Invasive Species Officer

SOUTH WEST LAKES TRUST

1.  JOB DESCRIPTION  

1.1 JOB TITLE: Invasive Species Officer

1.2 SALARY: £27,500-30,000 per annum pro rata (dependant on experience)

1.3 LOCATION: Roadford Lake office but required to travel regularly to sites across the southwest

 Potential for some home working by agreement with line manager.

1.4 HOURS: 37.5 hours per week on a flexible basis; normal working hours will include weekends,     Bank Holidays and some evenings

1.5 DURATION: Fixed Term contract from 14 Aug 2023 to 31 March 2025

1.6 RESPONSIBLE TO: Head of Environment 

1. OVERALL ROLE PURPOSE

Working with South West Water and SW Lakes to deliver Water Industry National Environment Programme obligations, you will raise awareness of the management of invasive non-native species (INNS), the importance of biosecurity and implement on the ground agreed control measures.

For SW Lakes this role will contribute to;

• Meeting our vision that: Our people, places and experiences we offer, will inspire this and future generations to love and benefit from the environment by delivering our environmental obligations.

• Meeting our purpose: To care for natural and historic environments, providing health, social and wellbeing benefits for individuals and communities.

• Meeting our impact: Our managed landscapes will be abundant, diverse and connected.

• Ensuring the feeling of “It’s Your Outdoors” is shared with all stakeholders.

1. THE ROLE

3.1           Our Environment Team work around lakes and reservoirs within the southwest of England; they focus on land and property of public interest and/or of designated conservation importance.

3.2           Our team deliver the essential tasks necessary to protect biodiversity and ensure that our managed landscapes will be abundant, diverse and connected. They help ensure compliance with statutory aspects such as the Conservation, Access and Recreation Code of Practice, as well as compliance with our Integrated Management Plans.

3.3           Our team operate in outdoor environments and largely independently, often lone working on and around deep water, as well as in small teams.  Lone working for extensive periods requires individuals that are responsible and resilient.

3.4           Our team need to be comfortable and able to work outdoors in all weathers whilst ensuring all risk assessments and lone working policies (where applicable) are followed.  

3.5           This role is regionally based and will involve working with local communities, volunteers, employees, partners and funders to improve the understanding of the risks presented by invasive non-native species. Actively engaging with a wide variety of user groups to ensure that biosecurity control measures become part of their everyday experience.

3.6           Our Invasive Species Officer works within a supportive and skilled team and this role will be part of our Environment Team.

1. KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

4            

4.1           Work with South West Water (SWW) to deliver invasive species management obligations with a particular focus on biosecurity facility preparation and implementation.

4.2           Maintain AQUA accredited status and apply for higher levels where appropriate, develop new sites for accreditation. Co-ordinate, support and lead on the development of our Site Guardian volunteers, including managing the database, in liaison with SW Lakes Rangers.

4.3           Provide specialist advice and training on biosecurity, INNS and reporting to SWW/SWL employees, volunteers and recreational user groups.

4.4           Support our visitor experience teams in the delivery of biosecurity at events for angling, sailing and other on and off-water activities and promote the same through media and social media.

4.5           Work closely with our Environment Team who will also report on any concerns regarding INNS. Maintain the INNS database for SWL as appropriate, including ground truthing new INNS incident reports. Ensure this is kept up to date and shared with SWW.

4.6           Organise or ensure Rangers are equipped to deliver relevant small-scale mitigation works as per project requirements, liaising with SWW on larger scale schemes for funding and delivery including management of contractors.

4.7           Support and shadow SW Lakes Head of Environment to grow strategic level knowledge and experience, maintaining relations and communication between South West Lakes and regional and national organisations to ensure that biosecurity initiatives both recognise and take account of the biodiversity of the lakes and action taken to protect and enhance it. Support novel research and management trials of invasive non-native species and biosecurity.

4.8           Deliver outreach events to educate user groups and stakeholders on species identification and the importance of biosecurity.

4.9           Manage projects including budgets to deliver project outcomes. Support the development of future environmental projects.

4.10        Attend regular meetings and prepare project monthly reports and other relevant reports as requested by SWW and /or SW Lakes.

4.11        Review and update biosecurity protocols and procedures, communicating updates to the wider organisation.

4.12        Take responsibility for the proper care and maintenance of equipment and vehicles that are used.

4.13        Organise and prioritise workload to an agreed timeframe and quality to ensure timely delivery of projects end to end to include report writing.

4.14        Undertake mandatory training and development as required by the Trust.

4.15        Ensure compliance with Trust procedures to manage risk to the public, self, other staff, volunteers and contractors. Ensure that high quality risk assessments are carried out in line with Trust guidance for works you are undertaking and supervising, and monitor compliance with safety procedures.

4.16        Carry out other duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Trust.

1. PERSON SPECIFICATION

You will be:

• Motivated by the need to conserve and enhance the natural environment for the future and align with the Trusts values and ethos.
• Enthusiastic with a positive approach to problem-solving and demonstrating a flexible approach. 
• A good organiser with proven ability to set priorities and to see tasks through to completion.
• Able to work under your own initiative and take responsibility for the overall programme of works.