Person Specificationstaffordshire Wildlife Trust Limited

Job Title: Living Rivers Officer (part-time) Department: Living Landscapes Responsible to: Senior Ecologist (Wetlands) Responsible for: N/A Salary: £20,299 pro rata Hours: 14 hours per week (to be agreed) Tenure: 5 months (November 2015-March 2016)

Background information Our mission statement is: “Staffordshire Wildlife Trust protects and enhances the wildlife and wild places of Staffordshire and promotes understanding, enjoyment and involvement in the natural world.”

A registered charity established in 1969 we are one of 47 county Wildlife Trusts throughout the UK and are supported by around 16,000 members.

The Trust owns or manages 25 nature reserves covering an area of 1400 hectares. Our staff are based at 6 locations around the county including our Headquarters at Wolseley Bridge, Stafford. Employing around 60 staff in 3 departments including, Living Landscapes, People & Property and Support Services. The Trust has a diverse workforce including site wardens, wildlife surveyors, community and education officers, catering and administration staff.

Living Landscapes’ Department Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s Living Landscapes department has 13 members of staff. Within the department is the Biological Records Centre for the county (a partnership-funded organisation that is responsible for all biological and geological records for the county). We also run the Wildlife Sites partnership for the county, undertaking survey, research and monitoring of habitats and working closely with private landowners. The department is also recognised for its innovative work on rivers and wetlands, promoting restoration work with ecosystem services.

The department leads on developing strategies for the Trust, including Living Landscapes. We also support external bodies in developing strategies, including biodiversity opportunity mapping.

The department hosts two landscape-scale initiatives: Central Rivers Initiative (CRI) and the Churnet Valley Living Landscape Partnership (CVLLP). CRI is a partnership project working to improve river corridors through a wide range of activities such as habitat creation and recreation provision. CVLLP is a Heritage Lottery funded Landscape Partnership initiative covering an area of approximately 190km2 of central England which aims to conserve and enhance the area’s natural assets. CaBA

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is the host for the Staffordshire Trent Valley Catchment, one of 93 catchment partnerships established across England.

This Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) has been adopted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to improve the management of the water environment. CaBA will achieve this by working together with local organisations and communities to enhance the wildlife habitats and water quality of our rivers.

The aims of the catchment based approach are to provide a clear understanding of the issues in the catchment, engage with stakeholders, users of the river and communities to begin to create an achievable, holistic vision for the future of these rivers and waterways. We seek input from a wide variety of partners to help develop plans, prioritise projects and deliver integrated actions to improve the quality of the river for the benefit of the people and wildlife living in Staffordshire Trent Valley.

To find out more information about the 'catchment-based approach' please click on the links above and visit the catchment based approach website

Staffordshire Rivers Staffordshire’s major rivers arise on the Leek Moors, Ipstones Edges, Axe Edge, Biddulph Moor and the Black Country conurbation. Most flow to the Trent, and eventually to the Humber estuary. To the northwest the Dane and its tributaries join the Mersey, while in the southwest and west the Smestow Brook, Stour, Worfe, Meese and Tern join the Severn.

Most rivers and streams in Staffordshire have been modified by dredging and re-profiling to produce a uniform, trapezoidal cross-section. Some headwater streams retain a natural form and in several cases main rivers are showing recent evidence of natural recovery.

Canals form an important part of this Living Landscape, running parallel with and in most cases exchanging water with the rivers, and also crossing watersheds in places. Several important reservoirs are canal feeders. Canals are now well-established wildlife corridors (over 200 years old), with much greater levels of access than most rivers. High levels of use and slow water flow mean that canals are also notable vectors of invasive plant and animal species.

Several habitats are particularly associated with rivers, including wet woodland, fen, valley mire and floodplain grazing marsh. On the west side of the county, the post-glacial Meres and Mosses are found.

River and wetland systems in the county are essential in providing a range of benefits to human life. These benefits are called ‘ecosystem services’ and are usually grouped under four headings: Supporting Services, Provisioning Services, Regulating Services and Cultural Services. Additionally, rivers, streams, canals and wetland habitats provide resilience to climate change and allow species to adapt to subtle changes in environmental conditions. Many rivers also provide the principle south-north ‘climate corridors’ for species responding to these changes.

The Staffordshire Rivers strategy also seeks to develop SWT’s role in several key areas. Examples include: (1) Research into different habitat types and ‘indicator species’, (2) Increasing people’s enjoyment, appreciation and understanding of rivers and their floodplains, and (3) Trials for innovative management techniques coupled with ongoing monitoring and analysis. Job Purpose: The purpose of the post is to promote land use and land management changes, at appropriately targeted landscape scales and with particular reference to rivers, their floodplains and the wider wetland environment, with a view to delivering Water Framework Directive (WFD) objectives, biodiversity targets and wider ecosystem services (notably with reference to flood risk management and water quality and quantity issues). This will be achieved either indirectly through the influencing of partner organisations, or directly through the delivery of projects on the ground. It is intended that this work will complement the Trust’s Senior Wetlands Ecologist’s role and provide a valuable and effective service to Staffordshire Trent Valley Catchment partners. Responsibilities: a) Liaise with other organisations and develop appropriate partnerships with a view to inputting to and influencing the development of appropriate policies / strategies that achieve Water Framework Directive (WFD) objectives, and their subsequent targeting and implementation.

b) Provide technical expertise to projects and organisations (utilising existing skills in wetland management, flood risk management and agriculture / agri-environment via Rural SuDS). This is likely to occur in a number of ways including input to specific projects (e.g. Scotch Brook Sub-catchment).

c) Liaise with landowners and other key operators where appropriate (e.g. the Sow and Penk IDB, Staffordshire County Council) to identify opportunities for the conservation of wetland habitats and species, and the delivery of wider ecosystem services.

d) Facilitate and secure the delivery of projects on the ground though the provision of detailed advice, the seeking of funding (including the utilising of Stewardship funds); the seeking of relevant consents; and direct involvement in implementation on site (including employing and managing contractors).

e) Set up, facilitate and deliver stakeholder group meetings for the Staffordshire Trent Valley WFD Catchment Partnership. With partners, identify, set up and run new WFD sub-catchment projects for failing waterbodies. Inspire and encourage the formation of waterbody partnerships to help enhance wetland habitats and increase water quality.

f) Provide input into strategic water policy strategies including the Environment Agency’s (EA) WFD consultations the EA and Forestry Commission’s Woodlands for Water, water companies’ Biodiversity 2020 strategies, and HS2 mitigation measures for the 33 watercourse crossings impacted by phase 2 section.

g) Co-ordinate survey and monitoring work to ensure enhanced understanding of wetland and ecosystem services issues. Design and implement monitoring of WFD projects. Liaise with consultants, universities, agricultural colleges, researchers, etc to promote research, and ensure that all outputs are accessible and suitably disseminated.

h) Promote wetland biodiversity and ecosystem service delivery through the utilisation and development of demonstration sites, dissemination at conferences, writing articles / papers etc. Raise the profile of specific projects / initiatives through relevant press work, social media, events and the production / circulation of project materials.

i) Secure funding to ensure continuation and development of the role at SWT, with mechanisms likely to include grant applications, seeking of funding from key partners and directly earning money. Person Specification Staffordshire Wildlife Trust Limited Job Title: Living Rivers Officer

Criteria Essentia Desirabl Assessmen l e t Method Qualifications A degree or similar in ecology, environmental science or related  QC subjects Driving Licence  QC Outdoor first aid  QC Experience Experience of producing technical written material to a high  CV / I standard Experience of directly working with WFD related issues T CV/I Experience of practical conservation management techniques T I / FT Public speaking and media skills T CV Skills/knowledge Use of MapInfo GIS systems  CV Organisational skills and the ability to prioritise workloads  CV / I A sound understanding of aquatic/riparian habitats and their T CV / I management for nature conservation including habitat and species restoration Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) with  CV / I technical and non-technical audiences Knowledge of Staffordshire’s rivers, wetlands and canals  I Abilities Job involves manual handling such as:  carrying survey equipment to and from vehicle to site Job involves:  Very occasional working late evenings and early mornings/ weekends and bank holidays  working outside in all weather conditions  driving around the County of Staffordshire (and beyond), therefore applicants must have a full current driving licence and access to a vehicle

I = interview QC = qualification certificate CV = Curriculum Vitae FT = Field test P = presentation