadors for the
  organisation both internally and externally and are expected to always act in a professional
  manner. They are required to abide by organisational rules, policies and procedures as laid
  down in the staff handbook.

Responsibility 2: Data Collection and Records

Be responsible by:

• Supporting the ongoing LWS Programme in Somerset, following LWS protocols.
• Capturing and recording LWS habitat/species and condition data and aid in the inputting of
  this data, supporting updating of LWS records and feeding into the SERC database.

Responsibility 3: Project Fund Management

Support and be accountable by:

• Identifying, coordinating and delivering small scale capital funding and actions across LWS
  and PCNR network, whilst managing project budgets.
• Working with the communications team where applicable to promote and highlight the project
  achievements.

General

• The job holder is required to follow and comply with all policies and procedures of
  Somerset Wildlife Trust which includes our health and safety and safeguarding procedures,
  ensuring the personal safety of all staff, volunteers, young people and vulnerable adults
  involved in the project.
• To carry out other duties relevant to your post as reasonably required by your line
  manager.
• To reflect the Somerset Wildlife Trust Values in all areas of work.
• To work collaboratively with other Wildlife Trusts to share learning and achieve greater
  impact collectively.
• Somerset Wildlife Trust is committed to creating a more digital culture across the
  organisation. We aim to become more collaborative, agile and efficient through the use of
  digital technology. A basic level of digital skills is expected of all staff with the
  opportunity to improve these skills with career progression.
• We are a Disability Confident Employer, as such we offer an interview to people with a
  disability who meet the minimum criteria for the job.

Additional benefits of working for the Somerset Wildlife Trust include:

• 7% employer pension contribution
• Life insurance
• An annual professional institution subscription
• Flexible and agile working
• Wellbeing support – EAP, wellbeing champions
• Diversity networks through RSWT/TWT
• Paid volunteer days
• Continuous Professional Development opportunities
• Minimum 33 days of holiday (25 annual leave + bank holidays)
• Active staff social events

The opportunity to make a real and positive difference to nature, communities and the climate.

Closing date: Sunday 30 June 2024

Interested?

If you would like to apply and find out more about this position, please click the
apply button to be directed to our website. 

No agencies please.