Job Title: Ecologist
Advertised Salary: £32,427
Base Location: Home-based with requirements for national travel.
We're the charity who look after and bring to life 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales, because we believe that life is better by water. Every role across the Trust plays its part in transforming our canals and rivers into spaces where local people want to spend time and feel better, bringing wellbeing benefits to millions.
We currently have an opportunity for an experienced Ecologist to join our Environment and Climate action team within the S&I Directorate and is responsible for delivering the Trust’s strategy and policy on all environment and climate related sustainability issues, including environmental compliance as a minimum, improvement of our protected sites and achieving a net gain in biodiversity across our canal network.
The Ecologist will be responsible for providing professional technical input into the Trust’s strategic activities around nature recovery. This includes collecting and analysing information and data to support a long-term action plan to move more of our protected sites towards favourable condition and support projects that increase biodiversity and the abundance of protected species across the network.
The Canal & River Trust is in an ideal position, as a large landowner with blue and green corridors connecting habitats across the landscape, to carry out environmental enhancements using our local volunteer workforce to ensure that we improve habitats and support biodiversity. Planting the right trees in the right places, reconnecting old hedgerows and restoring or creating wildflower meadows and linear species-rich grasslands to provide a safe haven for wildlife and a destination for people to retreat to from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Reconnecting people with the nature on their doorstep and offering them opportunities to get involved in looking after ‘their patch’ through guided walks and talks.
Our aim is to support the work of the Trust as a whole, while conserving and enhancing the environment of the inland waterway network. Finding simple and innovative solutions/methods of work to ensure that the modern-day use of the waterways, their historical importance, the Trust’s legal obligations and strategic priorities are met through sustainable development, conservation and enhancement of the natural environment.
Location
The role will be based working from home, with the expectation to attend main regional hubs either at Milton Keynes, Birmingham, or Little Venice (Paddington), for collaborative working. This is a national role, requiring collaboration with teams in all six of the Trust’s regions. There will be an expectation that the successful candidate will be able travel to attend meetings or fieldwork throughout the regional waterway network.
Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience
Key accountabilities:
- Provide ecological technical advice as requested. This includes input into Trust EMS standards and tools and nature recovery projects.
- Contribute to the Trust’s Nature Recovery Strategy and associated sustainability initiatives, with a view to increasing biodiversity across the Trust’s network
- Contribute to national programmes of engagement with customers, volunteers, stakeholders and the general public to promote the value of waterways and the work of the Trust to increase the Trust’s reputation and influence and secure additional resources for our work, focusing on our key sustainability priorities.
- Work with regional ecology teams to implement relevant inspection/monitoring and maintenance programmes for environmental/soft estate assets within their geographical remit, (re-)prioritising work to suit available resources and within delegated authority levels.
- Contribute to the implementation of an environmental management system (EMS; including associated processes & standards) especially with responsibility for monitoring national uptake
- Collaboration with regional teams to maintain ecology and nature recovery performance data (e.g. GIS layers, ecological baseline and species location data)
- Assist in the development of environmental training & competency
- Contribute to corporate targets on raising public awareness of and support for the Trust especially through interest in our environmental assets.
- Contribute to external engagement and fundraising nationally to secure additional resources for the Trust, especially through interest in our environmental assets
- Displaying the Trust values and behaviours at all times
- Ensuring that diversity and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of Trust life and promoting inclusion by challenging behaviour, practices, actions, or decisions that are counter to the objectives of the Trust’s policies and values
Knowledge, Skills & experience
- Degree or equivalent in relevant discipline.
- Associate member of relevant professional institution, e.g. CIEEM, CIWEM, CIWM, IEMA, etc
- Proven postgraduate experience in application of technical knowledge within a business environment.
- Able to negotiate effectively with internal and external contacts to achieve desired outcomes for the Trust.
- Able to support other areas of the Trust’s business in an appropriate manner, taking account of overall business priorities.
- Knowledge of, and practical experience of operating within, UK & European environmental policy and regulatory frameworks
- Experience of operating within a customer service environment
- Understanding of Trust governance, financial controls and systems of compliance
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
What We Offer
Compensation is made up as follows: £32,427. Additionally, we also offer a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, great holiday entitlement (increasing with years of service) and numerous other employee benefits.
- 25 days paid holiday, increasing to 27 days after 3 years.
- Competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, where we will double your contribution to a maximum of 10%.
- Annual £200 personal learning & growth award to spend on any learning related activity – hobbies; aspirations etc.
- Free access to specialist counselling on a range of issues – health; financial; lifestyle; well-being; domestic & neighbourly matters.
- Access to a range of employee benefits including – store discounts; boating holiday discounts; holiday purchase scheme.
- Expansive maternity/paternity provisions.
- Progressive access to learning tools and CPD.
- 2 days paid volunteering leave, volunteering for local community project work.
At the Trust we care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of. All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job.
We believe that continuous personal & professional development are important, and through many Trust internal & externally supported development programmes we are pleased to support your ongoing growth and development in this role.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Chief Advisor - Marine
£55,000 - £60,000 pa
Woking, GU21 4LL / Hybrid Working
This is a UK based contract and as such, you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Evidence of your Right to Work will be checked prior to interview.
With an established track record in thought leadership on marine science and policy as well as a good understanding of the ocean-climate nexus, you understand the importance of creating a world where people and nature can thrive together. That is why this role as Chief Advisor – Marine with the world’s leading independent conservation organisation is perfect for you.
Our major goal is to find solutions to the Triple Challenge of restoring nature, tackling climate change and feeding a growing global population all within the available resource limits of our one planet. As a member of our Science Team, you will help ensure we are viewed by the academic community and specialist bodies as a science and evidence-based organisation with conservation programmes and communications that are always informed by the latest scientific thinking.
As Chief Advisor you will lead our scientific understanding on marine issues and their impacts on the natural world and human society. You will help guide WWF-UK and WWF Network strategies on marine issues as well as help find solutions to address our Triple Challenge and reverse the decline in global biodiversity. We will look to you to provide technical support to our conservation and blue carbon work in UK coastal waters and be the lead expert on ocean systems and the drivers impacting them, including the potential for ocean tipping points. You will also act as a primary contact in your area of expertise with relevant UK government departments, specialists in the private sector, other NGOs and international policy-makers and have the ability to influence policy. You will help identify and fill knowledge gaps as well as provide the evidence underpinning WWF policy positions.
To play your part in saving our planet, you must have a track record in thought leadership on marine science and policy, coupled with a good understanding of the ocean-climate nexus and the negative drivers impacting ocean systems. You will also possess a good grasp of current science and policy debates, along with experience of providing strategic leadership to organisations and programmes. You will have sound knowledge of international policy and governance structures as they relate to the oceans including the UNFCCC, CBD and the High Seas Treaty.
Effective at influencing key political and business stakeholders and shaping policy debates, you will also have excellent communication and advocacy skills. Good at building relationships, you will be comfortable inspiring direct reports and translating knowledge into policy, communications and programme design. Of course, you will be able to demonstrate a commitment to the natural world and WWF’s core mission too.
If you have the knowledge to provide scientific expertise and advice across our organisation to help us build a movement in defence of nature, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our website via the link, complete the online registration and submit a copy of your up-to-date CV with the Supporting Statement highlighting what makes you a good fit for us.
WWF UK are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. As a Disability Confident Employer, we acknowledge that some candidates may require additional support to overcome barriers experienced during the application process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team via our website.
Our policies and benefits reflect the importance of people being able to have a good work-life balance and being able to bring their ‘full self’ to work.
WWF-UK believes anyone who is involved in our work or connected to it, especially children, should be safe from harm. Our first priority will always be to safeguard anyone at risk of harm or abuse. WWF-UK operates robust recruitment practices to ensure candidates for all roles are suitable. Our process includes values-based questions during interviews and annual performance reviews, reference checks that we verify orally, criminal records checks (at the appropriate level) and pre-employment declarations. We do not tolerate any form of abuse or exploitation and act robustly to any allegations or concerns.
Our world needs you like never before. We are the first generation to know we are destroying the world, and we could be the last that can do anything about it. We are looking for people who are passionate about making it politically, socially and economically unacceptable to destroy our planet’s natural resources. We need you to join us in the fight for our world.
Wild in the City was established in 2013 and was incorporated as an asset locked non- profit Community Interest Company in April 2016 to address the growing problem of disconnection from nature and generational loss of knowledge and skills, and to help make nature a meaningful part of everyday life.
We are a national organisation supporting well-being through relationship with nature. We offer programmes in hiking, woodland living skills, natural history and ecotherapy, using the skills of our ancestors to develop a deeper relationship with the natural world and nurture a sense of belonging to communities past and present.
We are a black led organisation with a focus on health and supporting Black and minority ethnic communities in accessing nature and the countryside, addressing the widely acknowledged lack of representation and lower levels of involvement of people of colour in nature-based activity. We are a leading organisation in research and the facilitation of forums about race and nature.
We have an exciting vision for increasing the participation of people of colour in nature- based activity and highlighting black perspectives about the natural world through our core programmes.
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Nature Guides
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Nature Connectors
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Wild in the City Festival
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Black Nature Narratives
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Research and Consultancy
We’re looking for an exceptional individual to become our new Director of Operations. The right person will balance strong interpersonal and leadership skills and robust operational ability in the areas of finance, administration and fundraising. The role of Director of Operations is central to helping us achieve our ambition of further growing as a Black led institution for learning and caring about nature. We are looking for someone with the experience to help shape our growth and guide implementation of our 5 year plan, and who will grow with us to become our Chief Operating Officer.
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The role is offered for 21 hours per week.
Closing date: 3rd May 2024
Interview: w/c 13th May 2024
Start date: as soon as possible
Full job description with responsibilties and person specification is attached